The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1875-11-18

LIFE BENEATH THE WAVES.
BY CAPTAIN BoYToM.


Soon afterward worked down into
the Gulf of Mexico. The first coral /
raised was in Catoche. Knocking around
about there l heard of the loss of the
schooner Foam. The first mate and
three men got saved, but the captain, his
daughter, and three men got lost. 1
slung round te see if she could be raised.
After we'd spent the best part Of The
week we sailed over her and dropped
anchor. 1t was lovely Sunday morn
ing when we struck her. SEe lay in
sixty feet of water on bottom as white
as the moon. Looking down could see
her leaning over on one side upon the
coral reef When | got down to her I
saw she'd torn great gap in the reef
when she ran against it. The mainmast
was gone and hung by the fore; I clam
bered up; I saw whole shoals of fish
playing in and out Of the matches. First
went to look for the bodies, for l never
like to work while there's any of them
about. Finding the fo'castle empty, l
went to the two little state cabins. 1t
was rather dark, and had to feel in the
lower hunks. There was nothing in the
first, and in the other the door was lock-
ed. pried it open and shot back the
lock with my adze. 1t flew open, and
out something fell right against me. l
felt at once it was woman's body. l
was not exactly frightened, but it shook
me rather. slung it from me and went
out into the light bit until got hold of
myself. Then turned back and brought
her out-poor thing She'd been very
pretty, and so | carried her in my arms
with her white face nesting against my
shoulder, she seemed as if she was only |
sleeping. l made her fast to the line as |
carefully as l could to send her up, and |
the fish played about her as if they were |
sorry she was going. At last gave the
signal, and she went slowly up, her hair
floating round her head like pillow OF
golden seaweed That was the only body
found there, and l managed after to
raise pretty considerable of the cargo.
One of my expeditions was among the
silver banks of the Antilles, the loveliest
place ever saw, where the white coral
grows into tree. like shapes. AS l step
ped along the bottom it seemed as if
were in frosted forest. Here and there
trailed long fronds of green and crimson
seaweed. Silver-bellied fish flashed about
among the deep brown and purple sea
ferns, which rose high as my head.
Far as could see all round in the trans
parent water were different colored
leaves, and on the floor piles Of shells so
bright in color that it seemed as if had
stumbled on place where they kept a
stock of broken rainbows. | could not
work for a bit, and had a quarter deter
mination to sit down while and wait
for mermaid. guess if those sea girls
hive anywhere, they select that spot.
After walking the inside out of half an
hour, l thought l had better 60 to work
and blast for treasure. A little bit on
from where | sat were the remains of
treasure ship. 1t was Britisher,
think, and cOrals had formed all about
her, or rather about what as left of her.
The coral on the bottom and round her
showed black spots. That meant de-
post of either iron or silver, | made
fairly good hauls every time went
down, and sold one piece l found to Bar
mum of New York.
After l left there l had curious ad-
venture with shark. was down on a
nasty rock bottom. A man never feels
comfortable on them; he can't tell what
big creature may be hiding under the
huge quarterback sea leaves which grow
there. The first part of the time was
visited by a porcupine fish, which kept
sticking its qulllsup and bobbing in front
of my helmet. Soon after | saw big
shadow fall across me, and looking up
there was an internal shark playing
about my tubing. 1t makes you feel
chilly in the back when they're about.
He came down to me slick as looked
up. l made at him and he sheared off
For an hour he worked at it till could
stand it no longer. If you can keep your
head level it's all right, and you're pretty
safe if they're not on you sharp. This
ugly brute was twenty feet long, shonld
think, for when lay down all my length
on the bottom he stretched considera-
BILE way ahead of me, and could see
him beyond my feet Then waited. They
must turn over to bite, and my lying
down bothered him. He swan over
three or four times, and then skulked off
to big thicketof seaweed to consider.
knew he'd come back when he'd settle
his mind. 1t seemed long time waiting
for him. AT last he came yiciously over
me, but like the time before, too far from
my arms. The next time had my chance,
and ripped him with my knife as neatly
as l could. A shark always remembers
he's got business somewhere else when
he's cut, so off this fellow goes. 1t is
curious thing, too, that all the sharks
about will follow in the trail he leaves.
got on my hands and knees, and as he
swan off l noticed four dark shadows
slip after him. saw no more that time
Thev did not like NV connanv