The tribune. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1875-03-03
TIE OCEAN DEPTHS.

am n diver-a diver from choice
and amprenl of myprofession. Where
IS such courage required as is needed
here 1t IS nothing to be n soldier; q
diver, however-but forbear. 1 will
tell my story, and leave others to Judge
concerning it.
An appalling shipwreck occurred, not
long ago, upon the widest part of the
coast of Newfoundland. The tidings of
this calamity reached the ears of thou
sands but, amid the crowd of accidents
which followed in quick succession, it
was soon forgotten. Not by us, how
sunk upon q spot where the waters
depth was by no means great and that
daring man might easily reach her.
She was steamer called the Marmion,
and had been seen going suddenly down,
without au instants warming, by some
fishermen near by. She had, undoubt-
edly, struck hidden rock, and had thus
been, i'll one moment, destroyed.
spoke to my associates of the plan,
and they approved it. No time was lost
III making the necessary preparations,
and short time beheld us embarked in
our small schooner for the sunken
ship. There were six of us, and we an
tihipated extraordinary success
boO ttSCiJ "AS VIC WuUtr UlluU no VoStlQe
of ships mast remained above the sur
face, to point out the resting place of
the Marrnion. We were compelled.
therefore, to select the scene of opera
tions according to the best of our ability.
Down went the sails of our schooner.
and Rlmmer and L put on our diving
armor. We fixed ON our helmets tight
lv, and screwed on the hose. One by
one ZACH clumsy article was adjusted.
W. weights were hung, and We were
IA ks terrible blackish Berton,"
Id klnn. er tO me.
,.., on, replied, gayly, cts only
little mist al right -
'Ah ! He uttered low exclama-
tiou, which sounded hollow from his
" cavernous helmet.
90 All ready" cried, in n loud voice,
which they, however, could not easily
distinguish. Then, making a proper
sign, was swung over the side.
Down we went, first, and Rimmer
close behind me. 1t did not take a long
time Tor us to reach the bottom We
found ourselves upon what seemed a
broad plain, sloping downward, toward
the south, and rising slightly toward the
north. Looking forward then, a dim,
black object arose, which our expert
enced eyes knew to be Il lofty rock.
AS yet, we could not be certain that
this was the place where the Marmion
had struck. But soon n round, black
object became discernible, as we glanced
ut the rocky base.
Rimmer struck my arm, and pointed.
L signed ascent, and we moved onward
more quickly.
few moments elapsed; we had come
nearer to the rock The black object
now looked like the stern of vessel
whose hull lay there.
Suddenly Rimmer struck mo again,
and pointed upward. Following the
direction of his hand, looked up, and
saw the upper surface of the water all
foamy and in motion. There was n
momentary thrill through my heart, but
it passed over. We were in a dangerous
situation. storm was coming on
But should we turn back now, when
we We're so near the object of our search 2
Already it lay before us. We were close
beside it. No, would not. signalized
to Rimmer to go forward, and we still
kept our course.
Now the rock rose up before us, black,
rugged, dismal. Its rough sides were
worn by the action of the water, and
some places were covered by marine
plants and nameess ocean vegetation,
We passed onward, we clambered over q
spur, which jutted from the cliff, and
there lay the steamer
The Marmion-thore she Law upright
with everything still standing. She had
gonerlGht down, and had settled in such
position, among the rocks, that she
stood upright here, just as though she
lay mt her wharf. We rushed eagerly
along and clambered up her sides
There was low moan in the water,
which sounded warningly in our ears,
and told us of swift-approaching dan
ger. What was to be done must be done
speedily. We hurried forward. Rim
mer rushed to tho cabin. went for
ward to descend into the hold. I de-
scended the ladder. walked into tho
engineers room. All was empty here,
oil was water. The waves of the ocean
had entered, and were sporting with the
WORKS OF man. L went into the freight
room: Suddenly was startled by nm
appalling noise upon the deck. The
neavy footsteps of some one, running, as
though III mortal fear, or most dreadful
haste, sounded in my ears. Then nv
heart throbbed wildly; for it was n fear-
full thing to hear, far down in the silent
depths Of tho ocean.
Pshaw it's only Rimmer
hlrriedly asconded the deck by the
first outlet that appeared. When /
speak of hurry, speak of the quickest
movement possible, when encumbered
with 80 much armor. But this move