Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1875-03-17
Whole No. lsS.

put my shoulder to the door, and
showed it back against the waters,
and resolutely entered. An awful
silence was upon everything-a 81
lence as of death. / was a'one, at
the bottom Of the sea, in the saloon
Of the Conqneror, and close about
me were postured, like grim senti-
nels set to watch me in my work,
the officers and crew Of two hun
dred I!
"Ycs, there were the Inflated
men, as they stood when death
overlook them on that awful night,
when they were hurried from their
births on the alarm that they were
sinking. Before they could reach
the stairway, the mighty waters had
rushed in upon them, and they
died where it had met them, at the
threshold.
"The eddying waters carried
them here and there through the
cabin, but still, so close were they
to one another, that l had to part
them now and then to reach the
after cabin, and more than one
turned, as | slowly passed along,
and followed in the wake / made
behind me. Their faces were often
c'cse against my helmet, and it
holrifled me to notice that they al
wore still upon their features the
impression of the terror that had
come upon them in death.
"You mustn't think me heartless
if l say went at once to my work,
for we divers con,tantly 60 through
such scenes, and | knew well enough
before l went down, that they were
awaiting me there. felt it as
keenly as you would, sir: but l was
sent down to do certain things, and
| had TO start about it at once.
Still, l was glad enough when l
stood again on deck, ready to so
above with my first report, and /
gave good strong pull on the sig
nal-rope.
"a moment passed, and I was
terrified at receiving no response
from a second or third signall
81 pulled the rope again-stW
',o reply!
"Grcat Heaven what did it meant
Had they forgotten me Were they
going to leave me there at the bot
tom of the sea with that awful
crew?
81 no sooner realized my help
lessness than an uncomfortable ter
ror took possession of me, while
horrible doubts and fears came
rrowding into my brain. Surely
they would not desert me-surely
hey had not forgotten me I Ipull-
ed madly at the cord once more,
md, glancing up, perceived that
steadily resisted my
efforts from the masthead above.
"Was it some monster who was
playing with my rope l-some great
fish who was holding it in his jaws!
In my desperation l threw my
whole weight on it, and-it gave
way, and fell slowly, silently OH the
leck at my feet! The ragged,
'rayed ends, which had become Ell
angled in the rigging, were in my
lands and the upper half of the
'ope had foated away with the
ide.
AZ was alone at the bottom Of the
ea, with no means of signaling my
distress The India-rubber tube,
which was my only means Of breath
ng, was yet left TO me but as soon
Is they should begin to wind in
he ropes and tube, on some sup
,osed signal from me, it would snap
n two, and the waters would come
n upon me.
81 need not tell you Of the wild
error which took possession Of
ne you could not appreciate it.
knew the men were close TO me
'nly thirty yards above-yet must
lie because ! could not reach
heml / raved like madman, and
ried to tear my armor from me,
,ut It's iron rivets held me fast. I
houted piteously ,uselessly, through
he silent waters, my cry going no
urther than the wall of my helmet.
was beside myself in my awful
error. I tried to pray, but could
rot control my maddened brain.
81 fell upon the deck at last, ex-
,austed-in an ominous stupor-a
flank dcsnair-and sank into IN I