Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1876-01-29

the sand and some for working ahead
when down in the sand. | also fitted
ND twelve section Groves battery for
busting purposes l viii here state that
l went with new parties the second
time, not liking the management Of the
first parties in settling the salvage; cor
sequently there were two expeditions
the second trip. The old parties Ar
rived at the wreck soon after did with
large and wei! fitted expedition, with
four old and experienced divers in com
mon kinds of diving. They, however,
met with trouble they little expected.
1t was such perilous work that | had
to take my life in my hand and risk it
with perfect recklessuess, and | sup
pose the opposition that existed between
those two expeditions was as bitter as
could be. The old parties were sofely
vexed because I had lett Them, so we
expected no help from them in case OF
accident or trouble of any kind. Both
parties were armed with cannon, rifles
and revolvers. Every man went to his
WOl cdCii
THE MODE OF OPERATING.
With over 240 pounds suspended
from my shoulders, 1 made two dives
per day for sixty days, averaging from
one to four hours each. Upon dIscov-
erine box of gold, never left it until
it was secured. I also fastened small
tcdoe-anchor to the water hose, about
forty feet from the nozzle, thus leaving
only forty feet for me to handle.
usually made the first dive in the morn
ing, johnson attending to the life line
for signals, which consisted Of certain
number of short pulls for different pur'
poses, as may be agreed upon. Alter
being rolled overheard and slowly low
cred to the bottom, l would ascertain
my locality by looking up to see how
the bottom of the boat lay "a person
under water can only see what is IN the
water. aud nothing out of it) and then
stagger towards the shore over the riu-
ces of land. When nearing tne break
ers a roller would start me on the run
for a few steps, and then | would De
stopped short and would perhaps fall
which was warning to creep the rest
of the distance. On finding the uozzle
of the water hose | would tie it to me
so it could not be jerked out of arms
reach, otherwise l might be left buried
in the sand, and as it was once
BECAME FASTENED IN THE SAND,
about seven feet deep. and gave myself
up as lost. 1t happened i'll this way:
On reaching the locality Of the treasure
| would sit down, holding the nozzle,
pointed down. between my legs and
signal for the steam pump 10 start the
water As soon as hole was cht un'
der inc l would enter it feet 1 premost
The water would drill hole about the
size of barrel. At this time | descen-
ded to a plate of boiler iron, and IN
turning the stream of water in front OF
me to work my way off the boiler plate,
| became fastened by the sand closing
around me from -hehiud, which 1t did
almost instantly. Ny arms were buried
as far as the wrists my hands being the
only part OF me not buried as solid as
if in a mould and metal run around me-
The nozzle had jumped out ofmy hands
and was swinging at the end OF the
rope which was tied 10 me. 1he up-
dertow carried it over my head, the
stream of water passing over my head
and pointing in shore. | was in an
easy position, but being packed so solid
| could not make an effort to clear my.
self or make signal or receive one,
expecting every moment the escape OF
air would be stopped, thus bursting the
air, hose, which would be the end of all.
l remained in that position over two
hours Git seemed ages as | learned on
coming up, for when at work under
water person has no idea of time what
ever, and perhaps l would be there now
had not huge roller come crushing in,
strai ghtening the water hose, kedge an-
chor, and all in shore beyond me, and
pointing the stream of water directly
against me-, thus washing me out. AT
ter that took the two and half-inch
water hose and tied it to my back, the
nozzle dischargiug near the calf of the
leg. Railways called that my pet and
never again went without it. 1t kept
the water coming up behind mein such
a manner that The sand could not settle,
thus giving me the large stream to
work with.
HOW THE TREASURE WAS RECOVERED.
Iu making examinations with the
feet, if anything was found containing
square corners, long steel hook which
carried tied TO my dress, was forced
down beside it. II it should prove to
be box Of gold, would come to the
surface Of the sand and signal for set
of long steel spring hooks. which | had
invented for the purpose, to be sent to
me. Then the surf boat would be sent
in as near me as possible, and the hooks
would be thrown toward me until felt
them strike my helmet. Then would
descend again, with the hooks in one
hand and the other manipulating the
hose to cut my way down 20 the box.
After finding it and springing the hooks
down on it, / would signal 10 the surt
boat to pull on the hook line. Then
by drawing the nozzle up gradually,
letting the sand settle under the box. rs
fast as the boat lifted, it was brought
to within two or three feet of the sur
face of the sand without great trouble
But Just there would be the tug Of war.