The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1876-02-10
LITERARY
THE DIVERS STORY.

10 De caught IN tight place, with
twenty fathorns OF water above and q still
ness, as OF death around you, q slender cord
your only means of communication with
those above-to be caught in a tight place,
say under these circumstances, is about
enough to craze a man outright! | can tell
you, sir, and that old diver leaned back in
his chair, and fixed his eyes thoughtfuly on
the roaring fire before which we were seat
ed can tell you, sir, it's often a toss of
penny with us, when we once get in among
he timbers of an old wreck, if we ever come
to the surface again
IL remember pretty tight fl got into
when we were diving into the Conoueror.
up the Sound, off the Connecticut shore.
She was coming in from the Mediterranean.
after three years cruise with the .middies'
and went down i'll gale in sight of home.
with every sou. on board. | was young
then. and anx ious to be the first sent down
into her, for the sake Of the reputation
which meant money; money you see was
he only reason. Nettie and were defer
ring our marriage. You can understand
how matters stood, and how glad was when
in receipt Of orders to make the first dive
into the old man-of-war
1.-The sea was running pretty high as l
was carried down in my heavy .armor, from
the deck Of the steamer to the float along
side, where the ropes by which to haul me
up again were fastened on; the india rubber
tube, though which was to be supplied
with air was ajusted, and l stood listening
to my final Instructions before being nut
overheard
''Now. dear boy" said my old friend and
instructor, Lott, the famous deep sea diver
who came forward to close the little glass
window IN my helmet, take good care of
yourself. and don't stay long below. The
current was swift anu treacherous about
here; aud keep an eye TO your ropes, or
they II get tangled Now. then. good-by.
old fellow, and coed luck TO you and with
pleasant smile he closed the glass.,loor
before my eyes, and fastened over i, the
protecting wire-setiIng
They bore me up IN their arms 10 the
side OF the float where the hungry waves
were leapiug up. as through greedily open
ing their froihy jaws TO receive me-
II dropped into the waves with splash.
sinking swiftly down through the brilliant
sdnllt water, which, though rough and
bolsterous at their surface, suddenly grew
calm as passed below. l glanced up at
the sun, which appeared IS great bali Of
FIRE. but. growing smaller and smaller as
sank lower, 1t finally seemed like the tiny
red speck of candle. and then faded from
sight, noticed that the waters were lit by
pale geeenish haze much like the effect Of
moonlight IN light, drifting fog: out these
observations were cut short By my realix-
ing that was near the bottom, and look
ing below. found myself over a bank Of
tall, thick seaweed.
'.knowiug that il we're once en,anrled
in them, they would hold me there for ever,
pulled the signal rope violently, and my
descent was checked just as my feet touch
| Ell the trcacaerous grasses. The tide bare
me slowly along and passed. them turning
me around again and again in the eddies
| and making my head SO giddy that vas
heartily glad when cleard the hank and
stood Al last upon the bright sandy bottom.
The shells and grave! on the bed of the
| waters were most delicate and beautiful ia
formation. aud exquisite in design, but so
tender that even shells crunhled at uy
! touch.
II hurried on with the currer, until I
saw before me what Judged to be the srea,
wooden walls OF the Conquercr, but on near.
ing 1t found II to be reef Of rocks, fanci-
| July honey crmbed from end to cad. and in
and out among the little arched halls Of
these fern-cosered chambers the Ssh we're
chasing each ether playfally or hanging
! idle in the waters
| Passing around these rocks. Icame upou
mass Of tangled rigging. and few steps
farther brought rac to the nan-of-w was half
buried where she lar, in the drifting sand.
her srars and scpmasfs crushed and splinter
ed upon her decks: her sails and rigging
hanging over the sides and resting upon the
broken hulwarks
.sGreas caution unnecessary less shouId
becsme enian9aed anoag the repoa =
caught nnslsr ne sAi0ing timbesn. -
naking ~ uaYsaoun u - eelpan1 -