The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-12-24
ADDITIONAL LOCAL.
THE T0ILERs OF The SEA"
Diving for Nails at the Bellafre
Bridge-At Work Twenfy-fOnr Feet
Under the Surface OF the ONO

Mr.. Hiram Hill, the well. known diver
from Cairo, Ills, began operations on the
sunken nails and glass at the pier OF the
bridge at Bellaire, yesterday, where the
barge "Gisnt was wrecked some weeks
ago. When REGISTER reporter arrived
at the bridge yesterday afternoon, he
found the good people of Bellaire
and Ben wood in state of great commo-
ton. The shores were lined with people
and the middle pier of the bridge was
black with boys and men who were
clustered on the projecting layers of stone
and watching with great interest the
proceedings of Mr.. Hill and his men.
Boats were proceeding hither and thither
between the shores and barge containing
the men and in some OF them could be
seen the iuttering shswls and wells and
gay plumsge OF the softer sex.
Hailng one Of these boats, that re-
senbled floating dry goods box and was
capable OF travelling some three-quarters
OF mile an honr, the reporter
proceeded to the barge from which
Mr.. Hill and his men were working and
which was listened under the northern
arch of the bridge. MIR. Hill is q man OF
some fifty years OF age, strong and
healthy and has been in this business for
about thirty-fve years. At present he
does not go under the water himself, but
employs Mr.. George Smith, who has
also been in the business for many years.
In few minutes helmet of copper, re-
sembling u kettle, with little glass win
dows at the sides and front, came sudden
~ out of the water, and the diver clam
bered up ladder to the deck, He was
clad in the ordinary suit of diving amor
made oi thick and strong Rubber cloth,
with a sort OF shoulder piece or collar OF
copper, upon which the helmet was Sc
cured. His shoes reminded one of the
Leader mans, as they weighed ten
pounds each, having sole of lead an
inch thick, in order to walk in a strong
current and remain at all times on the
bottom, save when otherwise desired.
Mr.. Smith stated that the river bottom
was s.rewed with bottles, broken glass
ware and nails, some of the latter being
in kegs and some loose In the mud.
during the morning (work having be-
gun At about o'clock) while on the other
side OF the pier, he had no trouble IN seeing
about him, as the water WAS not very
deep. but where he was last there was
over twenty tour feet of water and he
could distinguish objects only by his sense
of touch.
The manner of operating is very sim.
pie. The diver having located the Ob.
iect which he desires to raise walks down
a ladder which extends from the deck 10
the river bottom, and takes with him
small guide rope, to which is attached
pair of graphing hooks shaped exactly
like those used by an ice mar when he
leaves your lump of ice. To the han.
dies of the hook is attached
a strong hosting rope, which runs
through pulley aud acts like any ordi-
nary "whip" or hosting machine. The
diver fastens the points of the hooks
under the rim of the keg heads, and on
Jerking the rope the keg is hoistcd up
on deck. Two hundred kegs Of nails
and one large box of glass were raised
in this manner yesterday. Ii the wealth
er is favorable the work will be COM
peted within week, and if not it
may be month or two before the job is
ended. The price of getting up the
kegs is about twenty-five cents each,
which Is paid by the Peabody Insurance
Company
When the keg reaches the deck hole
is cut in 1t to allow the water 10 run out
and then they are placed in tiers TO
drain. Where there are no distractions
y smart driver can keep the "whip" go
ing almost constantly. The mails are
very badly rusted and if not used soon
will be worthless. As the men were very
busy it was impossible to gather as many
facts as desired from Mr.. Hill but we
will give them shortly.