Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1878-10-10
Our Selected St07,Y.
JACK, THE DIVER.
Thrilling Narration OF Doincs Under
the Deep. t.

Thrilling Narration OF DoinEs Unde
! the Deep.
"Jack,.' says the reporter, ''they tell III
that sou have history. 4 truly remarkabl
History; will You give us Tie outlines Q
it?''
"Aye, aye, sir, if you wish,'' replies tn
old tar.
Reporter-''I hear it said that You ar
the Oldest submarine diver now living; i
it truc?'
Jack-''I suppose am, sir. am sixty
four year old, al.d have followed divin
forty-tiye years o my life. SIR
RI notice, Jack, that your voice il
somewhat impaired; what brought tha
about?'
J.-''Diyin', sir. Sometimes, you know
when ones been down under water d Ions
time, the air gives out an then it's an aw.
50 many o. tlem times that it's made mt
kind O. hoarsc."
Ri suppose. Jack, that you are toe
old to ever do any more diving?'
J.-''Wiat's that p
R.-''You could hardly stand it now to
follow the diving-business, supposc:"
Jack rose from his seat. drew himself up
to his fullest height, and tor a moment did
not speak. 1t was easy to see that his in
tell locutor had yentured upon dangerous
ground.
''Too old to dive!r said he, with great
emphasis, mot bit of it. sir. AS soon as
times get a little better Ill be at it again.
and I'll make more money in one day than
thcs land lubbers make in Il month. Bat
continued he, his anger dying away, ''you
wanted me to spin Il yarn about myself.
Well. was born in Dublin, ould Ireland.
in March. 1873. went to sea when was
between nine and ten years old. l sailed
almost Ill over the world. 1 went to the
West Indies and to tie East Indies. saw
considerable of war. too. l sailed OIL the
English gun-boat Talayeria, Of seventy
four guns, in 80. l WAS in the battle OF
John Dare. and received medal for
barvery willie there. sailed on the frigate
Brandywine tor two years and three
months. Thea l went OH a West India
mail steamboat. Finally l went aboard
the steamer Dee. 1t was while was OH
'ler tilat began to dive. / came on deck
one day, and, in fun. said that would like
to dive. | sa;,l-in sport, you know that
| didn't believe there was anything so
great about-tl:y;n' after all We had sew
cral divers with us. you know. We were
r;:sin' wreck in the English Channel. Il!
VAS tic wreck of an East India merchant
man that had sunk. She WAS loaded with
all sorts of merchandise. They were rails
IN her with rubber bags. The diver wou!i
70 down and take with him a big air-tigf;
rubber bag. Each of them bags, when
Tiled with air, would raise five tons. They
were fastened all over tie vessel, and con-
nected with rubber pipe. After we had
fastened hundreds ot them to her, air was
into 'em ant! they lifted that YES
sci out of the water just as easy as rollin'
off log. 1t was to f.sten OH those air.
bags that the divers were hiresl. had
often wished that l could be diver. be-
cause they were getting G45 a month.
while we sailors were making only 93.
But had never thought that could, be-
ca,,se didn't suppose | had the grit to
learn. Many man gets killed while learn
in to dive. you know. But, as | was tell
in We. one day came on deck and was
sayin' that would like to dive, when the
Captain took me up. Said he. i want you
to go below and shorten up that wheel
rope.' I would have given most anything
to have got out of it. but wasn't going to
back down. because if had would never
have heard the last OF it. | got on the
and in the afternoon went below.
| can't describe to you the feelin' thai
comes over man when, for tie first time,
he puts on the armor and gets ready to
dive. The great, heavy helmet makes him
feel as if he was goin' to smother. AS |
looked at the long rubber pipe leadin' from
the air-pump to my helmet, l thought
what if that should get broke while Was
down below. Some careless fellow might
step on it. and shut off the air, an then
what would become O. me? Before went
down had to learn the signals. Beside
the long hose that came down and connect
ed with my helmet, there was lifeline
about my waist. which signalman on
deck held. That is of almost us much con-
sequence as the hose. | was learnt if !
wanted more air should jerk on the hose
once; il less air was wanted, two pulls; il
wanted 'ein to take up the slack on the
hose. was to pull three times on it. Then
there were signals on the lifeline. Ono
Jerk on the line meant Hold on.' one pull
and shake, Lower away;' two jerks.
Pull up!' (whatever the tackle may be at.
tached toy; three pulls, Take me out.
There are several signals. There's one
which every signalman knows all about.
that means, Pull me out quick. for Goes
sakev Finally, after Id got ready, they
lowered me down. The minute struck
the water felt all right. The heavy feel
in of the armor went away, and | seemed
az light as feather. As soon as struck
the deck OF the wreck began to walk
around. 1 couldn't see very well, and
had to be careful not to get my lifeline
tangled n the rigging. ] hadn't been,lown
long before wanted more air. felt as II
was smotherin'. Oh. it was terrible
The most peculiar thing about mans
feelings, when for the first time he's down
below a divin'. is the pain that takes him
in ths head right behind the ears. 1t feels
a. If some one was stickin' . sharp knife
into him. 1t put me in terrible misery,
and it was some little time befe-a ! got
over it. stayed down over an hour, an
when come up ! bled pretty bad out Of
the eyes. ears, nose and mouth. Ba: | felt
big, / tell you. because / hadn't allowed
them to bluff me Off.
Jack gave graphic description of tfe
appearance Of the first sunken steamboat
into which be ever went. II was about
two miles from shore that the vessel hal