The Osceola times., 1881-07-30
DIVERS WHO USE NO AIR PIPES.
Concentrated Oxygen Carried with Them
Successfully In a Tank
InndnIl Linz


Mr.. Fleuss has given at Portsmouth,
some practical illustrations OF the merits
of his new diving dress and Of his an
paratus for enabling persons TO live and
work in noxious gasses. The principal
Of his invention approaches almost to a
realization of julie Nerne's whimsical
but ingenious story Of Twenty Thou
sand Leagues Under the Sea-" in which
the characters walk aoout on the ocean
bed without being troubled with force
pumps and air-pipes. The main differ
ence between the real and the imaginary
system is the substitution Of artificial
for compressed air. A diving dress and
and helmet are only used by Mr.. Fleuss
for the sake OF warmth and personal
comfort when below the water, neither
being in any way necessary TO enable
him TO breathe. He carries below with
him the raw material OF life, in the
shape of a supply Of concentrated oxy-
yen contained in small reservoir or
tank which he slings over his shoulder
like a knapsack. AT every respiration
he draws from his stock, by means of
tube and mOuthpiece, the exhausted gas,
after being strained through sponge
saturated with csustic soda. returns 10
resplenish the tank, the impure ingredi-
ents alone being permitted 10 escape.
In this way the diver can remain under
water three or four hours, and penetrate
into situations which are impossible ~
the ordinary diver, who is compelled to
drag lengthening pipe at every step,
and Is always liable to the danger Oh
getting entaneled with the means which
.upply him with air. One day last
week Mr.. tleuss descended into the
Steam Basin, which he traycised from
cad to end without experiencing any
difficulty, either as regards locomotiun
or breathing.
Gn the following day he demonstrated
his ability to work in smoke and poison
Gus gases. The test on this occasion
was remarkably severe one. A fire
was kndled in the was'e-house with all
kinds of dock yard refuse, the smoke
giving of. being of the densest and most
pungent description. Mr.. Fleuss carried
The same magazine with him as before.
but divested himself of the diving dress
his only protection being a pair of gog.
gles which covered his ewes and fitted
lightly upon his nostrils. Thus armed
aud provided, Mr.. Fleuss entered the
smoke, in which he was willing TO re.
main an hour or more, but at the end OF
half an hour he was desired to come
out, as it was considered that if he could
exist in the midst OF such fumes for that
length of time longer uial was super
huous. On emerging Mr.. Fleuss seemed
IN no way distressed by the crucial Or
deal through which he had passed,
being apparently as fresh as when he
began. As a means of dealing with fires
on board ship, which usually break ont
N inaccessible places. or of penetrating
mines where foul air is known 10 have
accumulated, his apparatus was deemed
al that could be desired; but with re-
,pect TO diving operations 1t was cons
l 1ercd that, although the principle
rendered the diver independent Of
others and enabled him to move about
With perfect ease, the necessity of ma
aipulating the valves which regulate
hc air supply would materially detract
rom divers working capacity under
ylter Mr. Fleuss has, however, de-
Ionstrated that it is possible to live be-
oS the water-line for hours and with
mt any connection with the surface,
and, consequently, without presenting
10y object to the fire OF an enemy.