The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1883-03-22
SUBMARINE DIVING.


TF,e Dangers and Pr8fits of n Perilous
yocatiOn--A Divers Encounter with a
Shark--The Wonderful Beauty of the
ocean Notwithstanding Treasures
LostIn the Deep Sea.
Although the diving BELLS said to have
been known to the Ph9nicians 800 B.
c., but little progress appears to have
been made in its use, and up to the mid
die Of the last century scarcely anything
was known regarding the bottom of the
sea, except what was thrown up on
beeehes or from chance specimens Sc
cured by sounding lines or sea-dredging.
With the appliances of modern science
men have attempted to extend their
knowledge as well as to work under
water. The expert native divers of Cey-
lon and India, in securing coral, pearls
and sponges, are enabled, on an aver
age, to remain under the surface about
two minutes, although instances have
been noted where an endurance of three
and half minutes has been attained.
Such specimens of endurance are rare
and seldom attained without severe in
jury, soon resulting in death. Submarine
made use of with more or less success,
but in 1880 the discovery of india-rub5er
afforded an opportunity for important
additions and improvements to subma-
rine diving dresses. M, Rouquarol,
French mining engineer, and NJ, .Benay-
rolzo, Lieutenant in the French navy,
perfected what is known as the Denay-
r0uzo apparatus, the best that has ever
been produced. 1t consists of an air.
pump, receiver and reducer, diving
costume and the requisite hose, signal
tubes, ropes, weights, ladders and tools.
A submarine lamp is also provided, and
in the Italian navy the diver can
disconnect himself from the pump,
carrying supply of condensed air
in magazine on his back This
apparatus works automatically; though
the air-pump may be worked irregu-
larly, its action is regular. When the
diver is down the air he expires rises in
bubbles to the surface, by which means
his condition is known by the watchful
assistants. In the old diving-dress the
expired air passed into the space between
his body and the clothing, and out from
valve in the helmet; but as the excess
OF air supplied escaped in this way also,
it could not be told from this whether
the diver was alive or dead.
THE DIVERS OUTFIT.
The diver suit consists of first, apair
OF thick rubber leggings and boots COM
hlned. These end at the waist in an
iron band furnished with iron clamps
Straps of lead weighing together ninety
pounds, and which are made to fit about
his ankles and waist, are intended to
give him weight enough to withstand
the current. On the upper part of his
body he wears a large copper helmet,
With strong ringbolt on the top, and
below which. securely fastened to it. is
rubber jacket, ending in an iron band.
so eehstfocteds as to meet that of -1he
leggngs and be tightly fastened to it.
The sleeves of this jacket are gathered
around his wrists and tightly tied. The
Jacket Is of a more pliable stuff than the
leggngs, SO as TO enable him to more
easily use his hands and arms. The
sdIyer puts on his leggings, and then
nook attached to the end of "a rome
through block and generally worked
oy steam engine, is hooked into the
nngon the top of the helmet, and this
with the jacket is hoisted and let down
over his head With this once ~on the
DIVER above the oceans surface is per-
iectly helpless The front of the helmet
mas glass door covered with wire.
winch is opened for him whilethe com
petlon of the dressing goes on. The
sleeves of the jacket are tied, the bands
@ his leggings and Jacket are screwed
lightly up, the leaden aifklets and soir-
Ole secured, airpipe screwed. on. and
snu'ting the door of the helmet, the
wv h.Nef is ready.to be s'swung off," In
.,I11 ns nand the diver carries slender cord,
Msh which he signals his wants from
ses9w. The depth at which men can de-
sceno with armor on has been tested.
win FAe foHowing results: - The. diver
.aii oan breathe. and his organs may retain
sneif Il: normal condition and he preserve
us presence OF mind, to adepth of 13O
wy wv put when that depth is, exceeded by
.eno or twenty feet the external pressure
oauses physiological effects on his
Ygals. independent of hisMill. Within
fgslllpF oE ld0feet, security to life is
pefleetly assured with practical diver.
i,a y, BEAUTIFUL VISION UNDER WATER
sniI Inc hrst sensation in descending is the
aa' asaaaen' bursting. roarin the ears, caused
y y 'ne ar driven into the helmet from
ag fsfIHssmp, The flexible air hose has
t,yos - oo strong enough TO bear pressure of
I'VE ;;"ShhtSslise or fifty pounds to the square
.:s-sss sa, The drum Of the ear Yields to the
o, oaSn external pressure, the mouth
tens ,,,S involuntarily, the air rushes in the
aaoe and Strikes tka I,..,,ro l:I
aaek 70 its normal state with a sbarp
r.ssoi-ilke p. crack. Peering through the
spsgie eyes of glass in his helmet. the
80, set sees the strange beauties about him
abas,ss s Ian ana IN their own calm splendor.
ANY, sS2Se nm is a pure golden canonv
sas sf,ie around and beside him are fints
SososI se,Is IsMmmering hues, including ali
Tbo's' Tbo = which are indescribably elegant
Earn. p uoor OF the sea rises ike golden
ss'P0'' mellning gently to the surface.