The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-02-24

LOsttn tile Deep Sea.
Although the diving bell is said to have
been known to the Phenicians 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
beeches 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-
Ion 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
diving armor of various kinds has been
made use of with more or less success,
but in 1880 the discovery of india-rubber
afforded an opportunity for important
additions and improvements to subma-
rine diving dresses M. Rouquarol, a
French mining engineer, and M. Benay-
rouzo, a Lieutenant in the French navy,
perfected what is known as the DenaS-
rouzo 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 a supply of condensed air
in a 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
a 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, pair
of thick rubber leggings and boots COM
bined. These end at the waist in an
iron band furnished with iron clamps.
Straps oflead 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 large copper helmet,
with a strong ringbolt on the top, and
below which, securely fastened to it, is
a rubber jacket, ending in an iron band,
so constructed as to meet that of the
leggings and be tightly fastened to it.
The sleeves of this jacket are gathered
around his wrists and tightly tied. The
Jacket is ola more pliable stuff than the
.leggings, so as to enable him to more
easily use his hands and arms. The
diver puts on his leggings, and then a
hook attached to the end of rope
through block and generally worked
by steam engine, is hooked into the
ring on 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-
fectly helpless. The front of the helmet
has glass door covered with wire.
which is opened for him while the com
pletion of the dressing goes on. The
sleeves of the jacket are tied, the bands
of his leggings and jacket are screwed
tightly up, the leaden anklets and gir-
die secured, air pipe screwed on, and
shutting the door of the helmet, the
diver is ready to be ''swung off," In
his hand the diver carries lender cord,
with which he signals his wants from
below. The depth at which men can de-
scend with armor on has been tested.
with the following results: The diver
can breathe, and his organs may retain
their normal condition and he preserve
his presence of mind, to adepth of 100
feet, but when that depth is exceeded by
ten or twenty feet the external pressure
causes physiological effects on his
organs, independent of his will. Within
the limit OF 100 feet, security to life is
perfectly assured with a practical diver.
THE BEAUTIFUL VISION UNDER WATER.
The first sensation in descending is the
sudden, bursting roar in the ears, caused
by the air driven into the helmet from
the air-pump. The flexible air hose has
to be strong enough to bear a pressure of
twenty-five or fifty pounds to the square
inch. The drum of the ear Yields to the
strong external pressure, the mouth
opens involuntarily, the air rushes in the
tube and strikes the drum, which snaps
back to its normal state with a sharp,
pistol-like crack. Peering through the
google eyes of glass in his helmet, the
diver sees the strange beauties about him
clearly, and in their own calm splendor.
Above him is a pure golden canopy,
while around and beside him are tints
and shimmering hues, including all
colors, which are indescribably elegant.
The floor of the sea rises like golden
carpet, inclining gently tolthe surface
The change in familiar objects is wonder
full. The wreck of ship seems studded
with emeralds, glittering in lines of
gold piles of brick assume the appear
ance of crystal, ladder becomes silver;
every shadow gives the impression of
bottomless depth. An instance of cool
determination and courage in overcom-
ing unforeseen dangers occurred to a
diver who was engaged in the recovery