Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-06-28
A Diver Gives Up His Dangerous Cali
philadelphia Record.l

lfDllHutl mia Hts'ihsI
Hermann Wolters, the diver, who Is
widely known in marine circles OF this
CITY. has been compelled to abandon his
perilous business and return to his
home in Germany. Mr.. VOTERS sailed
on the Fuida from New York on Friday.
His occupation has produced a peculiar
effect upon him. Sounds as OF
railroad train travelling at fast speed
are constantly passing through his ears.
These sounds are clear and distinct.
They trouble his sleeping hours as Sc
yerely as they annoy and sometimes
| main htm when awake. This singular
result of work beneath the water came
on gradually, and finally became so
distressing and alarming that the pa
tient was compelled 10 give up his oc-
cupation and attempt to seek relief IN
his native country.
Mr.. Wolters was one Of the most
expert and successful divers In the
country. lie once made q descent OF
$50 feet below the surface Of the water,
and remained there for twenty-five
minutes. This, Of course, was IN a
diying-dress, not in bell, which can
not make such deep voyages to the
world beneath the sea. In the repair
Of the large Waterman across the
Schuylkill, below Columbia bridge, he
was below the surface for two hours
at a time, and has done even better
than this in the Delaware. Fol-
twenty years Mr.. VOTERS has
made his living beneath the wa
ter, and in that time has had
many thrilling experiences. One of the
most usualtasks be was engaged in wa:
the placing of dynamite cartridges
about the foundations of wharyes, IL
order to cut the piling away to make
r room for better ones. On one OF these
( occasions, when he was ten feet below
D the surface in his dress" the rope b!
a which he made signals to the men aboy,
e when he desired to rise slipped from il
(; place and drifted away. When he wa
j ready TO be pulled up, and reached TO
4 the rope, he was Mortified to discover it
loss. Hecouldnot get up himselfbecaus
S of the weight of the suit. The situa
K ton was terrible one. He was res
y cucd in most remarkable manner, bu
J, he did not know how curiously unit
/ he found himself being raised to tn
Q surface and was pulled into the boat
: The rope-tender said that he had fel
the usual signal and pulled up. Tn
. signal-rope was, however, still belo'
}. the surface, and was still being pulle
l. at from beneath. Ii was hauled ar
e and neatly caught in a slip-knot, as i
d the meshcs Of net, was large cal
{, fish, which had saved the diver from
q dreadful fate in its efforts to get away
J. Mr.. wolters had the fish preserved !
re alcohol and exhibited as curiosity fc
n many years.
On another occasion, when workin
10 in wreck below the breakwater, Nj
n Wolters met with an incident Of quito
10 CHASTITY character. He was busy placir
,s some cartridges under the vessel so 1
"a to blow portion Of the wreck ava
y when something released from the hol
foated up and became for a few SECOND
% entsneled in his diving apparatus. !
!, could see we'll enough to clearly distil
d guish the hslf-eaten body OF man WI
= had been drowned when the vessel wei
!. down. The body 1oated up within .
u inch Of his face to the surface, and Va
= in q moment followed by two other
. members Of the crew. who lad bef
. taken 10 the bottom when the wrec
= went down. All these things did NJ
u Tighten tbs plucky diver, however, 80
had II not been for the effect Of u
pressure Of cir upon bis auditory nerve
= Be would probably still be foIlovir
!, that dansespus calling.