Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1885-11-27
A STORY OF THE SEA.

Imet a diver at Halifax day ago
who was working on wreck OF the
coast. "Is it true,"I asked, "that divers
see such wonders when they 60 below ~
He told me a story Of thrilling inter-
est in reply. A large ship laden with
silks and valuable stuffs had been
caught by the vagrant tides Of the gulf
and borne through the fog toward the
Newfoundland coast till the face of
tall cliff loomed against the bowsprit.
Then swell rolled in, lifted the vessel,
and laid her across a sunken rock that
barred the mouth of Chance Cove. Not
many minutes afterward she lay at the
bottom of the gulf inside, with all her
costly bales, her crew, and her passen-
gers. The undertow soon began to cast
precious boxes upon the land, and the
underwriters despatched divers and
boats and men to recover the sunken
cargo. 1t was in the autumn OF the
year, and when the sea grew smooth
the divers began their work. Three
boats were employed, in each Of which
were four men, one to go down and fas-
ten hooks into the bales, and three 9TH
ers to raise the package and put it upon
the boat. Each diver had proper suit,
and from his head arose large rubber
tube through which he could breathe
with tolerable ease, as the water was not
very deep. Upon his feet were lead-la-
den shoes to keep him from rising to the
surface, and he carried heavy crow
bar.
One afternoon when dinner was end
ed and the sea had grown smooth
enough to permit operations, the boat,
served by a diver of the name of Harley,
rowed out from the rocks ahead of the
others. During the night there had
been heavy gale, and through the calm
of the morning innumerable creatures
of the sea, driven by the gale into deep
er water, had returned to the stiffness
under the shelter of the cliffs. AS US
ual the diver let himself drop from the
skiff's side, holding his crowbar in his
hands. When he reached the ship
host Of strange fishes swan away in ev-
ery direction. A number of squids had
entered the vessel through breach in
the side. When they perceived the fig
ure of man among them they became
frightened, and began to squirt jets of
black juice till the water grew murky
and appeared like a room filled with
dark green smoke. Then the filthy
creatures swan away, though once or
twice a clammy horn brushed past the
mask of the diver. In little while,
however, the water became clear again.
All about him was shining amber
green, and he could distinguish objects
for distance Of twenty fathoms around.
Sometimes a fish with bright gills and
flashing scales would swim toward the
open hold, but on seeing the diver,
would turn with flirt of fin and tail
and disappear. The detestable yellow
sculpin, with its black manning spikes,
would come and swim round and round
his feet; then it wonld gradually rise,
surveying him all the way till it reach
ed his head. Pausing here it would peer
in at his eyes.
While he was engaged fastening the
cant-hooks into a large bale Of India
shawls he imagined that he saw some
large object moving in the deep gulch
under the cliffs. He secured the hooks,
gave the signal to hoist, and the pack
age was raised. He now walked clear
of the vessel, and stood upon the level
rock at the sea bottom. He saw slowly
approaching huge and ill-shapen crea-
ture. 1t did not swim, but seemed to
crawl along the bottom Of the sea. Har-
lev would have gone to the surface. but
the hooks were now above, and the men
were engaged taking the bale on board
In a few seconds the montser was near
! enough for the diver to ascertain that
ifs body resembled that Of turtle, that
it walked upon a number of crooked
legs, and had, near its head, npon either
ST, lie, an enormous arm. The arm ter
mi mated in what seemed a pair OF enor'
mo u. jaws, and in each of these gleam'
ed a row of strong, sharp teeth. At frs
he thought that the creature might moi
have observed him, but he quickly saw
that its two cleaning eyes were fixee
upon him with steady stare, and thai
the hideous thing was coming directl!
for himself. II the hooks would onl!
descend, or another diver come down
He looked up, but could perceive moth
ing save the figure Of the boat aboy
him, resting like little shadow upoI
the water. Then he took two or thre
PAGES along The ships side, but the fsl
Immediately changed its course, an
crawled i'm such direction as TO cut ol
retreat. The fish was now only a fe'
feet distant, and the sun burstin
through q cloud shone shimmerin
down through the green water, full
revealing the creature. Its armor wa
dun russet, and a pair Of antenna
long and supple, each like coachman'
whip, protruded from his head.
Then the truth came upon Harley
This was the inexorable monster, th