The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1886-07-29
ADVENTURES OF A DIVER.

Gulf of Mexico. The first coral raised
was in Catoche. Knocking round
there, heard of the loss of the schoon-
er Foam" The first mate and three
men got saved, but the captain, his
daughter and three men got lost. [
slung to see if she could be raised. Af-
ter we'd spent the best part of the
week, we sailed over her and dropped
anchor. 1t was lovely Sunday morn
ing when we struck her. She lay in
sixty feet of water on bottom as white
as the moon. Looking down, l could
see her leaning over on one side upon
the coral reef. got down on her and
saw she'd torn great gap in the reef
when she ran against it. The main
mast was gone and hung by the fore; L
clambered up; saw whole shoal of
fish playing in and out of the matches.
First went to look for the bodies, for
1 never liked to work while there's any
of them about. Finding the fo'castle
empty. went to the two little state
cabins. 1t was rather dark, and I
had to feel in the lower hunks.
There was nothing in the first,
and in the other the door was locked.
I pried it open and shot back the lock
with my adze. 1t flew open, and out
something fell right against me. felt
that it was the woman's body. l was
not exactly frightened, but it shook me
rather l flung it from me, and went
out in the light bit until | got hold of
myself. Then l turned back and
brought her out-poor thing! She'd
been very pretty, and SO l carried her
In my arms; with her white face nest
ling against my shoulder, she seemed
as if she was only sleeping. l made
her fast to the line as carefully as l
could to send her up, and the fish played
about her as if they were sorry she
was going. At last gave the signal.
and she went slowly up, her hair float
ing round her like pillow of golden
sea-weed. That was the only body 1
found there, and 1 managed after to
raise pretty considerable of the cargo.
One of my expeditions was among
the silver banks of the Antilles, the
lovliest place l ever saw, where the
white coral grows into curious tree-like
shapes. As stepped along the bot
tom it seemed as if l were in frosted
forest. Here and there trailed long
fronds of green and crimson seaweed.
Silver-bellied fish flashed about
among the deep-brown and purple sea-
ferns, which rose high as my head.
Far as [ could see all round in the
transparent water were different color
ed leaves, and on the floor piles of
shells so bright in color that it seemed
as if had stumbled on place where,
they kept stock of broken rainbows.
could not work for a bit, and had
quarter determination to sit down and
wait for mermaid. L guess if those
sea girls hive anywhere, they select
that spot. After walking the inside
out of half an hour, l thought had
better 60 to work and blast for treas
ure. A little bit on from where 1 sat;
were the remains of treasure ship.
1t was Britishcr, l think. and corali
had formed about her, rather.
about what was left of her.
The coral on the bottom and round her
showed black spots. That meant a de-
posit of either iron or silver made
fairly good hauls every time 1 went
down, and sold one piece 1 found to
Barnum of New York.
After left there had curious adj
venture with shark. was down on
rock bottom. A man never feels
comfortable on them; he can't tell
what big creature may be hiding under
the huge quarterback sea leaves which
grow there. The first part of the time
L was visited by porcupine fish. which
kept sticking its quills up and bobbing
in front of my helmet Soon after L
saw big shadow fall across me, and.
looking up, there was an Internal shark
playing about my tubing. 1t makes,
you feel chilly in the back when they're
about. He came down to me slick as.
looked up 1 made at him, and he;
sheered Off For an hour he worked
at it, till could stand it no longer. If.
you can keep your head level, it's all
right. and you're pretty safe if they're
not on you sharp. This ugly brute was,
twenty feet long, 1 should think, for,
when l lay down all my length on the
bottom he stretched considerable
way ahead of me, and 1 could see,
him beyond my feet. Then waited.
They must turn over a bit, and my "
ing down bothered him. He swan over
me three or four times, and skulked off
to q big thicket of seaweed to consider
l knew he'd come back when he'd
settled his mind. 1t seemed long time
waiting for him. At last he came
viciously over me, but, like the timei
before. too far from my arms. The
next time l had my chance, and ripped
him with my knife as neatly as T
could. A shark always remembers he's,
got business somewhere else when he's;
cut, so off this fellow goes. It is a
curious thing, too. that all the sharks
about will follow in the trail he leaves.
got on my hands and knees, and as
he swan off l noticed four dark shad-
ows slip after him. saw no more that
time. They did not like my company.
Captain Boyton.
Hot Corn for Fowls.