The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1886-11-10
THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA.
CURIOUS SIGHTS THAT ARE BE-
HELD BY A DIVER.

When a craft is once sunk in shallow
water, efforts are made as soon as practi-
cal to relieve her of her cargo. This can
be done in one way only-by using the
diving-bell or diving dress. The wreck
ing vessels, after making THAR soundings
in the vicinity of the disaster, place bouys
directly over the wrecked craft, which
greatly help the divers in their work. If
strong ocean currents flow near the YES
sci, considerable risk and danger to life
is run by the divers. The rope secured
to their belt may be parted at any mo-
ment, and they left to the mercy of the
waves. In case of such a mishap their
heavy dress would instantly carry them
to the bottom and the air. tub being dis
connected by the violent jerk, all chance
of escape would be cut off.
The experiences of diver are many
and interesting. After he has once
reached the sunken vessel, whether by
being lowered straight down from the
wrecking craft or by walking along the
bottom of the ocean to avoid currents,
he must search through the hull of the
ship as though she were floating upon
the surface of the water. To do this he
carries small lamp with him which
| gives out peculiarly brilliant light
when under the water, and makes the
surrounding objects glisten with all the
colors of the rainbow. Care must be
| taken that the air-tube does not get
| tangled up in any way, or cut by fric-
| ton against the side of the vessel. Un-
fortunate divers have frequently lost
| their lives by this means, when explor-
! ing the intricate passages of vessel at
great depths below the surface of the
water. Danger is also experienced from
heavy pieces of timber, boxes, barrels,
and even dead bodies, which are often
| floating around in the hold of a sunken
vessel. A diver, once telling of the trouble
that he had in exploring wreck, said
that he was constantly annoyed by sew
eral heavy chests which kept moving
about with every swell of the sea. One
came so near to his diving-bell that he
was forced to give it violent push,
which sent it against the opposite wall
of the small cabin. Instantly it rebounded
and came within an inch of the divers
head dress, which it would have quickly
broken had it struck it. But by dodging
in time the chest passed harmlessly over
him, and the next moment it collided
with another similar chest. The force
of the collision broke one of the hoops
of the huge box, and the next moment a
glittering pile of newly stamped gold
coins rolled out upon the floor of the
cabin. The chest had been used as a sort
of treasury box by the captain, and all
of his valuables were locked up in it.
Besides gold and silver pieces of money,
rich jewels and precious stones escaped
from the brass bound chest and presented
to the divers gaze rare sight. The
light from his small lamp, shining
through the water, made the golden heap
seem brighter than ever.
Exploring a sunken wreck is like Wis
iting submarine city, depopuated by a
food. The broken spars, torn rigging,
and fallen masts and blackened hulk, all
suggest the presence of death and de-
struction. Through the black mass
fishes of every size and species glide,
and around on the rocks and sand beau.
tiful specimens of submarine fora and
fauna grow. Huge sea.spiders and crabs
haunt these solitary depths, and make
the wrecks their abiding places, even as
the lizards and reptiles OF the land con-
gregate in long deserted houses and
make them their homes. Floating sea.
|
spars and rigging, and in time the whole
wreck is covered over with light green.
ish messy substance.
The diver when walking under the
sea is permitted to see some of the most
beautiful and picturesque scenes the eye
can imagine. For thirty feet below the
surface of the ocean the solar rays are
distinctly visible through the watery
| Ill ,sal,, Il
for several hundred feet around. Beyond
that the tints darken into fine gradations
of ultramarine until they fade into vague
obscurity. The white sand, wrinkled
as though each billow had left its
impression at the bottom of the sea,
seems almost like reflector. His lamp
seems unnecessary In this transparent
fluid; but rs he advances and the water
increases in depth, darkness gradually
settles around him. Dark objects are
soon outlined in the distance, and the
fine, white sand is changed to a Shiny
mud, composed of equal parts of silicious
and calcareous shells. Flowers, plants,
molluslzs, prickly fungi, rocks, and
various -colored shells seem to spring up
from every side, and the rays of the sun,
striking the water and shading these
submarine wonders, form a perfect ka-
leidoscope of green, yellow, orange, violet,
indigo, and blue. Plains OF sea weed. Of
wild and luxuriant vegetation, make a
carpet of unrvaled softness, while per-
feet network of marine plants and sea-
weed float over his head. Beautiful
star-fsh, queer shell-ish, and variegated
stones bedeck the rocks and bottom of
the sea like precious gems. Thousands
of fish Of all varieties and fierceness swim
around in hocks or singlY, darting hiIher
and thither after their prey, or quietly
watching the daring intruder. In the
midst of these submarine wonders, and
under the arbors of rich plants and flow.
ers, the diver unhesitatingly makes his
way.-ArqonaUt