The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1888-11-11
/ SUBMARINE STUDY.
Thrilling Adventures Under the
Sea by q Diver.
a Reporters Experiences In Div
ing Dress Visiting TIE Wreck
Of the Oregon

hexying waves OF the deep piue sea-
In those realms are scenes, objects and
living creatures at once queer and IN
describahly attractive either for their
wond rous pecnliarities OF marvellous
beauty. In this bonndless submarine
territory thore are subjects o. ef'dies
interest, and Il il as yet unexplored,
for none bat professional divers have
t.een shere. and they only TO very
small extent. Our little knowledge Of
what there 1. III the under-oeean world
has to great extent been furnished
from sueh sources. Strange 10 say,
there i no record Of such character
as an amateur diver. except IN the
single instance Of Mr.. Henry A. War
rem. an English gentleman Of large
wealth. advanced education and every
accomplishment available in Euro
mean universities. Chemistry has
been bis particular charm, and cleo
trfcity his fascinating hobby. He
Is an expert practical eiec-
tririan and has devoted much
tine and attention 20 apparatus
for submarine illumination. One. OF
the results of his lab0rs and researches
h : submarine lamp which can he car
ried IN the hand, lowered by weight,
or-atfaehed TO a small electric motor
of his oxn invention. can he sent IN
der water. under complete contro, by
wire in any direction. For lighting
mn the bottom OF river or bay so that
everything can lie distinguished from
the surface. and for suddenly illumin-
.tine the waters around hostile war
vessel. and thus insuring the explosion
OF a torpedo TO destroy the ship, 1t Is
on q recent dark night Mr.. Warren
had invited few friends to witness
some experiments. We went on the
Wall street ferry wharf at midnight,
the river at that late hour being more
clear Of vessels than nj any other time.
A slender wire cable had been run
over across to the Brooklyn side and
sunk to the bottom, attached TO IL were
10 az the submarine lamps. The cleo
tric current was turned on and the APP
narafus began to work. At first. as
no peered over the bulkhead and
strained our eyes In the effort 10
see through the shadows overhaneing
the river we could see a line Of tiny
SHARKS like needle points tipped with
flame. then. az the current was in
creased. these sparks became as large
n yainuts and Of lurid intense
white glow, sparkling. cleaning. fash
ing almost as continuous blazing
line. or like a creyice of a volcano In
in it, first outbreak in the bed of the
river. The effect was wierd, spectral
and supernatural in the extreme. Just
nj that time tug boat, having YES
sci in tow, came along. and when In
close proximity to the submerged
blaze the pilot was heard 10 ring his
bell signals violently, at the same time
yelling In terror-stricken tones to the
engineer: Back herr for heaven S
sake, back herl The bottom of the
river Is split OPEN Hell has cracked
through We're all goners-sure.n At
that moment Mr.. Warren shut off the
current and the blazing light van
ished, leaving the waters under the
gloomy pail OF shadows. Then he
started his motors with lamps In two
different directions. They were in
visible until far out, when each flashed
out brilliant CLEANS that illumin-
ated the wafer for considera-
bic distance. Dumfounded at this dis
play the the pilot and crew looked
on, speeches. then seemed
20 guess at the solution OF the mys-
terry. At all events they ''made the
welkin ring with vigorous and impo-
lite abjurgations. When they related
their experience to friends, subse-
quentlv, they were credited with hav-
ing suffered from spellof jim jams
and advised 10 sign the pledge and
drink no more.
There Is much OF truth and reason
In the axiomS: Lille is what we make
IL; and every man makes his own
world" Apt illustrations of this are
seen in the methods and habits of life
adopted by gentlemen Of wealth and
leisure. In this connection, II may be
appropriate 10 make mention OF the
fact that MIR. Warner enjoys the DIS
tinction of being, probably, the only
amateur submarine explorer in the
world. His initial experience as n
diver was in the pursuance and ad-
yancement of his electric theories and
practical mechanical inventive enter
prises. Frequent and protracted peri
CARNATIONS under the pillows Injured and
and more. until he was developed into
man, explorer and adyenturer En-
ainored OF such adventure, he has ira
yersed, far and near, the domain Of
old Neptune, visited the realms of the
Naid Queen, "gallantcd" her water
nymphs, itir,ed with the mcrmaids.
stared at sea serpants, and fled leyia
o. NJ a s.sA NJ.
His speedy. trim and stauuch steam
yacht. appropriately named "N@id
Queen" Is a small floating palace, and
besides is complete seagoing outfit il
Is supplied with extensive apparatus
for diving. lie IS never so contented
rs when, clad in diving costume, he
sinks beneath the surface TO the bed Of
the ocean below. where he sauntcrs 20
aud fro. and finding All inexhaustible
field Tor research and discovery One
OF his fondest pecuiiarities is dispo-
sition for visiting and exploring sanken
wrecks 81 large ocean steamships.
In response 10 his invitation &C.
eompaniei him on one of his tours IL
was one of the miidest and loveliest
of September days when we started
and in short time located the spot
where the steamer Scotland went down
in a collision, many years ago. IN the
upper bay of Governors island. But
little remains Of that once splendid
ocean craft, a the general government
caused il 10 be shattered and removed
by the use OF dynamite. The few shat
tered serswny ribs and ragged odds
and ends that are visible present a
dolc{ul. sorry appearance.
Then We turned our course south
ward and outward beyond Sandy
Hook, out on the open sea. continuing
along the Long Island shore until we
anchored directly over the wreck Of
the Inflated steams ship Oregon on
our voyage down Mr.. Warren had pro
poSci that >hould don diving suit
and accompany him down 20 the
wreck. With some reluctance as well
~ misgiyings | assented and gut into
the eanvaS.fubher suit. Next. the men
placed the pousierOns shoulder piece
and helmet on. and screwed up the
glass easement. | ieli ike one isn.
prisoae,i IN patent metallic burial
cas- Ct Ted 10 the so,es OF nv feet
ard slunc serosS my back were heavy
hallRsting weights Of Head when they
helpel rae over the side Of the vessel I
frlt a. cumhfpus as some huge. un-
calmly yhln0cerOs or hippopotamas.
That was an uncomfortable feeling
hDf not any comparison Ia the Ssnsa-
tions 81 dread, apprehension aud
and doubt when | dropped into the
water. EEh i-ooch an, yah--h p
fairly yellsd. A. piunecd beneath the
surface and began Ca descend RAPIDLY.
| yelled ana h1arta. twice or thrice