The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1888-06-29

not see very far under the water. and
at . certain depth the light does not
penetrate sufficiently free tn allow one
tn see any thing; but very few divers.
70 ying on their own powers. can go
deeper than daylight. Shells and
small objects on the sand at depth Of
fifteen or twenty feet assume huge pro-
portions. Once when tried to catch
little crab that had plainly seen
through the clear water as 1 steod
on a rock eighteen feet above it. tho
creature looking like adevil-tish when
got under the surface. extended both
its gaping claws at me and frightened
me away.
"A dangerous mistake that young
divers often make 10 going down to
great depths without calculating how
long it will take them to come Up
again. Their lungs want relief when
they touch the bottom. and then. for
the first time. they realize that there is
long upward swim between them and
the fresh air. As they rise they are
sorely tempted in the great pain and
Distress that ensues. to gasp out their
exhausted breath aud take in whatever
happens to he nearest to their lips
Water is roor substitute for air when
the lungs are empty. 1t not only
smothers the man who takes it in, but
it 80 increases the weight Of the body
that there can no longer be any hope
Of its rising unait!ed to the surface
with any spark of life remaining it it
An exrcrt diver will burst blood yes
sci before he will be tempted to open
his mouth under waite. Indeed. in
diving matches l have often come up
with my nose and mouth flecked with
blood, and have seen dozens of others
rise in the same condition. For this
reason hardly think that diving can
lie classed among the thoroughly
healthy and life-pro.onging exercises.
though, practiced within the bounds Of
prudence, lido not suppose it can do
much harm. To a young man who
wishes to make sensation the art is
especially valuable. When he stands
by the side of his dripping sweetheart
in Coney Islands surf. and telling her
not to he alarmed for he will be up in
. minute. plunges under the foam, he
is very likely to keep his word. but the
minute passed in waiting for a way
ward lover who has stepped around
the corner to look ut the clock. though
it may be filed with vexation born
of conviction of the true reason OF
his abandonment. is a totally different
space of time from the minute spent
in watching for his head to appear
again above the tumb.inS waters. and
when he arises at the expirati on of
sixty seconds. or even in good deal
less time. he is ap: to find the young
lady in Mysteries and the whole beach
in commotion. A minute under water
is equivalent TO about half an hour on
dry land SO far as ones appreciation Of
the fight of time is concerned.
Very few amateurs can remain
submerged longer than sixty seconds
and not many professionals can exceed
two minutes. They can travel more
rapidly under the water than on the
surfa"e, and with less muscular exer-
ton. because every particle Of the body
has support. l have heard of man
falling into the water and fainting be-
fore he went under. who was fished
ont three hours afterwar,l and restored
to life. This is extraordinary. if true;
but, you know people who 60 into
frances live sometimes for days withou,
any respiration being perceptible. and
it may be possible that fainting man
under water is in the same condition.
and can live for 8. me time wi;hou; air.
animation being absolutely suspended
II have been told that drowning is
an easy death. 1t may be so after wa
ter has taken tho place of air in the
lungs Of the dying man. Then. per-
haps. the beautiful visions present
themselves; but up to that time every
diver knows tina: the longing for
breath and the struggle to avoid brea:h-
ing must be terrible. ~ j. Sum