Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1889-09-20
TERRORS OF THE DEEP.
ADVENTUROUS CALLING OF THE
PROFESSIONAL DIVERS.

but Found That Enough-A Terrible
Duel with a Shark Under the Water Over
the Dead Bodies of a Woman and Child.
The sensation of a walk at the bottom of
the sea is one never to be rgotten-there is
something SO weird, SO supernatural in this
defiance Of the laws of nature that ones mind
is filled with a sort of pleasurable dread that
his temerity will speedily be punished in some
hitherto unheard of manner. Strange tosay,
the expectation is not at all unpleasant. One
Of my earliest friends was Capt George w.
Townsend of Boston, the veteran diver and
submarine architect, and some of the happi-
est of my boyhood days were passed in his
Office listening to his stories of adventure be-
meath the waves. A sho.t time ago, when at
home on a visit, renewed our old friendship
and was invited to accompany him to the
governments works at Fort Warren, Boston
harbor. of which he had charge.
ONCE WAS ENOUGH.
After an hours sail we anchored above the
works and the suits and apparatus were got
ten ready for the divers. With a twinkle in
his eye the captain delivered me to the ten
der mercies of half amphibious monster
known as Jim, who, believe to this day,
would have been an honor to the Spanish in
QUESTION. After ordering ME to undress he
produced heavy suit of fannels, which
donned, then the diving suit was put on. 1t
is made of sheet rubber, protected on both
sides with heavy tanned canvas and is built
more for strength than beauty. The suit is
divided into three parts; the upper is the
helmet, the intermediate the breastplate and
the lower portion the dress. The helmet is
made of copper and fitted with three plate
glass windows, strong enough to withstand
the pressure of the water and also protected
with guards-the front piece may be I'M
screwed, so that the diver coming up to rest
may do so without removing the rest of the
suit The inlet valve through which the air
is pumped is fixed in the back of the helmet
and is delicate piece of mechanism. Should
any accident happen to the air hose or the
force pumps the valve instantly closes, in
closing air enough to support the diver until
he can be drawn to the surface and the he'll
met removed.
Having got me inside the dress, James now
fastened the collar, placed the life line about
my waist, and tied on a pair of stout leather
shoes with leaden soles weighing about twenty
pounds.
1 then walked, or rather fshuffied," to a
ladder descending into the water, where the
front and back weights were adjusted which
weigh about forty pounds apiece.
The helmet was then pulled over my head
and fastened, and moment after felt my
self being slowly lowered. The instant the
water closed over me it seemed as if the head
had been closed in contractable helmet flied
with razor like spikes, which seemed to pene-
trate the head in all directions, causing an
intense and indescribable pain. Tighter and
tighter it seemed to grow and the spikes APP
peared about to meet in my head. AS was
upon the point of Inconsistencies there came
sudden shock, as if some one had struck the
helmet a sharp blow with sledge hammer
Instantly the pain vanished and was succeed
ed by numbness, as one feels when DOING
Slowly this passed away, and, much relieved,
attempted torise to standing position. This
proved somewhat difficult of accomplishment.
My feet, despite the weight of the lead soled
shoes, seemed determined to float upward
while it appeared as if some giant power had
fastened itself upon my neck and was at
tempting to push my head into the sand at
the bottom of the river.
After several Intellectual attempts, however,
finally succeeded in assuming all erect posi-
ton and clulnsily stumbled around the works.
Walking under the water is very slow work.
The head and body feel very light, as if one
was floating in mid-air, but at the same time
the density of the water causes feeling of
constant contraction, as if the body was being
slowly squeezed in wise. The surging of the
air through the helmet now became almost
unbearable; it appeared to enter at one ear,
pass completely through the head and exit on
the opposite side A feeling of nausea now
assailed me, and considering that l had ac-
cumulated about all the knowledge of diving
that l desired, pulled the signal line and
was drawn to the surface. The crowd gath
cred around expecting to see me weaken, but
they were disappointed. l assumed a cheer
fitness 1 was far from feeling, expressed de-
light at my experience, but declined a press
ing invitation to descend again.
NERVE Is NEEDED.