Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-08-11

windows, strong enough to with
stand the pressure of the water, and
also protected with guards-the front piece
may be unscrewed, 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 ana is most delicate piece of
mechanism. Should any accident hap
pen to the air hose or the force pumps, the
valve instantly closes, inclosing air enough
TO support the diver until he can be drawn
TO the surface and the helmet 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 20 pounds.
then walked, or rather "shufled," +" to
ladder descending into the water, where the
front and back weights were adjusted, which
weigh about 40 pounds apiece. At this
period had about come to the conclusion
that the captain must have had some old
time grudge against me and proposed to
wreck
TERRIBLE REVENGE,
now that he had me in his power. / was
then asked if 1 was ready. Knowing no
particular reason to the contrary, 1 answered
that l was, and the final instructions were
given. Keep your nerves steady, don't
get Hurried. II you feel sick to the
stomach or bleed at the. nose or ears, pull
the lie line and we will haul you up at
once-if you feel all right stay down as long
as you wish. The helmet was then pulled
overmy head and fastened and moment after
felt myself being slowly lowered. The
instant the water closed over me it seemed
a. if the head had been inclosed in a con-
tractable helmet filled with razor-like spikes,
which seemed to penetrate the head IN all
directions, causing an intense and indescrib-
able pain. Tighter and tighter it seemed to
grow and the spikes appeared about to meet
in my head. As was upon the point of
inconsistencies there came a sudden shock,
as il some one had struck the helmet a sharp
blow with sledge hammer. Instantly the
pain vanished and was succeeded by a
strange feeling of numbness, as one feels
when doing. Slowly this passed away and
much relieved / attempted to rise to a
standing position. This proved somewhat
difficult of accomplishment NV feet, de-
spite the weight Of the lead .soled shoes
seemed determined to float upward
while it appeared as if some giant
power had fastened itself upon nv
neck and was attempting to push
my head into the sand at the bottom of
the river. After several Intellectual at
tempts, however, 1 finally succeeded in as
suming an erect position, and clumsily
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-alr, but at the same time the
nenslty OF the water causes a feeling of con-
slant contraction, as if the body was being
slowly squeezed in a wise. Tie surging of
the air through the helmet now became al
most unbearable; it appeared to enter at
one ear, pass completely through the head
aud exit on the opposite side. A feeling of
nausea now assailed me, and, considering
that had accumulated about all the
knowledge of diving that desired, / pulled
the signal line and was drawn to the sur
face. The crowd gathered around expect
ing to see me weaken, but they were disap-
pointed. / assumed a cheerfulness was
far from feeling, expressed delight at my
experience, but declined pressing invita- |
tion to descend again.
A DANGEROUS PROFESSION.
During the return trip the Captain con-
versed quite freely and related several of |
his experiences. "People know very little |
about our profession" he said. ''In order |
to become a successful diver, man has got |
TO be in some respects q model being. In |
the first place he must possess undoubted |
courage, cool calculation, great presence of |
mind, and be free from nervousness or tie /
the vices of dissipation. 1t may safely be
said that man takes his life in his hand /
every time he makes descent. There are so /
many accidents that may happen. You
must remember the terrible pressure the
water exerts; at the depth of 100 feet the
pressure Is o2H pounds to the square inch.