The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-12-31
AGONY UNDER WATER.

wrecked ships sway this way and that in
obedience to The swell.
Do you recall the fate of the screw
steamer Wave, which went down on the
south coast several years ago? a stanch
craft, well manned, heavily loaded, having
large passenger list, she was seen of
Beachy Head one June night at midnight
during a storm. and that was the last seen
of her until the divers dragged and found
her, and went down to meet the death
stare of the many corpseS.
1t was my johnny Job to raise her for
Ter owners If l could, and my task to go
down first and meet the sights which
might have startled the younger divers
which startled me-
We found the Wave after a time, resting
on the bottom, thirty fathoms down. Few
divers like to go over hundred feet; fewer
will go $50, and not half dozen in the
country ever ventured down as deep as $50
| feet 1t takes a deal of life line and hose
when be goes down that far, and it makes
the pumps labor and strain to furnish him
! air.
| had with me two good divers, but
neither would go down until L had first
made an exploration. Not a pound of
| freight, not a single body Of the fifty or
sixty had been washed On shore, and the
divers knew what 4 sight would meet them
down there at the bottom.
! Carefully gathering up my lines walked
past her stern 600 feet to the west, and a
| huge rock rose mp in my path, looking like
| a mountain. Striking upon this, near the
surface, the Wave had staggered along 4
moment and then plunged down, to be
! forever hidden from the sight of all but
the divers. Walking back l passed clear
around her, climbed up on the dislodged
/ freight and looked into the huge or;fce
through which cab could have been
driven. She would never float again.
| With spirits much depressed at the
| gloomy prospects / walked clear of the
vessel, up the incline, found my rope, and
in little time was at the surface again
and on board the boat. All the men above
were pecuniarily interested, and we held Il
consultation.
1t was too late 10 90 down again that
afternoon, bat at O'Clock next morning /
was ready to go over the boats side for the
second time.
Fifteen minutes after / Has standing
beside the wreck again, dreading the task
before me- The swell was little stronger
than before, as there was u fresh morning
breeze above, and | could hear cracking
and grooming of machinery as the screw
swaycd this way and that The pile OF
freight had been added to and several
other bottom planks were just ready TO
burst out.
Passing around the freight l reached
the bow of the Wave, and then it was
easy enough TO get on BOARD. One of her
| anchors was down, and It was the work of
a moment to ascend by the cable. On deck
everything looked as il the ship was yet at
the surface pursuing her voyage. Moth
ing had been broken or disarranged, and
the pilot house doomed up before me
through the green water, proof that the
ship had not fought against storm.
knew what should find up there One
corpse perhaps two, would be floating
about, humping against the roof as the
vessel yielded to the strength of the swells.
But l went round to the step. pulled open
the door, gave one look inside and then |
fell back and FASTENED away Both steers
men were at the wheel, both standing up
right, grasping at the spokes, and one of
them had looked 1T me with his great glass
eyes and nodded his head Alive? Pooh!
1t was childish of me to feel afraid of the
dead when | had searched out so many!
After a moment reached the step again,
hesitated and then mounted up beside the
dead steersmen. Brave menl they must have
felt the shock, heard the shouts and walls
of the crew and passengers, felt the ship go
ing down TO her dark grave; bat they clung
to their post. Both hands grasping the
spokeS, they stood So II alive, their heads
nodding as the ship rolled / must clear
them out, though dreaded to touch their
bony hands.
Bracing myself, seized the first one,
jerked at him, aud finally his fingers left
the spokes and had the body in my arms
Pushing it out through the door | saw it
whirl about two or three times and then
slowly ascend. The other would not leave
the wheel until had unclasped his fingers
one by one, and then his long arms swayed
about as if seeking TO grasp me. When be
had been sent after the others | felt easier,
and had not so much dread to meet the
sights which were TO come. | knew that
the cabin would be full of passengers; that
the dead occupied the staterooms; that
should find them down on the main deck,
and so / avoided those places, and made
my way round to the Office. The door was
shut, and l halted a moment and read the
little gold sign over il. | knew the steve
dore would be in there, and seized the
knob and slowly opened the door.
The water rushed ont in 3 volume. but
nobody came. pushed the door further
in and at length walked into the room.
There were trunks and garments floating
about, desk knocking against the par
-itioD, papers and books TO be seen every
there: hut | WAS looking for something
lse-for the stevedore. Ipeered here and
dere through the thick water. brushed
ack the pauers and WIS feeling a sense Of
lief. when I felt so--c, hing seize nv legs
With q scream Of &C. ,,r I jumped back
nd locked down. the corpse was
ere! Its arms vS-e widespread. the |
Ts-crs bent like hcoss. and the face bore
expression Of Ggo-y y.h.ch made my
esh creep. reached do7T2. ssizcd foct.
Id soon nd m-self C TIE anweIcome
-eserce. Then ! carefully fa;t about IN
ny foot Struck tie iron safe, and |
=ized II by the handle. could not have /
1Oved it except down there. where the I
rater gave me great advantage. drew /
10 the rail, heaved it over. and following /
down dragged it mp the slope to my /
anchor rope. Signaling u the men above !
they sent me down a weighted line. and /
directly the safe went up out OF sight /
Whether a hundred or thousand pounds. 4
we had all the money, at any rate.
As stood with nv hand on the cable. 4
ready to go M, some one touched me on 4
the shoulder. Turning quickly around /
screamed out At the sight. Two OF the 1
deck hands were standing close beside zaA /