Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-01-15
the terror that had come upon them in

the terror that had come upon them in
death.
You mustn't think me heartless if |
say | went at once to my work, for we
divers constantly go through such scenes;
and I knew well enough before | went
down that they we're awaiting Inc there.
| felt it as keenly as you would; but | was
sent down to do certain things. and had
to start about it at once. Still, was
glad enough when 1 stood again on the
deck ready to 60 above with my first re-
port. and | gave good, strong puD on
the signal rope.
A moment passed. and was terrified
at receiving no response from a second or
third signal.
pulled the rope again violentiy-wait-
ed-stiII no reply.
Great heavens! What did it all mean?
Had they forgotten me? Were they to
leave me there at the bottom Of the sea
with that awful crew? | no sooner real
lied my helplessnesS than an uncomfortable
terror took possession Of me, while horri-
bic doubts and fears came crowding into
my brain Surely they would not desert
me! Surely they had not forgotten me!
pulled madly at the cord once more, and
glancing up, perceived that there was
Something steadily resisting my efforts
from the masthead above.
Was it some monster who was playing
with my rope?-some great fish who was
holding it in his jaws?
In my desperation | threw my whole
weight on it, and-it gave way, and fell
slowly and silently on the deck at my feet.
The ragged frayed ends, which bad be-
come entanged in the rigging, were in
my hands, and the upper half Of the ropes
had floated far away with the tide.
| was alone at the bottom Of the sea.
with no means of signaling my distress!
The India-rubber tube, wkich.wa my only
mears of breathing, was yet fast to ne;
but as soon as they should begin to
wind in the ropes and tube on some sup
posed signal from me, it would snap in
two, and the water would come in upon
me.
need not tell you the wild terror which
took possession of me; you could not APP
preciate it. knew the men We're close to
me-Only thirty yards above-yet | must
die because | could not reach them! |
raved like mailman and tried to tear my
armor from me, but its iron rivets held me
fast. | shouted piteously, uselessly,
through the silent water, my cry going no
further than the wall of my helmet. | was
beside myself in my awful terror. | tried
to pray, but could not control my mad
dened brain.
fell upon the deck at last, exhausted
IN an OmlnOuS StupOr--a Sullen despair
and sank into Inconsistencies. When |
recovered | was calm-prayer came to my
lips, and with it peace and resignation
to my heart.
| had left the cabin door open and freed
the prisoned dead men. One of the dead
sailors had fooated up to the deck, and by
some horrible chance the tide bore him
directly toward me. Was | to be sur
rounded once more by those ghostly SEN
tinels as death-watch?
He was borne slowly along the current,
his eyes open in an awful stare, his arms
outstretched as though to embrace me,
welcoming me to the unknown world. |
fell PROSTATE on the deck in my terror,
but ne foated slowly, the tide casting him
up against me, when he fell at my side
| caught him in my desperation, to fling
him from me, but his arms closed tight
about me in an iron embrace, and his face
was close to mine-the face of old Lott,
the diver, who had come down through
the waters to save me, and in whose stout
arms | was borne up and carried ns3nsible
to the boats above.
1--WE saw what was wrong at once, dear
boy, - he said to me afterward, when the
ragged ends of your ropes foated to the
surface. There was only one way of reach
ing you, old fellow, and can tell you we
flew about lively. We had no bell to go
down to you in, SO we just fastened some
weights to my feet and ropes to my arms
took rubber mouth piece between my
teeth and dropped ve1board. The water
oppressed me fearfully, and couldn t have
stood it more than a few minutes. In
that few minutes found you, old fellow,
caught you in my arms and signalled them
to haul US up mighty quick. | couldn' t
have stood 1t much longer, dear boy, for
it was killing me-"
took his dear hands in mine and look
ed into his good, honest eyes. With q
swelling heart | told him in such words as
| could of my gratitude for his heroic eff
forts when he came down through the
waters at the risk of his own life to save
mine.
have not since shown any disposition
to dive beneath the surface of the water.
New York World.