The morning call., 1891-06-02

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wreck takes place away off shore in deep
water such is the case. But when near the
shore there is a chance of the greater por-
ton of her cargo being recovered. How this
is done is mystery to most people, even
those who live in San Francisco.
Moored to the sea-wall, close to the strange
pile Of various articles with which the
wharf is crowded, may be seen two or three
vessels far different in appearance from
those usually seen along the front They are
big clumsy craft, with stout maSts, and are
fitted with powerful steam wincheS, and
their decks are Uttered with big chains, inl-
mense blocks and other cOntrYances for
lifting heavy loads. They are the wrecking
vessels belonging TO Captain WhitelaW and
used by him in his strange business of
wTecking.
IL is their work to recover from the water
every thing of value that may be ON board
vessel when she is wrecked; and for this
purpose they are provided with very diff
ferent crew from any other craft that leaves
The harbor. In addition to half dozen big
powerful men, the principal wrecker carries
q couple of divers and the fireman and
engineer Their work lately has been on
the wreck of the Inflated ship Elizabeth,
which was lost some time ago outside the
heads while trying to enter the harbor after
a voyage from New York.
The cargo of the Elizabeth consisted
mostly of marble, steel rails and hardware,
most of which sank close tU where the ship
struck the rocks. This was purchased by
Captain Whitelaw at the sale in the Mer-
chants Exchange, and every fine day since
the wreck his vessels have been at work
with varying success fishing up from the
bed Of the ocean tons of steel rails, several
hundred kegs of nails and a large quantity
of resin, barrels of oil. whisky and other
articles with which the ship was freighted.
The wrecking steamer leaves port early
in the morning and as soon as she arrives
at the spot operations are commenced. The
anchor is dropped some distance beyond
the wreck and the cable paid out until she
is as close in as it is possible TO get, and
then the divers begin their work. Clad in
a water-tight rubber suit, which the hardy
diver has to enter through the neck, and
with brass or copper helmet on his head,
which is fastened to the dress by a number
Of screws, the wearer Is anything but a
dude.
The dress is big and looks clumsy. The
shoes are big rough ones with sOleS of lead
one inch thick. Over the shoulders are
hung heavy plates OF lead. one in front and
one behind. These are to keep the diver
under water, or as soon as the air pumps
begin to work-and these pumps are started
as soon as the heavy glass plate Is screwed
into the front of the hemet-but for the
weight the driver would float on the surface
like a cork.
Air is carried from the pumps to the he'll
met through a three-Quartcr inch rubber
tube, and the foul air escapes through
valve on top of the strange piece.
Around his waist the diver faStens line
| called a lifeline; and this is at once life
| line and telegraph cable, for by it the diver
communicates with those in the boat, and
signals them when to hoist or lower, and
also asks for such tools as he may need in
his work at the bottom of the sea.
This is done by sharp jerks on the line,
which with the air-tube is held in the hand
| of the diver, who remains on the vessel.
| Thus one pull of the line means "pay out
more line and hose" two pulls take in the
| slack" and three pulls the most important
of ALL for these mean "life" and 10 sooner
are they felt by the man on deck than he
| begins to pull the line in as fast as possible
in order to bring his friend above water and
| unscrew the plate in front of the helmet.
This signal Is never given unless some
| thing is the matter and the divers life in
danger This may happen should the dress
or hose be cut and then quick work is
needed in order to save the life of the diver,
for more than once the unfortunate man
has been beyO human aid when brought
to the surface. As soon as he is at the bot
tom the diver begins to send up everything
he can faSten sling around, remembering,
OF course, that the work does not proceed as
fast as it would if above water.
Many strange sights are seen by divers,
and some of them ara far from pleasant.
Not long ago a diver at work on a wreck in
the Gulf of Mexico descended into the cabin
and found himself surrounded by no less
than eight swollen, disfigured corpses. They
were part of the cabin passengers when the
ship sank.
A better illustration of the resistless
power Of the sea could not be had than that
afforded by the steel rails recovered from
the wreck of the ship Elizabeth. They are
twisted into all shapes and forms, and some
of them look more like gigantic corkscrews
than plain bar of railroad iron. OF course
divers are pretty we'll paid for their dan
gerous work. Those at work here are paid
81 per day regular, work or play. When
diving the pay is 50 a dive during a period
OF four hours, and when the weather is
favorable every man makes $12 per day.
Great stories are told of the depths to
which divers have been known to descend,
but few are strong enough to go a greater
depth than 21 or % fath0ms-about 130 feet
as the pressure is so great that the blood
| is forced from the mouth, ears and eyes,
and often from the finger tips. Diving is
very dangerous work and few men care to
follow it long, because one will age more
ranidly in that calling than in any other he
may select.