Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1891-05-04
A HOLE IN THE SEA.
Frank Stockton, the Novelist, Re-
ports Great Wonder.
A Diver Hunted Diamond and Was
Hunted by n sharlx-A Piscator1al Ex-
plosIon and Singular Outcome
Jim's Startling Experience.

In the fall of 1888 the steamship
Sunda, from Southampton, was running
along the southern coast of Long Island,
not many hours from port, when she
wns passed by one of the great British
liners, outward bound. The tide was
high, and the course of both vessels
was nearer the coast than Is usual
that of the Sunda being inside of the
othcr.
As the two steamers passed each
other there was q great waving of hats
and handkerchiefs. Suddenly there
was a scream from the Sunda. It came
from Signora Rochita, the prima donna
of an opera troupe which was coming
TO America in that ship.
"I have lost my bracelet" she cried,
In italian, and then turning to the pas
sengers she repeated the cry in very
good English. ..>
The situation was Instantly compre-
hended by every one. 1t was late in
the afternoon; the captain had given a
grand dinner to the passengers, at
which the prima donna appeared in all
her glories of characterization, and the
greatest of these glories, magnificent
diamond bracelet. was gone from the
arm with which she had been enthu-
siastically waving her lace handler-
chief. ...
The second officer, who was standing
near, dashed into the captains Office,
and quickly reappeared with chart and
instruments, and made rapid calcuAa-
ton of the position of the vessel at the
time of the accident, making an allow
ance for the few minutes that had
passed since the first cry of the signora.
After consultation with the captain
and recalculations Of the distance from
| land and some other points, he an
nounced to the weeping signora that
| her bracelet lay under little black
| spot he made on the chart, and that If
she chose to send diver for It she
might get 1t, for the depth of water at
that place was not great
BY profession / am diver, and the
next day was engaged to search for
the diamond bracelet of Signora Rochi-
ta- I had a copy of the chart, and, hav-
ing hired a small schooner with several
men who had been my assistants be-
fore, and taking with me all the neces-
sary accoutrements and appliances,
set out for the spot indicated, and by
| afternoon we were anchored, we be-
Heved, at It, or very near It. I lost no
time in descending. l wore, of course,
| the usual divers suit, but / took with
me no tools, nor any Of the implements
used by divers when examining wrecks,
but carried in my right hand brilliant
electric lamp, connected with a power
full battery on the schooner. held this
by an insulated handle, in which there
were two little knobs, by which could
light or extinguish It.
The bottom was hard and smooth,
and lighting my lamp 1 began to look
about me. If approached the brace
let ought to be able to see it sparkle,
but after wandering over considerable
space I saw no sparkles nor anything
like bracelet. Suddenly, however, I
saw something which greatly interested
me. 1t was hole in the bottom of the
ocean, almost circular, and at least ten
feet in diameter. was surprised that
had not noticed it before, for it lay
not far from the stern of our vessel.
Standing near the rocky edge of the
aperture, held out my lamp and looked
down Not far below saw the glim-
mering of what seemed tolbe the bottom
of this subterraneau well. was seized
with a desire to explore this great hole
running down under the ordinary bot
tom Of the sea- signalled to be low
cred. and although my comrades were