The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1891-02-14

look through and see objects below to
a surprising depth.
AT last one Of the boats located
the old ship, and the other, in which
[ happened to be, went around to the
spot and we all took a look. When
{ gazed down through the glass at
irst l couldn't see anything, but at
asst / made out the outlines Of black
mass lying below. The water wa
clear, and we could get a faint view
Of the wreck. We brought the brig
up ncarer, and then began to rig the
ackle with which to work. l have
1ot told you that the ship was loaded
with miscellaneous merchandise, some
of it quite valuable. 1t was also said
lmong the men that there was con-
siderable money that had belonged to
the captain down somewhere in his
cabin, but that did not influence us
much, for there was little hope the
divers could 60 into the old wreck tC
ook about, as we had no diving ap-
laratus necessary for so long time
under water.
The way we were going to oper-
ate was like this. 1t was thought
that when the ship foundered a big
hole was stove in her hull. She lay
in about ten fathoms Of water, partly
on her side. 1t was hoped the divers
could go down and fasten rope tC
many of the bales through the open
ing in the side, and these would be
drawn up by the men in the boats.
OF course there was only very brief
time for them to work before they
would have to come up for breath,
but they were skillful and could do
quick work under water.
when we had made our prepara-
tions the two divers got ready to 60
down. But in lowering one of the
boats the Malay bruised his leg so
badly that he could not dive that day,
so the Spaniard went alone. He
stripped entirely and was rowed out
over the wreck. / was in the boat.
and was compelled to admire his
slim form, ii was so sinewy and grace
full He stood in the stern of the boat
and seized the weight which would
help him to 60 down and would then
be drawn up by cord, and took the
leap. l had the glass and watched
him as far as could.
&" 1t looked so easy that made the
rash remark thought l could do il
myself. was laughed at, whereupor
I got a little excited and declared ]
would try it anyway, Pretty soon
the diver came up little purple in
the face, but not much winded. He
had gone down to the wreck, and
briefly said it was not much broken
up. Then one of the men asked me
if I was going down and take look
with a wink at the other that fixed
my determination to go If l should
drown. / had been down half as far
without much inconvenience, so ]
stripped off my clothes and began Il
draw in long breaths to ill my lungs
took one of the heavy weights, and
saying goodbye to the men, took a
header and shot down through the
water.
al opened my eyes and glanced
around. All I could see was the lit.
tie boat above me like a black shadow
until / began to see the outlines o.
the sunken vessel. It seemed severa
minutes, but in reality was but few
seconds, tefore l was down, way
down on the bottom of the sea besid,
the old ship. 1 had held my breatl
well and had still time to look around
The wreck lay on her side on thu
rocks, with her ropes and timbers II
good condition, though covered will
shell fish. l saw with disappoinmen
that to get at her cargo was going Il
be very difficult If not impossible.
In that brief space at the bottom
of the ocean l realized as never ha
before the incopgruity Of man gel
ting out of his natural place, and
feeling of awful utter loneliness cam
over me as / stood almost a hundre
feet below the surface of that gres
mysterious sea, inhabited by kne'
not how great monsters, surrounde
by unlimited waters, alone but for tn
little fishes that hoated here an
there, and marine crustacea on tn
bottom.
II had struck the wreck right nea
the hold, which opened before m
and whose gloom was blackness
that dim, unearthly light. This ac
count may be rather long Of the fee
ings of a man submerged in waite
but my thoughts moved rapidly, an
in reality | had been down perhaI
but half a minute. But already
was oppressed by the heavy sufOcai
ing feeling which warned me / mui
/ rise, and the pressure on my hea
and chest was so painful that th
former began 70 ache as If 1t woul
! burst, while the indesoribable hun
/ ming muIEiur of the water becam
louder and louder.
"I looked up, and right over m
J head saw a shape descending towar
me. / recognized the spaniard, VIII
it seems had plunged immediatel
after me, and by this time was rigk
upon me. He had grasped the heav
! weight between his knees, and wit
both free arms was directing his wa,
Our eyes met. In his / seemed
read fierce, undying hatred, the VI
I relenting purpose of revenge, and
cruel triumph, of which, indeed
there seemed the certainty. droppe
the weight to rise, but those sineW
arms were around me, and with m
failing strength I was forced dow
, on my back on the rocky bottom.
: would be but q minute. My breat
|, was spent, while the trained diver y
was fresh.
: THE low murmuring Of the watel
|. In my ears rose TO q mighty roar. N
! head seemed bound by q crown
= burning FIRE, and my staring eye
4 caught the last malignant glare as n
: murderer held me down at arm
= ! ! asvoufa