Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1891-12-26
WHOLE NUMBER, 1,O54.

b..
One OF the occupl,icra whic', have
grown up within the last century, and
one which, under certain circumstances,
has been extremely profitable. is the
business Of diving into deep water, in Il
dress made for the purpose, Many peo-
pie, such as most of the native inhabit-
ants of the Pacific Islands. and the peo-
pie of the shores of the Persian Gulf,
where pearl fisheries are carried on, are
expert divers, and, without apparatus of
any kind to help them, remain under
water an astonishingly long time; but
the civilized method of going down into
the water clothed in dress and appara-
.us which enables the wearer to work
and breathe in the water, is quite another
shing. The modern diver" does not
really dive at all he descends into the
water, breathes through tube, carries
light with him to illuminate the water
about him, and has means of communi-
eating with those above him.
The divers most romantic and interest
ing work is to recover treasures from
sunken vessels; but his services are Of
tenest required for something quite differ
ent.
The diving dress, for instance, is now
used by men in the pearl and sponge
fisheries. In these one man now accom-
plishes what 90 naked divers were for
merly needed for. They could remain
unr.er water but a short time, and could
collect only what came within reach of
their arms. The diver in the modern
dress remains from two to four hours
under water, and reaps rich harvest.
Divers are also employed in laying
in blasting and clearing away submarine
distractions.
The greatest depth to which any diver
in diving dress has descended is 204 feet.
At this depth the work becomes very
difficult and dangerous on account of
the pressure of the water
The additional pressure upon each
square inch of surface-for of course the
natural pressure of the atmosphere is
svery where's, at 80 feet, 12f pounds, or
less than that of the atmosphere; but it
increases at such rate that at 100 feet
deep the pressure is 43i pounds. at 15C
feet it is 65t pounds, and at 204 feet it is
Sst pounds.
This depth was reached by the divec
Hooper, an Englshman, in recovering
cargo of copper from the ship Cape Horn,
wrecked ON the coast of South America
some years ago. Under this pressure,
which subjected the tubes and apparatus
to severe strain, Hooper remained
under water at one time AZ minutes, and
descended seven times.
4 divers method of work is as follows:
He first arrays himself in his suit, the
most important feature of which is a
great air tight and glass windowed he'll
met. Then he goes down. upon a rope
ladder if he is inexperienced or timid
but the expert diver simply uses rope.
Every diver has signalman, who holds
his life line and airpipe, both Of which
are kept Just taut and clear of the boat,
so that any motion of the diver may be
felt.
The diver descends slowly, halting for
a few moments after his head is under
water, to satisfy himself that everything
is correct, and then continues.
If he feels oppressed, or experiences
any hunlming noise in his ears, he rises
yard or two in the water, and swallows
his saliva several times. If oppression,
ringing in the ears or headache contin-
ues, he returns slowly to the surface and
for the time being gives up the attempt.
If he is all right and able to persevere,
he keeps on the bottom, where he gives
,,n u, e., It,,n N~ Int
all is we'll, aud sets about the work for
which he has come.
In returning to the surface the diver
must use great care. 1t is more import
ant to move slowly in rising than in de-
scending; for if he goes up too quickly,
the effect of passing from heavy press
ure to light pressure will make him
faint, and prove disastrous. He stops
now and then, and gets accustomed to
the change.
Only men of the greatest skill, strength,
and endurance can make a descent be-
low depth of 150 feet.
One of the most celebrated of diving
feats was performed by Mr.. Lambert, an
English diver, who brought up $3.50, 900 in
gold from the wreck of the mail steamer
Alfonso XII, which was sunk off the
Canaries with $500, 900 in treasure.
The wreck lay at depth of 100 feet
The treasure room was in the run of the
ship. or aftmost part of the bottom. with
three decks above it, so that the task Of
reaching and getting out the gold was an
unprecedented one.
After little work Lambert succeeded
in getting both the scuttles open, and en-.
tered the magazine Then he blew up a
portion of the deck with cartridges, and
descended straight to the bullion room
through the wreckage.
After that the boxes of gold were at
tached one after another to ropes, and
hauled up; but the difficulties were SO
great that a considerable part OF the
treasure had to be left behind.