The Press., 1891-04-09
AGONY UNDER WATER.

It is fearfully lonesome down under the
 green waters of the Sea-down where the
 wrecked ships sway this way and that in obedience to the swell.
 1 Do you recall the fate of the screw steamer Wave, which went down on the south coast several years ago2 A stanch craft, we'll manned, heavily loaded, having
 large passenger list, she was seen oil
 Beachy Head one June night at midnight l during storm, and that was the last seen
 of her until the divers dragged and found
 her, and went down to meet the death | stare of the many corpses. ts~F Fl g
 It was my job-my job to raise her for
 her owners if could, and my task to go down first and meet the sights which
 might have startled the younger divers
 which startled me.
 We found the Wave after time, resting on the bottom, thirty fathoms down. Few divers like to go over hundred feet; fewer will go 15O and not half & dozen in the country ever ventured down as deep as 1so | feet. It takes a deal of life line and hose when he goes down that far, and it makes l the pumps labor and strain to furnish him | air. | had with me two good divers, but neither would go down until I had first made an exploration. Not 8 pound of freight, not single body of the fifty or sixty had been washed on shore, and the divers knew what a sight would meet them down there at the bottom.
 Carefully gathering up my lines walked past her stern 200 feet to the west, and a huge rock rose up in my path, looking like mountain. Striking upon this, near the surface, the Wave had staggered along a %o Ha forever hidden from the sight of all but around her, climbed up on the dislodged freight and looked into the huge oriflce through which cab could have been driven. She would never float again. With spirits much depressed at the gloomy prospects I walked clear of the vessel, up the incline, found my rope, and in little time was Ut the surfAce again and on board the boat. All the men above were pecuniarily interested, and we held a consultation.
 It was too late to go down again that afternoon, but at 9 o'clock next morning was ready to go over the boats side for the second time. y, Fifteen minutes after I vas standing beside the wreck again, dreading the task before me- The swell was 8 little stronger than before, as there was 8 fresh morning breeze above, and I could hear a cracking and grooming of machinery as the screw swayed this way and that. The pile of freight had been added to and several other bottom blanks were just ready to burst out #
 Passing around the freight reached ! the bow of the Wave, and then it was easy enough to get on board. One of her ! anchors was down, and it was the work of a moment to ascend by the cable. On deck 1 everything looked as if the ship was yet at the surface pursuing her voyage. Moth ing had been broken or disarranged, and the pilot house loomed up before me through the green water, proof that the ship had not fought against 8 storm.
 Iknew what should find up there. One corpse, perhaps two, would be floating about, humping against the roof as the vessel yielded to the strength of the swells But went round to the step, pulled open the door, gave one look inside and then fell back and hastened away. Both steers men were at the wheel, both standing up- right, grasping at the spokes, and one of them had looked at me with his great glass eyes and nodded his headl Alivef Pooh! It was childish of me to feel afraid of the dead when I had searched out so many! After a moment reached the step again, hesitated and then mounted up beside the dead steersmen. Brave men! they must have felt the shock, heard the shouts and walls of the crew and passengers. felt the ship go- ing down to her dark grave; but they chung to their post Both hands grasping the spokes, they stood as if alive, their heads nodding as the ship rolled. must clear them out, though I dreaded to touch their bony hands.
 Bracing myself, I seized the first one, jerked at him, and finally his fingers left the spokes and had the body in my arms Pushing 1t out through the door saw it whirl about two or three times and then slowly ascend. The other would not leave the wheel until had unclasped his fingers one by one, and then his long arms swayed about as if seeking to grasp me. When he had been sent after the others felt easier, and had not so much dread to meet the sights which were to come. knew that the cabin would be full of passengers; that the dead occupied the staterooms; that should find them down on the main deck, and so 1 avoided those places, and made my way round to the office. The door was shut, and halted a moment and read the little gold sign over it. knew the steve dore would be in there, and seized the knob and slowly opened the door.
 The water rushed out in @ volume, but nobody came. pushed the door further in and at length walked into the room.
 There were trunks and garments floating about, & desk knocking against the par tition, papers and books to be seen every where; but I was looking for something else-for the stevedore. peered here and there through the thick water, brushed back the papers, and was feeling a sense of iof foIk 1o<me,
 With 8 scream of terror jumped back and looked down-and the corpse was therei It's arms were widespread, the fingers bent like hooks, and the face bore an expression of agony which made my
 flesh creep. reached down. seized foot, and soon rid myself of the unwelcome presence Then carefully felt about un- til my foot struck the iron safe. and I seized it by the handle. could not have
 moved it except down there, where the water gave me great advantage. l drew it to the rail, heaved it over, and following 1t down dragged it up the slope to my anchor rope. Signaling to the men above. they sent me down a weighted line, and directly the safe went up out of sight. Whether a hundred or thousand pounds, we had all the money, at any rate.
 As.I stood with my hand on the cable, 1e8&y CO go up, some one tomcOeQ mo on
 the shoulder. Turning quickly around
 screamed out at the sight Two of the
 deck hands were standing close beside me,
 not standing but rising and falling, some.
 times being above me, and then sinking
 until their watersoaked boots touched the clay. Their arms swayed about, as if strik. ing at me, their heads nodded and swayed, and through their parted lips caught the gleam of white teeth hard shut.
 recovered from my fright in moment;
 but the company was disagreeable, and clambered up the cable as fast as possible. The bodies followed me part of the way up and then sank down again. had been down long time. and but for ths job be- fore me should have gone to the surface E $1O0 in premiums given away. See pamphlet in each package of Sayena.