Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-07-23

or shallow, the practiced diver feels, as the
huge glass and metal helmet ia screwed down
over his head, that perhaps he has taken his
last glimpse Of sun. sky and friends.
Those who have had the most experience feel
this more keenly than the tyro. One night,
while the snow drove like hail against the only
window in the house facing the sea, 1 found
myself one Of q party Of divers, wreckers and
contractors for such work, stormbound not a
hundred miles from the Delaware breakwater.
had asked many questions Of the several
takers forming the circle to the life, incl
dents and danger Of the profession OF diving,
when Capt, Stephen K-,a veritable gray
and whispered with a breath redolent with the
fumes Of the strongest pipe ever came across
that il / could get old Simon Weaver into the
talking humor my desire for stirring incidents
would be fully gratifed.
Cautiously approaching the subject Of per-
sonal adventure under water, found the old
diver little shy. but BY few we'll timed ques-
lions succeeded in bringing him OUT 10 my
entire satisfaction.
As write the words Of the old man seem to
see still the earnest glance, the erect figure and
the almost snow-white head shaking and nod
ding as the memory Of his exploits arose.
THE OLD DIVER STORY.
Taking fresh attitude in his chair, and cast
ing his eyes around the circle of expectant list
eners, the ''boys," as he called the younger
members, the old diver began:
Few Of our officers e. blockading duty of
Charleston in 1856 will Forget the thrill Of e1-
element which pervaded the feet when the
news came from inside the bar that a monitor
had been partially disabled and that unless
something was done, and done quickly, her sit
nation was extremely critical. She lay quite
near the rebel batteries and, as though divin-
ing her danger, their guns were plunglng shot
and shell against her with the fiercest energy
1T was soon known that a diver would be
called into requisition for under water work,
while the guns of Sumter bade fair to demolish
the whole ship in a few hours.
Being the most experienced Of the diving
corps on duty at that time, the admiral sent
for me on board his flagship without delay.
and Lying the difficulty before me asked if l
would undertake the job. BY few judiciously
put questions | was soon placed in possession
of all the facts, the work to be done and the
results expected to follow success. The pro-
peller of the vessel had been fouled by
some of the numerous obstacles set afloat by
the enemy, and not wishing to endanger
another vessel in the same manner the admiral
desired to send me alongside the disabled ves-
sci in a steam picket boat with my best diving
apparatus, prepared to make a successful
descent.
after numerous hair-breadth escapes from
sudden destruction at the hands Of the rebel
gunners on Sumter we, that is myself and four
men, whom knew to be entirely Trustworthy
under all circumstances Of peril and RESPONSE
bility, arrived alongside the disabled monitor
and got safely below.
THE APPROACH TO THE MONITOR.
Gas our little picket boat approached the
scene of conflict the firing from the enemy's
batteries suddenly ceased, and we we're FORUM
ate enough to get below with the apparatus be-
fore the iron storm again broke over the
trembling ship
"The cause Of this apparent kindness was
made known to us the following day by de-
serter from Fort Sumter. 1t appeared that as
we we're seen to approach the Monitor the
enemy believed that message from the Yankee
commander was about to be received looking to
an armlstice or a surrender, 80 fire was slack
ened, as say. greatly to the surprise to all on
the Union side. After waiting few minutes
and no flag of truce making its appearance the
rebels saw that somehow they had been out
witted, so the storm of shot and shell grew in
ferceness as they reopened fire.
And now, before going further with my
story, let me try to give an idea of the situation
and its cause.
HOW THE VESSEL GOT INTO TROUBLE
"The vessel, in command Of one Of the cool
est and bravest Of our navy officers on the
blockade, had been sent in to reconnoiter, and if
necessary, to fire on the batteries for the pur-
pose Of drawing the enemy fire. SO as to ascer-
tain the strength and position Of their bat
teries. Proceeding cautiously until within q
few hundred yards Of Sumter the little iron
clad had unconsciOusly approached too close to
the line OF distractions defending the entrance
to the harbor. In turning to come out her
propeller, as l said before, had become en-
tangled among ropes and chains. All efforts to
release the ship from her perilous position had
failed, hence the call for diver.
UNDER A HEAVY FIRE.
Gas soon tho epaynv ro,ca;yaJ' fbo s@o 10 30
affairs. no hard task, terrific fire had been
opened from all guns within range on the de-
voted little craft, and her destruction seemed
assured ere assistance could reach her. The
shot and shell fell fast and furious against the
iron OF her turret and side armor, and the water
fairly boiled on all sides from the frequent shot
striking its surface. 1t seemed veritable iron
hail. In short time saw how matters stood,
and was fortunate enough to find place on the
lee side Of the turret, where, if the ship could
be kept in one position, no shot could reach me.
Carefully instructing my men as to their duties,
at length got my ladder overheard and made
1t fast in such manner that, should the wind
change or rise during my absence under water,
off.
Leading my air pipes up through the turret
and SO through one of the huge gun ports to
the waters edge, secured them to my helmet,
and, as final precaution before going down,
during my absence, experience having taught
me the danger Of a heavy artillery discharge
directly overhead from diver while at work
The position Of the turret favored my request,
and placing its back to the enemy enabled me
to use the gun ports as have described.
TAKING EVERY PREcAUTIoN.
GAS my life, rs well as the safety of the ship,
would hang upon thread at best made every
arrangement for safety which experience could
suggest, even going in person to the engine
room and enjoining upon the engineer of the
watch not to allow the engines to be started
under any consideration until my return from
the perilous undertaking upon which depended
the safety or destruction of the monitor. The
pump for supplying me with air was fixed in
the turret chamber, and as the fragments of
shot and shell, which continued to pour in
from Sumter, might cut the air tube when ex-
posed In crossing the deck had arranged
stout iron pipe as a sheath. As tending to
simplify matters determined to discard en-
tirely the usual signal line.
SLOW DESCENT.
IAN being in readiness, and having made .
personal inspection of the whole apparatus,
cautiously made my way to the ladder. and INV
most trusted attendant having fixed my he'll
met in place secured my kit Of tools hammer.
chisels, saw, &C., to the strong belt arranged
for the purpose and began my slow descent.
Fortunately the water was quite clear aha
free from mud, so had no difficulty in seeing