Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1893-03-16
Capt. Harmon, an English Diver,
at Work in the HarbOr.
FINDS HER HULL UNINJURED
The Mysteries of a Divers Dress-His
Seven League Boots-Large
Number of Spectators.

tanning for the satisfaction of the in
surance as to whether any damage had
been done to her hull by her recent
grounding at Deadman's point, was
commenced yesterday afternoon by
Captain Thomas Harmon, Of Victoria,
one of the most experienced divers on
the Pacific coast. Captain Harmon
arrived with his diving appliances on
the City Of Seattle yesterday morning,
accompanied by Mr.. Bloomfield, his
attendant lie commenced his survey
about | O'clock, but after working
about an hour was obliged 10 quit for
the day on account of the cloudy
weather, IL being too dark under the
ship to make satisfactory examination
of the hull. He will resume his labors
today If the weather is clear The ship
lies Off Ocean dock in about seven
fathOms of water. A lighter was
moored alongside from which the diver
conducted his operations.
A large number of spectators hired
| boats and went alongside the ship
where they watched with much curl
osity the work of the diver in his
strange looking diving dress.
A rope was passed under the keel of
| the ship and fastened at the rail on
either side. Commencing at the bow
/ the diver dove down into the sea under
the ship along this rope, examining her
! hull thoroughly as he weit. lie wOul 1
! then come up and the rope would be
moved back few feet, when he would
again descend and make another cx-
/ animation Of the bottom along the
rope. In this manner he will proceed
until he has gone over the entire length
| OF the ship. Yesterday hc examined
! about half her length. This included
the portion Of her bottom that struck
the mud bank. Captain Ohrloir re-
ports that 80 far not the slightest injury
resulting from her accident has been
discovered, which lifts tremendous
load from the mind Of the skipper
Those of the spectators who had
never before seen divers dress or "A
diver at work were well repaid for their
trouble Of getting out 10 the ship. The
diving dress Is very curious outfit To
IA land lubber. IL weighs complete $50
pounds. IL consists of a helmet Of
timed copper, "A corsc'ct OF the same
material, seamless dress Of heavy
sheet India rubber, covering the legs,
body aud arms like a paijama, and "A
pair Of leather boots. An air tube, con
ncctcd with "A large air pump, i at
tached to the top of the helmet.
In he front Of the helmet Is large
bulls eye like port hole in "A ship,
covering the entire face through which
light is admitted. The air which is
pumped i'm at the top Of the helmet is
conducted by three tubes down along
the sides in front Of the helmet 80 that
the div.r cannot feel IL coming in.
The current in front passing over the
bulls eye keeps it from Jogging by the
breath.
| The diving dress is put on over a
, heavy suit Of wooden underwear.
Water tight rubber bands surround the
arms and ankles to keep out the water
The corsclet is put on over the
, head and fastened To the dres.
by screws, and to this the helmet
( screws on at the neck, all the joint,
I being water tight. The boots, with
heavy lead soles weighing twenty
eight pounds each, are then put Oh tn,
z feet and pair Of wooden gloves on Tn,
e hands Two leaden weights weighing
hfty-eight pounds each are lashed owe
the breast and back.
The diver entered the water by
! ladder reaching dowl below the sur
face several feet from the forward en-,
= Of the lighter. Two men worked tn
air pumps by cranks, and his atten
dant held the life line In one hand am
the air hose In the other. After h
! disappears the surface Of the water but
4 bles with the exhaled air of the diver
E which escapes at an outlet in the bac
, Of the helmet. When he emeTgcs "A
r the surface, IL is like the appearance of
! frightful sea monster with "A large cy
clopeon eye. The bulls eye Is immed
I. ately unscrewed 10 admit air, am
through it the diver gives his orders.
lWCapt. Harmon began his career as
diver thirty years ago at Hokohama
He went through the English school q
diving twice. He has resided at Vic
J. toria since 1870. lie has been tn
q pincipal surveyor Of LlOyd's on th
n Pacific coast for several years. He ha
II done several remarkable feats In hi
i. profession. In Valparaiso he wer
down ~ fathoms which was with
eleven feet0f the depth reached /
the greatest diving feat on RECORD
n The dnicully of working at the dept
+, ol ttlis y-tWo iathOms can be readil
IL understood when II Is known that th
.e diver has 10 have in his dress a pres
y; sure ol atmosphere greater than that
- the water. AT depth Of thirty-thre
% feet two almospheres are required AM
one atmosphere for each additiona
thirty-three feet. At a depth OF 10
feet he would therefore require sevei
atmospheres, or l05 pounds per squar
inch.
lie carries i'm sheath at his side
double edged knife for use In case h
gets fouled with anything or Is a
ticked by the sea serpent.
Have you ever used that on IN
shark?" asked the reporter.