The morning call., 1893-06-15
WAYDOWN BELOW
A Diver Who Explored the
EInlbank's Hold.
TUNNELS THROUGH SULPHUR
Black Waters and a Yellow Cargo.
An investigation of Both-Dan-
age by Fire Not Great.
TUNNELS THROUGH SULPHUR

1t was not gold that the EImbank's diver
was after. though the great Jumps OF yellow
sulphur which he attached TO the Crap
plng-rons were suggestive of the precious
metal.
Nor was this sulphur treasure worth
grasping for in the dirty black waters
which fill the hold of the ship.
On the other hand. it was dangerous
substance, which must be removed quick
" from the Eimbank's interior before the
vessels crew can safely call their ship
their own.
Working in the open waters OF the bay
and delving in the flooded depths of ships
hold are by no means one and the same
thing. Even glance into the Elmbank's
matches sent a shudder through the re-
porter for the hundreds of tons of sulphur
packed in below had been burnt into
queer shapes, the fire eating tunnels
through the yellow mass. which per-
torated the cargo in every direction, and
made explorations below exceedingly dan
gerOus.
Rivers of burning sulphur had flowed
aStern, where they had drltted from the
trimming matches in molten streams Into
the black and yellow waters which stand
ten feet over the vessels keel.
1t was an uncanny-looking place where
the diver first went down. A surface
crust OF sulphur had formed on the water
and gave it the appearance OF solid mass
OF the yellow substance.
A stir or TWO with long pole soon
caused this floating debris TO almost van
ish. revealing sheet of water as black as
the River StyX covering the whole after
part of the vessel between decks.
The diver hesitated awhile before ven
turing into that awful abysm of blackness,
deadly with pOiSnnOuS which
luckily the man with the armOr did not
have to breathe. He signaled the gaping
crowd at the hatcnway to pass him
ladder, then VIII plunge which sent
shudder through the peerIng and curious
audience be disappeared from sight.
A pathway ad TO be cleared through the
sacks of sulphur so that the diver could
get more light and have an opportunity 10
work more freely.
The ElmbankS crew were set to work
with tackle and grappling-hDok and man
aged to clear away part Of the burned mat
tDgs and sulphur which had blocked up
the passage to the lower hold. Directly
under hatch l a hole eighteen inches in
diameter is burned through to the bottom
Of the snip. This hole, like the shaft 10 a
mine. apparently has drifts running in
all directions from it at different levels,
caused by the flow of burning sulphur.
1t was really wonderful how sufficient
caroonic acid gas was forced into these
hOneycombs to smother the flames.
BY 80 O'Clock nearly 100 tons of the
dangerous sulphur was removed to the
wharf aud still no sign OF fire was dis
covered.
There was a slight rise in the tempera-
ture in the lower hold, but it was not
attributed to the presence of fire because
there was no smoke.
1t is apparent that the sulphur did not
burn in bulk, else 1t would have been i'm
possible for Pr fessor Price to have smoth-
cred the fire as soon as he did.
Investigation of the upper hold showed
that the bottom layer OF mattings of sui
phur was reduced to an almost liquid state
by the water. The sulphur piled in the
lower hold has been reduced 10 a stiff,
sticky mass OF yellow paste, which it will
be extremely difficult to remove.
1t is on oozy bottom OF this stuff that
the diver is obliged to work. The air.
pump which supplied the diver with oxygen
was placed in q convenient position and
then the Investigator went below. Foul
gases were still escaping from the hold and
made 1t almost Impossible to approach the
matches.
After the diver had been down for about
ten minutes a jerk at the signal-cord tod
that there was something on the other end
of the grappling-line which was to be
hauled up The crew tugged at the tackle
and brought lot of old half f-burned mat
tngs to view. This work was kept up
with this rubbish.
On coming from below the driver re-
ported the condition Of things in the after
hold as described.
Professor Price was on board and SUPER
intended the investigation. Il am salts
fed" he said, that | have subdued the
flames. but am afraid that it will be
hard job getting the cargo out"
The diver worked nearly all the after
noon. as did Professor Price and Captain
Grieg. 1t will take six weeks to remove
the ships cargo and cleanse her hold suffi
GENTLY to permit of her unloading.
The extent of damage to the sulphur ia
not as great as was expected. There was
a great deal of smoke and verv little fire
If Professor Prices carbonic- cid-gas ma
chine had been brought into play in the
first place and no water been pumped into
the hold, the Elm banks fire would not have
cost the ships owners more than $1,000 or
$4,000 at the most.
Professor Price has indeed made a great