The evening world., 1894-06-28
, UTTING DIVER RICE OVERHEARD.

men delightful afternoon on the water
and good dinner
Capt; T: Fenton, OF the tug Mutual
was about the vicinity OF the wreck as
late as 1850 o'clock last evening. He
caused a telephone message to be sent
to THE Evening World" that no wreck
age or bodies had come to the surface
up to that time.
On Monday the captain Of the tug Gov
Nicol on the Highlands Of Navesink.
Knowing that the Assistance. a sister
w. %ai IN en 1s search fo1 soss
EEree,kaEe, The raft was turned over to
and brought to this city.
the wreck repeatedly. under conditions
that made the venture most hazardous.
is deserving OF very great credit for his
PPssrf9rmI.ances; As told IN The Evening
was courtins death in '> making t the at It
tempt but Mr., Rice smiled and went
Noyelles had stated only few minutes
previously to an Evening World" re-
porter that Diver Rice, who was then all
ready for the plunge with the exception
of the helmet. would not dare make the
dive unless the sea moderated.
He did not know the intrepid nature
of the unassuming. gcntlemanly fellow
who sat carelessly playing a tattoo on
the deck with his fifteen-pound cast-iron
slippers, After quite long walt, Diver
Rice suddenly calculated:
Well, what are we waiting for?"
waiting for YOU" replied the cap
tain.
"Oh, l didn't know that" replied Mr..
Rice. and he Immediately ciambered
over the rail, descended few steps OF
the iron ladder and leaned his body for
ward over the tugs rail SO that the
strapped about his waist After the
belt and lifeline had been secured, MIR
Rice descended two steps more and his
head was encased In the tittypound
prisoner In his armor as body in a
grave without assistance he could not
possibly take OFF that massive helmet,
the collar to which 1t was fastened not
allowing him to raise his arms above
his breast.
Again and again Diver Rice went down
to crawl around on the bed OF the
ocean, and his only regret to-day is that
he was not permitted to be the means
of restoring the bodies of some OF the
Nicols unfortunate passengers to sor-
rowing relatives.
Diver Rice would have searched the
hold OF the Nicol had ne not been for.
hidden to do SO by The Evening
WCrld' men In charge of the expedition
who would not allow him to run the risk
of fouling his air pipe in such a heavy
sea.
Even as a boy Mr. Rice evinced a love
for doing just such daring deeds us
that OF yesterday. When mere lad
he lived In small city near the grea,
lakes. on a Fourth Of July there was
20 be balloon ascension from the puh,
lie square OF the city. Al the hour al.
vcrtised for the ascension the aernnau,
refused to make the trip, saying tina,
II would be impossible 10 do II safely
with such high wind as was biowinr
at the time.
Young Rice stepped eagerly forwart
and requested to be allowed 10 make IN,
trip. He had never seen a balloon he
fore, and, OF course. knew nothing u tn,
/ manner OF handling II, but rather thar
disappoint the assembled multitude h,
was allowed 10 make the ascent II,
came down In safety about forty mile,
away, much delighted with the expert
! ence.
II was fifteen years ago that Mr. Ric,
first donned a Divers suit and began hi
career as submarine diver, His frs
dive was In the Detroit River.
He says he likes the business i'm
! mensely. and never has the sl!ghtcs
fear Of the consequences. This Is al
the more remarkable from the fact tAa
he has been hauled up unconscious man
times. and once was b nearly gone tina
his body had turned black from tn
waist line up.
Mr.. Rice used the same helmet an,
air-pump yesteray that were Furnished
TO "Meg Merrilies" when she made he
descent of the Lighthouse Station
Tompkinsyille. 8. l., as told in the "Sun
day World" OF June II.