Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1894-03-09

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Sindbad the Sailor and the manner in
which he escaped from his tomb by
following the course taken by an ami
NAL along a winding passage into the
open air, and of the similar adventure
of Aristomenes, the Messenian, who es-
capped in similar manner, save for the
fact that Aristomenes held his guiding
ANIMAL fox--hard by tho tail
But for the water l would have made
my escape, too as we'll as they. and Sind
bad and the brave Messenian would I'M
der my circumstances have been just as
much at a stand as | was.
Now, / knew from experience that l
could dive 60 yards with ease in clear
water. Consequently, diving at my full
rate of speed, would have to take breath
at least twice before reaching the sea.
But then diving through a submarine
tunnel, with the expectation of striking
against rock with every forward drive.
was obviously Il very different thing
from under water swimming i'll the I'M
INSTRUCTED sea. Moreover, in my tran
sit through this tunnel. l could not ex-
pect to see anything, owing to the alb
sence of light, and therefore should be
obliged, as it Were, to grOpe my way
painfully along. 1t might be imagined
that all these considerations would at
once and altogether remove from my
mind the thought that l might make
my escape through the seals tunnel.
But they did not. argued that the fact
that the tunnel was quite flooded at its
entrance did not prove that it would be
flooded all the way through. Possibly,
[ said, the tunnel is only submarine at
the two ends, and that throughout its
whole intervening extent l may be able
to swim joyfully forward with an arch
ed roof of rock above my head. ! knew
that the outer entrance of the tunnel was
submarine. l was very well acquainted
with the face of the cliff outside along
the sea s edge and knew that there was
no cave or fissure resembling a cave any
where visible even at low water along
this wall of cliff. Even if the tunnel
through most of its extent were flooded,
it might well be that at certain points
here and there it was not flooded, and
that / might be able here and there to
come to the surface and breathe and find
myself swimming in cave. With few
airholes of this description might sue
coed in getting through, provided they
occurred at convenient intervals.
1t was the 4th day of August when 1
first attempted the tunnel. l took my
fishing line, and fastening one end of it
securely to pointed projection of rock
wound up the rest upon a piece of tim
Der. This. of course, was to serve as a
clew. In the event of failure desired
to have some surer method than that of
mere feeling and cropping to guide me
back into the place which was my home
and away from which l could not even
contrlve to exist for 4S hours. may
add that before seriously attempted the
tunnel l had gradually accustomed my
seals to see me without my clothes.
Naturally 1 feared to brighten away
these creatures, upon whose industry l
lived. Approaching the entrance of the
tunnel, 1 dived, holding in my left hand
the timber upon which the fishing line
was wound, and entered the tunnel, let
ting the cord wind off as / went like
thread from reel. CROPPED along it
could hardly be called diving-with my
back close to the roof of the tunnel, I'M
Ill, as calculated, half my power of re-
tanning breath was exhausted. At this
point put knot on the cord, and half
swimming, half drawing myself for
ward by the cord which held now in
my right hand, returned as had come.
When rose to the surface of the pool,
was aware that 1 could have gone
some distance farther without any dis
tress. Coming to land, drew in the
line and found by the knot that had
made only 12 yards. That represented
"a yards to and fro, which was a con-
siderable falling off from the go yards
which in unobstructed water knew to
be the length of my average submarine
performances. The seals splashed about
and made joyful cries ON my reappear-