Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-03-11
bic at a depth Of from sixty 30 hun
dred feet below the surface.

bic at a depth or from Sky % . Auh-
dred feet below the surface.
BOTTOM OF THE CARIBBEAN SEA
"AIoug the coast OF the Island OF
Marguerite, and in many parts OF the
Caribbean Sea, there are scenes OF sur
passingly lovely submarine wonders
In many places the bed Of the ocean Is
as smooth aud firm as a house noor'
and the water is as transparent as erys'
tai.
The white, sandy bottom acts as
reflection to the bright sunshine ABOVE
the surface. II you have ever look ed
through a clean glass jar or bottle nileo
with clear water, and examined some
object placed on the opposite side you
realize'the magnifying effect, which, Is
about the same under the sea. In clear
water. Walking In a diving suit Is 40
easy gliding motion; il is slow without
being at all laborious, AID tue
scope OF vision is about an eighth
Of q mile. Ia certain localities
there are acres upon acres OF stumpy,
scrUbby marine vegetation, 4 CROWN
somewhat like seaweed, aud OF a blush
gray tinge. There are also clumps
OF fan shaped fungus, OF
spongy consistency. which, when dried
in the sun Qike the specimens In my
Darlor) are exceedingly beautiful. But
| the most wonderful grOWths In these
I gardens OF Neptune are the long
'KelD tubas,' resembling our fresh wa
ter pond lilies, only OF much larger
size. Their stems are tough and hoi-
low, aud put forth pretty blossoms
upon the surface, although their roots
are In the bed OF the ocean, sometimes
at a depth OF sixty feet.
AMONG STRANGE CREATURES.
There are many queer looking crea-
| lures. Some have horns and wing
shaped fms; others have double Tapping
tails, and there is peculiar kind hav-
ing but one eve, in the centre OF the
head. The largest, Queerest and quaint
est of all is the Jew fish, averaging
from three to five feet each In length.
/ Bright green streaks extend over their
backs, blue scales cover their sides, and
their bellies are glistening white.
There are, however. some terrible
sea monsters, thougt-the worst and
most formidable of all Is the octopus,
| or devil fsh'-they are frighttul, al
most beyond description. When / was
in New Zealand, one OF my men, Archie
McGavan, while laying some wharf
blocks, was suddenly surprised by an
immense creature Of that kind. De
spite ArchIe's struggles land he was
powerful MANI the monster completely
oyerpowered him. He was locked Ia
the tremendous claws Of the devil fish,
and fastened helpless against sub
merged spie. The man realized his
peril, and kept quiet until his assailant
whose arms measured fully nine foe
-loosenad his hold. Then Archie sig
nailed to he drawn up, and came to the
surface with the hideous creature cling
ing to his back.
WEIRD SCENES OK SUNKEN SHIPS.
"Divers sometimes look upon awiu
scenes and situations, some OF then
being frighttul beyond expression
Human nerve cannot Withstand some oil
the spectaces OF horror-they are
enough to drive the strongest nerved
man stark mad About three years age
an old mate Of mine, Victor Hinston
was employed by the Pacific Coast
Steamship Company, Of San Francisco
at the pay Of $3.50 per day to dive and
examine the steamship City OF Chester
that had been sunk 10 collision will
the steamer Oceanic He located The
vessel in fifty fathoms Of water. Sh'
had been cut in two, as II split by
single blow Of an immense axe.
"While walking into the storage tn
first object that met his gaze was tn
form Of a man standing upright, entan
tangled I'm n pile OF rope The ghastl'