The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1894-03-10
IN SUBMARINE ARMOR
HOW DELIVERS TX WATERS DEEP ARE
EQUIPPED AND TENDED.


ITO" """e'" '"i' '"' '"' Di'e' - eon-
structed and what IL Costs The Air
Pump l. the sIost Costly Necessity OF the
o,,a,-s,.rx r.t., Acc,a.n,
Submarine diving has been reduced TO
such an exact science that there is little
work under water that the expert diver
cannot do, and II ~ hardly more dangerous
shan similar work on the surface.
Minor improvements are making In the
suits constantly, but the greatest change
within "A Few years has been In the manner
~ attaching the helmet. But you must
know first how submarine arIn0r Is con
structed before ! can explain this to you.
You have the common notion, suppose,
that II you just have "A diving suit you can
do all the diving you wish. That Is very
erroneous idea. The suit Is small part OF
the necessary apparatus. For instance you
can buy diving suit for $40 OF the best
quality, but before you can make dive
you must have apparatus which, OF cor
responding quality, will cost you Sis1.
As the pay Of a diver Is only - day and
his work very uncertain, you will readily
imagine that the divers do not own their
own suits. The suits mrs bought by wreck
ing companies and other corporations, and
AHf1 thlliV1 hn'hl AHf hiN0h D'nNiNt
thing about the outfit Is the mir pump, and
the next Is the helmet The diving dress
proper Is made Of india rubber. laid be
tween two layers of canvas, the rubber be-
ing entirely covered. a copper collar, which
fits over the shoulders. chest and back, is
fastened to the rubber suit with II bolts.
To this collar the helmet is attached. For
merly the helmet WAS screwed to the collar,
but the recent Improvement | mentioned is
the fastening OF the helmet with bolts,
which is much stronger and safer.
The helmet is made OF sheet copper and
weighs about 10 pounds IL has three eye
holes, one In front and one on each side, all
filled with half inch thick glass and pro
tected with strong copper wires. On one
side Is a valve which allows the foul air to
escape, and mt the back Is "A copper pipe to
which the breathing tube is attached. The
sleeve wrists are made of strong rubber,
which keeps the water out. The shoes have
iron soles. which weigh over 25 pounds each.
The heavy leather belt is lined with blocks
OF lead, weighing in the aggregate 100
pounds. The suit complete weighs about
225 pounds, and ON the surface it is very
burdensome, but in the water it feels no
heavier than any ordinary suit Of clothes.
The helmet Is always the last thing put on.
When the diver comes up for n breathing
spell, the helmet is not taken off-one of the
eyeholes is unscrewed, which answers every
purpose.
The life line, as we call 1.-THE rope with
which the driver communicates with the
surface and with which he is hoisted when
necessary passes through ring in the he'll
met. and after being bolted in several places
to the collar on one side goes through u ring
in the belt and is then bolted to the collar
ON the other side. This is not only life
line. but telegraph line too. One pull
means more wind; two pulls, less wind;
three pulls, stop the pump for a moment.
You see, the air supply is the main thing,
and most OF the things relate TO IL. But
the diver may have too much air as well rs
too little. The air pipe Is made much
heavier and sitter than ordinary rubber
hose. If 1t were TOO Timber, it would get
into kinks and shut of the air.
Three men on the surface attend to one
diver-two TO work the air pump and one
for the air tube aud life line. They must
be trustworthy men, too, or they will kill
the diver Some companies make it point
To employ father and son or two brothers
or very close friends. While one relative
dives, the other exercises great care on the
surface.
lncased in his armor the diver keeps dry
rs n chip, and OF course the pump gives him
plenty Of air. But do not say that he is
altogether comfortable. When the water
is cold, hediver is cold and requires one or
two suits of heavy fannels and wooden
nittens to wear beneath his divers nit
tens. In clear water he can see very well, but
about this harbor the water is not clear,
and most of the work must be done by
feeling. In fact, it is very hard work--so
hard that four hours is counted "A full days
work. Formerly the divers wages were
~, Nj li,..,s ,,,chall,. -, -. III,
than any others in this country because