The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-11-25
AMERICAN PEARL DIVER
HE Is A BOSTON MAN OF THE NAME
OF WHI1MA RSH.
Strange Scenes on the Ocean Floor-sensa-
ton of q First Dssce Mt In the Diving 1t
But Few Pearls In Ton of shells.
With the single exception of the coral

which has little, IL any, popularity at
the present day-the pearl is the only
water gem; and of all occupatlons-
perhaps excepting acknowledgement dlV-
ing Is the most dangerous, and Is caIi-
ing followed by few men. There Is
vast distinction between the wreck or
dock diver and the pearl diver, though
the same dress Is worn by both. lhose
OF the former class do not make so many
descents, nor pass so much time under
water: they are attended by faithful
companions, and the boat from whlch
they dive is firmly anchored; the depth
OF water also is not usually great, put
with the pearl fishers all the mdniioId
dangers become thousand times nashl-
fled, and any accident almost always Ter
inmates fatally A pearl diver with
heart or lung trouble, that may nave
existed TO but a slight degree before
il he knew of il at all, will after a few
months succumb to the malady. Nearly
all divers are partially II not totaIy
deaf. Incipent paralysis Is another al
Fiction.
A pearl diver is at the mercy Of
half-civilized and often treacherous crew
the drifting boat TO which Is Attached
the life line and air tube may be sel]ed
by a sudden strong current or ude, anu
the diver, running TO keep up with the
boat, may have his lines become en-
tangled among coral reefs or other
growths of the sea. Again, the air pump
may not work, the pipe may burst. or the
gigantic llIldCId a iubt Gam
shells are converted into babies bath
tubs by the natives of the Philippine
Islands, may lmprlSon the aver Ioot'
leg, or hand. There is fascination IN
the contemplation Of these horrible udn-
gers that makes a reckless person almost
wish TO venture single descent, or IL
not, 10 learn as mucn as possible the
details of this singular employment.
The professional pearl over OF the
Indian Ocean is usually an uneducated
man; many are natives, who wear no
owing suit, only staying down moment,
seZng an oyster smell In either hdHu'
and then striking at once 10 the SUI
face. These men are Kanakas or South
Sea Islanders Japanese Chinese, and
Aalays. a curious feature of their dlV-
ing is that they drop from the boat feet
downward making little resistance, thus
enabling them to remain longer on the
bottom than if they Owed head fore
most-as one would imagine, owing 70
law of motion; they can dive In ShalloW
water only. as the tremendous pres
sure Of deep water would crush then
unprotected bodies. The deep-water
divers are nearly all sailors who have
bought pearling boats or are hired by
companies that own fleets. These roVers
are Germans, Swedes. a Few EhsIlsn;
but seldom an American can be Iouhd
among the number.
To my knowledge there Is but one
English speaking pearl diver from TINS
country and he BostonlAn-Mr' IL.
w lltmdTS1-a partner III ICiNdiAAAN
house. While In Australia some years
ago he purchased a lugger-a vessel oil
from five to twenty tons, with two snort
masts, used entirely for the pearIlhg
tTade-and with a crew or SIX MdIdys
and a cOckney English diver set out iOr
the principal pearling grounds that lie
off the northwestern coast or Australia,
extending TO Torres strait on the north.
The luggers cOngregate in fleets on these
grounds and are visited every six weeks
cta from SIugdDOTP. that DIllEE
down Malay crews, provisions, ana maIls,
carrying back the beautiful mother-of-
pearl shells. which are shipped to the
London market.
purchased had been out but week
when il sprung a leak and the owner
had TO put into creek III order 10 MAKE
repairs. While there the cockney diver
succeeded in obtaining some Holland
gin. and he became so delighted win
mis- condition that he persistently re-
fused to set sail again for the pearIls
grounds. Every method OF lnuucenehl
was resorted to, but he was obdurate,
thinking, and with good reason, that
The expedition would be an impossibillty
without his presence. Inc other khe"
that If he did not avail himself OF the
spring tides-then at their helght-that
kept the creek filled with deep water,
il would be impracticable 10 get out. lie
determined TO dive himself and saile1
away for the grounds.
Inc pearl oyster IS not JOuHu III btN'f
as our edible oysters, but is scattered
singly over large area, the diver some
times having TO walk many miles De-
fore filing his bag. The shells are about
the size Of large soup plates, Weish-
ing about pound each, ana shaped
much ike our oyster shell, only more
round. IL was a StupendOus task lndl
this rash American had undertaken; ne
mad never made a descent, ne was undDle
10 speak Malay, and his ne must pe
. no traarharn1IE AnhammpQan
crew. The day after arriving at tne
peariing grounds he prepared TO make
ais descent
The horrors OF the first DESCENT 1t is
like chapter out of Dante's inferno,
as told by Mr.. Whitmarsh:
FIRST Of all comes 10 mind the fear
that the air may not come In; again, the
belief that sharks are waiting below 10
ievour him. though they never attack
dressed divers, but often eat the natives
The feet will not go down first, as they
ought: there is an impulse TO dive in the
old boyish fashion; but worst OF all SEN
sations is that caused by the GearIW
pressure of water upon the sensitive parts
Of the body, particularly the ears; they
feel as though two iron spikes were be-
'ng bored into them. the pain increases,
md the ooor victim yells and struggles,
but until communication is Freely opened
between the nose and ears IT does not
cease This occurs Immediately when
bottom is reached
The American diver states that all fear
passed away when she reached the SUD-
marine land.
Everything was magnifed to twice its
.ize: white coral growths shaped like
inverted mushrooms. coralline reefs form
n like trees, curious sponge and 1chen-
ike growth, were in profuson. Sea-tan
andy palm-shaDed weeds twenty feet in
height abOunded and fish, gorgeous in
every color Of the rainbow, swan about.
Everything In this new and wondrous
world YVES vivid with brilliant colorlng:
the diver was finally brought TO MS senses
by seeing an ordinary beer bottle lodged
In q reef He sat down on coral cup
and gaZed about him, while a crowd OF
curious fish attracted by the strange
object hung about In a circle, gazing AT
him with an inquisitive stare. A heavy
eoeling stole upon him and the buZZing
Of cir i'm his helmet warned him that II
was time TO return TO the boat. lie gave
the sional. and was drawn gasping TO the
surface. blood ehuding from his nostri1s,
ears. and mouth: he had been on the bot
tom Of the sea ten minutes
For a week after the first descent
liver coughs up blood; this is caused by
tbs bursting OF minute blood vessels on
lungs. But the diver must make a
descent the next day. and every succeed
'ng day Tor else the ears may head re-
naming each day a longer time. the dura-
ion depending wholly on the depth OF
water. About eighteen fathoms-6 feet
to a fathom-is the deepest safe depth.
\ diver can remain only about ten min
utes in this depth, while IN hve lemons
he can work for two hours or more;
greater depth would crush the bones or
I strong man. despite the CounteTaction
II air within the suit.
The effect of diving on the nervous
system are very apparent; while a diver
5 at work he is usually In a bad temper
re thinks his lifeline is not held taut, or
hey are not giving him enough air, some