Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1896-10-20
THE DIVERS DRAMA.

THE DIVERS DRAMA.
''It was almost enough to craze a
man outright" said the old diver.
'Aye, it was tight fx-that in the
Conqueror. She was coming in from the
Mediterranean after a three years
cruise with the 'middies,' and went
down in . gale in sight of home with
every soul ON board. 1 was young then
and anxious to be the first sent down
into her for the sake of the reputation
it would give me, for reputation meant
money, and money, you see, was the
only reason why Eettie and were de-
ferring our marriage.
"The sea was running high as was
carried down in my heavy armor from
the deck of the steamer to the float
alongside, where the ropes by which to
haul me up again We're fastened on.
The india rubber tube, through which 1
was to be supplied with air, was adj
justed.
Now, dear boy, said my old friend
and instructor, Lott, the famous deep
sea diver, who came forward to close
the little glass window in my helmet,
take good caro- Of yourself and don't
stay long below The currents are
swift
81 dropped into the waves with q
splash, sinking swiftly down through
the brilliant sunIt waters, which,
though rough aud boisterous at their
surface, suddenly grew calm as passed
below. L glanced up at the sun, which
appeared as a great ball of fire. but.
growing smaller and smaller as / sank
lower, it finally seemed like the tiny
red spark of q candle and then faded
from sight.
81 cleared bank of thick seaweed
and stood at last upon the bright sandy
bottom.
passing around reef of rocks fan
cifully honeycombed, L came upon q
mass of tangled rigging, and few
steps brought me to the mun-of-war
half buried where she lay in the sand.
Great caution was necessary lest 1
should become entangled among the
ropes or caught under the shifting tim
bers, and making my way slowly TO the
companionway sent up the signals:
7 am about to enter the vessel'-1
shall be in danger'-'PIay out rope free
anu give LIZ pAIAItJ ia eAA@.
''I made my way to the lower deck
and found myself in the forward cabin.
l proped about for the doorway, know
deck lights would enable me to see more
distinctly.
''Clearing the rubbish and drifted
sand from about the doorway, put my
shoulder to the door, showed it back
against the waters and resolutely en-
tered. An awful silence was upon every
thing-a silence as of death. I was
alone, at the bottom of the sea, in the
saloon of the Conqueror. and close about
me were postured, like grim sentinels
set to watch me in my work, the officers
and crew of 200i
eyes, there were the i'll fated men
as they stood when death overlook them
on that awful night, when they were
sinking. Before they could reach the
stairway the mighty water had rushed
in upon them and they died where ii
had met them, at the threshold.
''The eddying waters carried them
| here and there through the cabin, but
| still SO close were they to one another
| that I had to part them now and then
to reach the after cabin, and more than
one turned, as 1 slowly passed along
and followed in the wake made behind
me. Their faces were often close against
ray helmet, and it Mortified me to notice
that they all wore still upon their faces
the impress of the terror that had come
upon them with death
"a moment passed and was terrified
Mt receiving no response from second
or third signal
81 pulled the rope again violently
waited-s:ill no reply
''Great heavensI What did it al
raean? Had they forgotten me7 Wert
] they to leave me there at the bottom o.
the sea with that awful crewT NJ
sooner realized my helplessness than III
uncontrollable terror took possession OF
me. Surely they would not desert me
Surely they had~not forgotten mel
/ pulled mndly at the cord once more, ant
glancing Up perceived that there wa
something steadily resisting my effort
| from the masthead above.
''Was it some monster who was play
ing with my rope-so1ne great fish tina
was holding it III his jaws? In my des
peration 1 threw my whole weight ol
it, and-it gave way and fell slowly
silently, on the deck at my feet Tn
ragged. frayed ends, which had becom
entangled in the rigging, were in m
hands and the upper half of the rope
had foated away with the tide
II was alone at the bottom of tn
sea, with no means of signaling my Gus
tressl The india rubber tube, whicl
was my only means of breathing, wa
vet fast to me, but as soon as the
should begin to wind in the ropes anf
tube, on some supposed signal from me
it would snap IN two and the water
would come in upon me.
"My terror grew wilder. L knew tn
men were cicse to me-only 80 yard
above ule-yet must die because
could not reach them 1 raYed like