Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1896-11-14
THE DIVERS DRAMA.

''It was almost enough to craze a
man outright, said the old diver.
aye. it was a tight fx-that i'll the
ConuucrOr She was coming in from the
Mediterranean after three years
cruise with tho 'middies,' and went
down in Il gale III sight of home with
every soul on board. l was young then
and anxious to bc the first sent down
into her for the sake of the reputation
it would give me, for reputation meant
only reason why Hettie and [ were de-
ferrirg our marriage.
"The sea was running high as was
carried down i'll my heavy armor from
the deck of the steamer to the float
alongside, whore the ropes by which to
haul me Up again were fastened ON.
The india rubber tube, through which /
was to be supplied with air, was ad-
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 care of yourself and don't
stay long below. The currents are
swift.
II dropped into the waves with
splash, sinking swiftly down through
the brilliant sunlit waters, which,
though rough and boistcrous at their
surface, s,.ddcnly grew calm as l passed
below. ] glanced up at the sun, which
appeared as a great ball of fire, but,
growing smaller and smaller as l sank
lower, it finally seemed like the tiny
red spark of Il candle and then faded
from sight.
II cleared q bank of thick seaweed
and stood at last upon the bright sandy
bottom.
Passing around reef of rocks fam
cifully honcycombed, | came upon a
mass of tangled rigging, and ii few
steps brought me to the man-of-war
half buried where she lay in the sand
''Great caution was necessary lest l
should become entangled among the
ropes or caught under the shifting tim
bers, and making my way slowly to the
Comranionway sent up the signals:
Il am about to enter the vessel'-I
shall be i'll danger Play out rope free
l., and give NE plenty of air.
81 naGo my way to the lower deck
and found myself in the forward cabin.
l CROPPED about fer the doorway, know
ing that once in the main saloon the
deck lights would enable me to see more
distinctly.
"Clearing the rubbish and drifted
sand from about the doorway, put my
shoulder to tho door, showed it back
against the waters and resolutely en-
tered. An awful silence was upon every
thing-a silence as of death. l was
alone, at the bottom of the sea, in the
saloon Of the ConqucrOr, and close about
ne were posturcd, like grim sentinels
set to watch me i'll my work. the officers
and crew Of 200!
eyes, there were the i'll fated men
OIL that awful night, when they We're
sinking. Before they could reach the
stairway tho mighty water had rushed
i'll upon them and they died where it
had met them, at tie threshold.
The cddying waters carried them
here and there through the cabin, but
still so close Were they to one another
that had to part them now and then
to reach the after cabin, and more than
ono turned, as | slowly passed along
and followed i'll the wake made behind
me. Their faces were often close against
My helmet, and il horrified 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
at receiving no response from a second
Or third signal!
81 pulled the rope again violently
waitojl--still 10 reply.
'Great heavens! What did it all
mean: Had they forgotten mei We're
they to leave me there at the bottom Of
tho sea with that awful crew? l no
sooner realized rly helplessness than an
uncomfortable terror took possession Of
me. Surely they would not desert me!
Surely they had not forgotten me! I
pulled madly at the cord once more, and
glancing up perceived that there was
something steadily resisting my efforts
from the masthead above.
WAS it some monster who was play
ing with my ropc-some great fish that
was holding it in his jaws? In my des-
peration | threw my whole weight ON
it, and-it gave way and fell slowly,
silently, on the deck at my feet. The
ragged, frayod ends, which had become
entangled in the rigging, were in my
hands ana the upper half Of the ropes
had tioated away with the tide
Il WAS alone at the bottom of the
sea, with no means of signaling my dis
tress! The india rubber tube, which
was my only means Of breathing, was
yet fast 10 me, hut us soon as they
ChpnIl booip IN wind IL, tI,o ,o,>oc o,,d