Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1896-12-29
THE DIVERS DRAMA.

'FIt was almost enough to craze a
man outright" said the old diver.
"Aye, it was tight fix-that in the
Conqueror. She was coming in from the
Mediterranean after a three years
cruise with the 'nliddies.' and went
down in gale in sight of homo with
every soul on board. 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 Hettie and were de-
ferring our marriage.
1.-THE sea was running high as was
carried down i'll my heavy armor from
the deck of the steamer to the float
alongside, where the ropes by which to
haul me up again were fastened on.
The india rubber tube, through which i
was to be supplied with air, was adj
justed.
f" 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.
'tI dropped into the waves with a
splash, sinking swiftly down through
the brilliant Eunli5 waters, which,
though rough and boisterous at their
surface, suddenly grew calm as 1 passed
below. l glanced up at the sun, which
appeared as a great ball of fire. but,
growing smaller and smaller as j sank
fno1Ixy ooo,,,od lilo tho finr
red spark of candle and then faded
from sight.
''I cleared bank of thick seaweed
and stood at last upon tho. bright sandy
bottom,
Passing around reef of rocks fan
cifully honeycombed, L came upon O
mass of tangled rigging, and a few
steps brought me to the 1nan-of-war
half. buried where she lay in the sand.
Great caution was necessary lest I
should become entangled among the
ropes or caught under the shifting tim
bers, and making my way slowly 10 the
companionway sent up the signals:
% I am about to enter the vessel'-I
shall be III dapger'-'P Play out rope free
ly, and give me plenty of air.
81 made my way to the lower deck
and found myself in the forward cabin.
groped about for 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 the door, showed it back
against the waters and resolutely en-
thing-a silence as of death. l 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 it
had met them, at the threshold.
'tThe eddying 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
enc turned, as l slowly passed along
and followed in the wake i 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 I was terrified
at receiving no response from second
or third signalI
81 pulled the rope again violently
vTGited-still no reply.
Great heavens! What did it all
mean? Had they forgotten me! We're
they TO leave me there at the bottom of
the sea with that awful crew: I no
sooner realized my helplessness than An
uncomfortable terror took possession of
me. Surely they would not desert mel
Surely they had not forgotten mel l
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 repe-soIne great fish that
was holding it in his jaws? In my deg
peration l threw my whole weight on
it. and-it gave way and fell slowly,
silently, on the deck at my feet The
ragged. fraysd ends, which had become
cntaugled in tine rigging, were in my
hands and the upper half of the ropes
had floated away with the tide.
II was alone at the bottom of the
sea, with 10 means Of signaling my dis
tregsl The india rubber tube. which
was my only means of breathing, was
yet fast to me, but as soon as they
ej,0uId I,oc,s,, 70 wind IN the rf1ues and
tube, on some supposed signal from me,
IL would snap in two and the waters
would come in upon me.
.My terror grew wilder. knew the
men were close to ne-only 80 yards
above me-yet L must die because L
could not reach them. raved like a
mailman and tried to tear my armor