The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1896-11-24
THE DIVERS DRAMA.


Mediterranean after three years
cruise with the 'middies, and went
down in gale in sight Of home 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 l 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 were fastened on.
The india rubber tube, through which
was to be supplied with air, was adj
justed.
CHOW, 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.
~ dropped into the waves with a
splash, sinking swiftly down through
the brilliant sunlit waters, which,
though rough and boisterous at their
surface, suddenly grew calm as passed
below. l glanced up at the sun, which
appeared as great ball of fire, but,
growing smaller and smaller as / sank
lower, it finally seemed like the tiny
red spark of candle and then faded
from sight.
II 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 a 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
companionway sent up the signals:
Il am about to enter the vcssel'-'I
shall be in danger'-'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.
CROPPED 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-
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 Conqueror, and close about
me were postured, like grim sentinels
set to watch me in my work, the officers
and crew of 200!
eyes, there were the i'll fated mer
as they stood when death overlook then
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 il
had met them, at the threshold.
1.-The eddying waters carried then
here and there through the cabin, bu
still so close were they to one another
that l had to part them now and theI
/ to reach the after cabin, and more thar
one turned, as 1 slowly passed along
and followed in the wake made behinc
me. Their faces were often close agains
my helmet, and it Mortified me to motto,
that they all wore still upon their face
the impress of the terror that had com'
upon them with death.
"a moment passed and was terrified
at receiving no response from seconC
or third signal
81 pulled the rope again violently
waited-still no reply.
"Great heavensl What did it al
mean? Had they forgotten me? Wer'
they to leave me there at the bottom o
the sea with that awful crew? / nj
sooner realized my helplessness than al
uncomfortable terror took possession o
me. Surely they would not desert me
Surely they had not forgotten mel
pulled madly 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-some great fish tina
was holding it in his jaws? In my des
peration 1 threw my whole weight Oh
it, and-it gave way and fell slowly
silently, on the deck at my feet. TIL
ragged, frayed ends, which had becom,
entangled in the rigging, were in m!
hands and the upper half of the rope
had fioated away with the tide.
81 was alone at the bottom of tn,
sea, with no means of signaling my dis
tressl The india rubber tube, whicl
was my only means of breathing, wa
yet fast to me, but as soon as the.
should begin to wind in the ropes anC
tube, on some supposed signal from me
it would snap in two and the water
would come in upon me,
my terror grew wilder. 1 knew tn
men were close to me-only 30 yard
above me-yet l must die because
could not reach them. I raved like
mailman and tried to tear my armo