Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-08-29
JOE EDWARDS. THE DIVER.

JOE EDWARDS. THE DIVER
came I'D from the dock, where he had
been all the morning waiting for such
Incidents in the histories of mems lives
as sometimes occur along the river 'front.'.
The work is that Of the Dispatch artist
! and Il was done while the subject OF this
| article stood within the doors or Nc
/ Donough's stables, on Eighteenth street
between Main and Franklin streets
When first asked to allow his picture
| to be taken Joe was somewhat reluctant
| about the matter, but he finally yielded
when he was told that a great many per-
| sons did not know what manner OF man
! he was and would ike TO see his features
| In print
SKETCH OF THE DIVER.
! Born of humble pareEiage in the good
| old county of Prince Edward, whence
| hail the distinguished Ex-Governor OF
Virginia, Philip Watson Mckinney. and
the Jocose and rotund jurist. Samuel b.
Witt, Joe was launched into the world
with but poor prospects, and when lad
of 10 he came to Richmond to live. BY
his own efforts he worked his way into
fame and Importance. He cannot even
remember the first important episode OF
his own career, nor does his memory go
back far enough TO tell him when he
first learned to swim. He rests In the
comforting assurance that his life has
been a useful one-useful TO others II not
TO himself.
AS before stated, Joe is native OF
Prince Edward county, where he was
born June TO- 1851. and though he looks
much younger. has spent forty-six years
endeavoring to keep the wolf from his
door, provide his anatomical arrangements
of
menti, and, lastly, in saving whenever 1t
was possible persons who had by some
means or other found their way into deep
water and were unable TO get out.
HAS A REMARKABLE RECORD.
In this latter respect Joe probably has
the most remarkable record OF any man
in existence. He states IL as fact, and
what he says can be relied upon, that he
has taken from the bottom of the James
river in the vicinity O. this city and from
the dock and the James River and ka-
nawha canal, which runs parallel to the
river, the bodies OF more than three hun
bred persons, while he has saved from
drowning a much greater number than
this.
Joe has had a monopoly in his special
line in this city. No one has in many
years set up any sort of opposition
against him. He has saved or taken
nineteen out OF twenty OF the bodies
drowned in this vicinity, and has been
the means Of rescuing equally as large a
percentage OF drowning people rescued
from the waters of the James and the
dock. 1t is a profession with the man.
He does but little else, and while he gets
but little even when he has a case on
hand, he II nevertheless always at his
post, and hts work is done with equal
nj wh4 q
is not liable TO get a beer for his SER
vices or whether crisp ~" awaits his
emergence from the water with his vic
tim. Joe Is no respecter OF persons.
NATURE OF JoE's WORK.
Joe Edwards is an ignorant man, but
he possesses three traits which cause him
to command a certain degree OF respect
among all who know him. He is truthful
and he IL generous and brave Many has
been the time that he has tortured his
own body by diving into almost ice-cold
waters in midwlnter for hour after hour
trying TO find the corpse OF some unfortu-
nate individual and often has he had his
head and limbs cut and bruised by coming
in contact with sharp-edged rocks while
engaged in this dangerous work. but no
thing has ever daunted him. His little
earnings go principally for whiskey. His
mode of living is simple He sleeps and
eats around the dock, spending most OF
his time at night upon the property OF
the Richmond Ice Company. where he !
sometimes performs the duties OF watch |
man.
Joe says that in all Of his expert |
ence in recovering drowned bodies, he |
has never failed to find the victim. |
Sometimes long and desperate efforts In |
diving are required, but he is always |
successful In tho end. when I first |
began the business OF getting people |
out OF the river I felt a good deal Of |
uneasiness and nervousness" said Joe, |
while talking to a Dispatch man yes |
terday. 1T was a terribly creepy feel |
ing that would come over me when / |
would strike body at the bottom of |
the river, but l have gotten over all |
that now. No. have never had to get |
many women out of the water-only |
three In my life. I believe. But then. |
you know, we have only had that num- |
Der of female drownings here In the |
past thirty years"
CAN SWIM ALL DAH.
Joe said that his business had not |
been good this year. He had only had |
four cases this year. and three OF tiicm |
had happened In the past few days. In |
great many instances. Joe said. he /
did not get a cent for diving for a |
body, though very often he was given |
as much as e to s.. the former amount J