The age-herald., 1898-03-20
HOW RESCUED THE MAINE'S HEROES.

The warship Maine was blown up at mid night, February 16
 The following morning a telegram was sent to Key West, Fla: "send down the best diver in the service. Must be afraid of nothing"
 As this answered my description pretty well, the authorities at Key West sent for me, with the result that before night l had agreed to go to Havana to Work upon the wreck of the Maine without de- lay I was to have three assistants to work the pumps and ropes, and was to receive $125 per day, to be divided up among all hands. A divers day consists of four hours. I like to go down at in 2 the morning when the waters are clear. and stay until noon. That Is about as long as like to be beneath the water, although I have remained under two hours longer.
 Diving in Florida waters and in the Gulf of Havana is a different matter from Mis- sissippi work. The Florida waters are as clear as a bell and a diver need not carry electric lights with him. He can see the shells under his feet, and behold objects long way off.
 am a Florida diver and have always worked in tropical waters except once when I went to Lake Huron to recover valuables from a sunken steamship. l un- derstand working below the surface, and I can say that no diver can go down with more ease and work quicker or longer than l can.
 But the wreck of the Maine was diff ferent matter. Never in my experience had been called upon to do such a criti- cal piece of work. Here at the bottom of the sea, or submerged far below the sur face, was a S4000000 cruiser, containing In hank silver and ValnaDleS. Besides these were the ships instruments of costly make and rare design
 More than all there were bodies down in the ship and these were to be recov- cred, along with the gold and silver.
 One of my arrangements was for com plete electric service. I wanted lights in my helmet and where I could manage them in my hands. I wanted to be able to work as distinctly as on land, and even more so. l wanted to go down In the Maine and bring up everything that could possibly be reclaimed for the service of the government
 I shall never forget the morning, several days later, when the wrecking schooner took me out to the great submerged vessel and lowered me down. The suit I wore on that occasion was worthy of note, for I had a brand-new one made. It was of heavy canvas cloth, waterproof and strong. Underneath 1t, as the waters are chilly, I wore heavy woolen suit. Over the can vas divers suit was a belt, which con- nected by brass rods with a collar around my neck, to which were fastened the tubes for raising and lowering me and for sup plying me with air. My boots had iron soles, weighted so heavily that I could not move around on land and my helmet was one with five windows, so that could see out of window whichever way turn ed my head.
 The helmet was fitted to the suit. It was large enough to permit my moving my neck with freedom. It was of glass, with copper outside, in which were windows of iron netting.
 My suit, when was ready to go down. weighed 400 pounds and was so heavy that I could not support its weight unaided My feet each of which weighed seventy bounds, had to be lifted for me, ard on going down the ladder from the side of the Wrecker one of my assistants took my feet off the rounds and placed them below at each step. My hands were protected lightly with rubber gloves, which connected with my suit with broad elastic bands, making my sleeves water tight.
 I wanted to go down with my bare hands, feeling that I could work better and with more delicacy of touch in that way but knew from experience how num- erous the little fish are and how they bite and sting the fingers. I knew also what formidable creatures the big fish are in these waters and how they would be at tracted by the bodies that were within. They nip off a divers bare fingers
 A part of my outfit which I have not mentioned was a supply of iron nerve for I know that the sights which I would see below would destroy my courage and send me back to the surface.
 once recovered two bodies from sunk en ferryboat. They were a man and wo- man clasped in each others arms, with a smile upon their lips When I saw them shouted aloud and the sound reverberated inside my hollow helmet until it became laughing echo. I tried to grasp the rope to give it three pulls, which would bring me to the surface but all that I could do was to touch it feeby When they pulled me up I had tainted inside the hel- met, and for days I could see that smiling couple before my eyes.
 The Maine would hold no pretty sight, but I must nerve myself for the work or not undertake 1t. When the captain of the tug called out good-by to me, I waved one of my hands at him and began to sink below the water. | haar h hic hut Eno ,baf