The Lambertville record., 1898-11-16
UNDER THE DEEP SEA
HOW THE HEAVILY LADEN DIVER
GOES ABOUT HIS WORK


Ills Dress Weighs Nearly Two Hun
drSd Pounds and IL IL Very Compfi-
cRted Annir-Thc SIEnnimnn Holds
the Divers Life In Ills Hands.
The dress of y fully equipped diver
weighs, i'll round numbers, Ito pounds
Taking off his everyday garb tho diver
pulls on his thick underolothing-a
white knitted sweater and trousers and
pair of ribbed stockings also white.
Should ho intend to work i'll unusually
deep water, he puts on two, sometimes
three, sets of underelothing, To relieve
the pressure of tho water
Tho wooden clothing donned, the next
garment is the diving dress, measuring
for man of average height feet o
inches from the collar to the sole of the
foot. This dress is made Of solid sheet
indin rubber, covered ON both sides with
tanned twill. II has n double collar, the
inner ono to pull up round the neck
and the outer one, of red india rubber
to 20 over the breastplate and form
water tight joint The cuffs also are of
rcd india rubber and fit tightly round
the wrists, making, when secured hy
the yulcanized india rubber rings, wa
ter tight JOINTS Mt tho Same time leav-
ing the divers hands free. In tho outer
collar l2 holes are bored for securing
the breastplate. This is made of timed
copper. The outer edge is of brass and
has = screws firmly fitted to it Mt in
teryals and projecting upward These
projections pass through the correspond.
ing holes i'll the outer collar of the dress.
Tho band of the breastplate is III four
sections, and tho holes i'll the sections
pass over tho protecting screws and AFRO
secured III place by wing nuts or thumb.
screws. A little careful consideration
will make it clear that the dress il held
in position by its rubber collar. with
the aid of tho brenstplato fungo and
wing puts.
The upper edge of tho hreastplate IL
fitted with n neck ring and segmental
screw. The uso of this we shall present
ly explain.
The boots arc OF stout leather, with
leaden soles, and are secured over the
instep by buckles and straps The pair
weighs 39 pounds-four pounds over
the quarter of hundredweight. Tho
lead soles ara firmly attached hy copper
rivets. The tongues of tho hoota arc
very widn Boots intended for rough
work are fitted with metal too caps.
Thus Misunderstanding dress, breast
plato and beots-is our diver arrayod
llo has now TO ho Weighted Lead
weights OF 40 pounds eaeh, shield or
heart shaped, aro suspended back and
front by means of gun metal clips and
studs or tabs and lashings. lfo has now
only to put ON his helmet and 10 afIix
tho air pipe.
The helmet, like tho brenstplate, il
of timed copper and Is fitted with a
segment hayonot screw at tho neck, cor
responding TO that mentioned as belong.
ing to tho hreastplate The eighth of n
turn, and tho helmet is firmly secured,
being both air and water tight 1t has
three strong plato glasses in brass
frames, projected by guards, two oval
Mt tho sides and a round ono in front
Tho front can bo unscrewed 10 enable
tho diver TO give orders without romov-
ing any other portion of tho dress. An
outlet valve is provided ut tho side or
back of the helmet. which tho diver
can close should he wish TO rso to the
surface. This valve allows tho breathed
air TO escape, yet prevents tho entrance
of water
At tho sido of tho front glass is n
mechanical arrangement for getting rid
Of tho excess Of air, and it also assists
when the back outlet valve il closed In
regulating tho expansion of tho dress
In rising to the surface There Ia also
an inlet valve, and this is constructed
80 as to allow the mir to enter but not
to escape, in case Of n break in tho air
pipe The air pipe is made in lengths Of
from 45 to 60 feet, fitted together by
means Of gun metal joints. Securely
connected with the helmet by mcnns of
the inlet valYo and an elbow tube, tho
other end Of tho mir pipo Is fitted on to
tho nozzlo Of the air delivering diving
pump
His leather belt il bucklod on, his
knife, well sharpened and Of strong
steel, covered with n metal case To keep
1t dry and intact, is slung upon it, and
after taking drink, or u little light
refreshment, the word Is given, IAN
right, " tho face glass screwed on, and
receiving tap on tho helmet ns n sig
nal to descend down hc goes by ropo or
ladder either of which must bn weight
ed at the bottom.
Eanh Iit.r ,,yb
quircs signalman To hold his life limo
tthat II, tho line fastened round his
waist by which he is haule up) and the
air pipe both Of which should be kept
just taut, 50 that any movements Of tho
diver may be felt The eignalman is
OF the utmost importance to the diver
Indeed, to use the words Of diver
with whom we recently talked, ho is
his life. He must exercise tho utmost
vigilance all the time that the diver il
down. Should the attendant give ono
pull on the life line it signifies "IIow
arc you getting on5" II all Is we'll, tho
diver gives an answering pull to re-
assure those above Two pulls on the
air pipe given by tho diver mean more
air !" pump faster), aud 50 On through
out the code 0f signals
In addition 10 the signal code modern
invention has adapted and utilized the
telephone, and speaking apparatus
for men working at y depth Of 90 feet
or more is frequently used The electric
light alzn Is how employed hy divers
working at a depth beyond 20 feet
James Cassidy in ST Nicholas
The Befbers Ct Morocco are an inter.
esting blend race dispersed along the
ALlns InnRe. In tho ccnlLnI ALIa. they