Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1898-03-20

then for my helpers to hold the ropes
and suspend me in order to watch
them, for their capers were marvellous
and beautiful. Two shining fish with
double tails were pulling on opposite
ends Of what might have been sweet
potato, for it was yellow, and they
were greedy One of the biggest fish
had stuck his cartilaginous sword
through square of salt pork and was
hurfying it way TO some sea-caverned
cellar.
But l knew | must not pause there.
There was greater work beyond. AS
| sank to the depth OF the Maine
found myself suddenly facing a great
hole, while underneath my feet were
boards and sheets of iron, as though
laid out for a platform. | quickly
signalled for the boat above TO stop,
and stood there for minute ana sur
veyed the scene before me. 1t was
pitch dark within and my most pow
erful hand electric light could not pc
netrate the awful recess.
l knew that | must walk inside and
throw the light here and there before
l could know the secrets OF the
depths.
1t was my belief as soon as | saw It
that the Maine was blown up from
some external cause, but of this | de-
termiEed to report nothing as my
work was with the brave souls that
persisted within. But the Maine was
bent in, and you could plainly see II
was, as though she had been shot IN
the side with flying shell.
Did | say it was dark? Not quite.
The sea flashed with light on every
side, for the phosphorent crabs were
there, and the seafans made golden,
green and pink hues. These gave out
blue scintillations. Other queer fsn
which | had net noticed before sent
out light green glow.
Mechanically, with the instinct or
diver, | reached for the first man at
hand. He was a Japanese. His fea-
lures were mutilated, but [ could
catch the race cast. | took him in my
arms and started out with him, but
he doubled up strangely, and | found
that he had been Quilted from the rear.
A great hole was in his back, and It
was empty ribs that | was carrying. |
laid the poor fellows head tenderly on
my shoulder and took him up to the
SulIdCt, LUtlf Went UCNil otJoiii'
AS I approached the wreck this
time | saw something moving inside.
A strong fear took possession of me.
Could any living being have survived
the blast and the water? Could any
one have been imprisoned by freak
of dynamite in an air-tight, water
tight compartment, now to work his
way out after many days?
AS | came nearer, for the object was
in the inner room, | was startled to
see that it was the most greedy ocean
MONSTER shark! He had in his
teeth body and was swimming rapid
ly toward the door | took up an ak,
resolved to recover that sailor or die
in the attempt. The shark saw me
and turned toward me. | waited for
him with uplifted axe. When he was
within ten feet of me | aimed blow
which struck him in the side and
great yellowish streak of shark blood
followed the axe handle.
He gave a queer gulp which | could
hear, and, dropping his victim, fled
with swift strokes Of the tail. | car
ried this man above. He was in
worse shape than the other poor fell
low, but l got him up to soldiers
burial
The rest of the horrible story you
know Of the bodies recovered, the
currency saved and the machinery res
cued. was there when they found the