Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-11-26
UNDER THE DEEP SEA
now TIE HEAVILY LiOEH DIVER
GOES k6OUT HIS WORK.

The dress of a fully equipped diver
weighs, in round numbers, 40 pounds.
Taking off his everyday garb, the diver
pulls on his thick underciothiDc-a
white knitted sweater and trousers and
a pair Of ribbed stockings also white.
Should he intend 10 work in unusually
deep water, he puts on two. sometimes
three, sets Of understanding 10 relieve
the pressure Of the water.
The wooden clothing dCnned, the next
garment is the diving dress, measuring
for man OF average height feet
inches from the collar 10 the sole OF the
foot. This dress IS made OF solid sheet
india rubber, covered on both sides with
tanned twill. l. has double collar, the
inner one 10 pull up round the neck,
and tic outer one, Of red india rubber,
to - over the bTeastplate and form "a
water tight joint. The cuffs also are of
| red india r1bber and fit tightly round
| the wrists, making, when secured by
/ the vulCani2ed india rubber rings, wa
| ter tight joints, ut the same time leav-
| ing the divers hands free. in the outer
collar - holes are bored for securing
| the breastplate. This Is made of timed
| copper. The outer edge Is OF brass and
! has = screws firmly fitted - it at in
| tervals and projecting upward. These
! projections pass through the correspond
| ing holes in the outer collar Of the dress.
| The band of the hreastplate is in four
| sections. and the holes III the sections
! pass over the protecting screws and are
! secured IL place by wing nuts or thumb
screws. 4 little careful consideration
VIII make it clear that tie dress is held
| IN position by its rubber collar. with
| the aid of the b-eastplate fange and
| wing nuts.
The upper edge OF the breastplate is
| fitted with n neck ring and a scgmental
| screw. The use OF this We shall present
ly explain.
The Lcots are of stout leather. with
loaden soles, and are secured over the
instep by buckles and straps. The pair
weighs 80 pounds-four pounds over
the quarter of u hundredweight. The
lead soIes are firmly attached by copper
rivets. The tongues OF the boots arc
very wide. Boots intended for rough
work are fitted with rectal toe caps.
Thus Misunderstanding dress, breast
plate and bOOts-is Our diver arrayed.
He has now to be weighted. Lead
weights of 10 pounds each, shield or
heart shaped, are suspended back ard
-ibAAb - i4AttAA4S VI raA-l ll-CSil I'll anu
studs or tabs aud lashings. He has now
only to put or his helmet and to affix
the air pipe.
The helmet. ike the breastplate is
Of timed copper and is fitted with q
segment bayCnet screw at the neck, cor
responding to that mentioned as belong.
ing to the breustplate. The eighth of
turn, and the helmet is firmly secured,
being both air and water tight. 1t has
three strong plate glasses in brass
frames, protected by guards, two ogal
at the sides and round one III front. !
The front can be unsCrewCd to enable !
the diver 10 give orders without remOv- |
ing any other portion If the dress. An !
outlet valve Is provided at the side or |
back of the helmet. which the diver !
can close should he wish to rise to the |
surface. This valve allows the breathed I
air to escape, yet prevents the entrance |
of water.
At the side Of the front glass is a |
mechanical arrangement for getting rid |
Of the excess Of air, and it also assists y
when the back outlet valve is closed in .
regulating the expansion of the dress ,
IN rising TO the surface. There is also .
an inleJ valve, and this is constructed
so as to allow the air TO enter, but not
to escape, in case Of Il break in the air
pipe. The air pipe Is made il lengths of !
from - to 90 feet, fitted together by !
means of gun metal joicts Securely !
connected with the helmet by means Of
the inlet valve and an elbow tube, the
other end Of the air pipe is fitted on to
the nCzzlo of the air delivering diving
pump.
His leather belt is buckled on, his
knife, well shsrpened and of strong
steel, covered with metal case to keep
it dry and intact, Is slung upon it, and
after taking Il drink or a little light
refreshmout, the word is given, "All
right" the face glass screwed on, and
receiving a tap on the helmet as a sig
nal to descend down he goes by rope or
ladder. either Of which must be weight
ed at the bottom.
Each diver while under water re-
Quires Il signalman TO hold his life line
(that il, the line fastened round his
waist by which he is hauled up and the
air pipe, both CT which should be kept
Just taut, 30 that any movements of the
diver may be felt The signalman is
OF the utmost Importance to the diver
Indeed, to use the words of diver
with whom we recently talked, he is
his life. He must exercise the utmost
vigilance all the time that the diver is
down Should the attendant give one
pull on the life line it signifies, How
are you getting oG:" If al! is well, the
diver gives an answering pull TO re
assure those above Two pulls on the
air pipe given by the diver mean morn
air. pump faster, and so on through
ont the code Of signals
In addition 10 the signal code modern
invention has adapted and utilized the {
telephone, and a speaking apparatus
for men working at depth Of co feet !
or more Is frequently used. The electric I
light also l. now employed by divers :
working at 4 depth beyond 20 feet {