The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1898-11-26
UNDER THE DEEP SEA
HOW THE HEAVILY LADEN DIVER
GOES ABOUT HIS WORK.

His Dress Weighs Nearly Two Hun
dred Pounds and Is IL Very Compile
Gated Afair-The Sisnalman Holds
the Divers Life In His Hands.
The dress of fully equipped diver
weighs, in round numbers, ITO pounds.
Taking off his everyday garb, the diver
pulls on his thick underciothing-a
white knitted sweater and trousers and
pair of ribbed stockings, also white.
Should he intend to work in unusually
deep water, he puts on two, sometimes
three, sets Of underclothing, to relieve
the pressure of the water
The wooden clothing donned, the next
garment is the diving dress, measuring
for man Of average height 5 feet
inches from the collar to the sole of the
foot. This dress is made of solid sheet
india rubber, covered on both sides with
tanned twill. 1t has double collar, the
inner one to pull up round the neck,
and the outer one, of red india rubber,
to 60 over the breastplate and form q
water tight joint. The cuffs also are of
red india rubber and fit tightly round
the wrists, making, when secured by
the vulcanized india rubber rings, wa
ter tight joints at the same time leav-
ing the divers hands free. In the outer
collar 10 holes are bored for securing
the breastplate. This is made of timed
copper. The outer edge is of brass and
has 10 screws firmly fitted to it at in
tervab and projecting upward. These
projections pass through the correspond
ing holes in the outer collar of the dress.
The band of the breastplate is in four
sections, and the holes in the sections
pass over the protecting screws and are
secured in place by wing nuts or thumb.
screws. little careful consideration
will make it clear that the dress is held
in position by it's rubber collar, with
the aid of the breastplate flange and
wing nuts.
The upper edge of the breastplate is
fitted with neck ring and segmental
screw The use of this we shall present
" explain.
The boots are OF stout leather, with
leaden soles, and are secured over the
instep by buckles and straps The pair
weighs 80 pounds-four pounds over
the quarter of hundredweight The
lead soles are firmly attached by copper
rivets. The tongues Of the boots are
very wide. Boots intended for rough
work are fitted with metal toe caps
Thus far -underclothing, dress, breast
plate and boots-is our diver arrayed.
He has now to be weighted. Lead
weights of 40 pounds each, shield or
heart shaped, are suspended back and
front by means Of gun metal clips and
studs or tabs and lashings He has now
only to put on his helmet and to affix
the air pipe
The helmet, like the breastplate, is
Of timed copper and is fitted with
segment bayonet screw at the neck, cor
responding to that mentioned as belong.
ing to the breastplate. The eighth Of
turn, and the helmet is firmly secured,
being both air and water tight. It has
three strong plate glasses in brass
frames, protected by guards, two oval
a. the sides and a round one in 'front.'
The front can be unscrewed to enable
the diver to give orders without re1nov..
ing any other portion of 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
air to escape, yet prevents the entrance
of water
At the side Of the front glass is
mechanical arrangement for getting rid
of the excess of air, and it also assists
when the back outlet valve is closed in
regulating the expansion of the dress
in rising to the surface. There is also
an inlet valve, and this is constructed
SO as to allow the air to enter, but not
to escape, in case of break in the 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 means Of
the inlet valve and an elbow tube, the
other end Of the air pipe is fitted on to
the nozzle of the air delivering diving
pump.
His leather belt is buckled on, his
knife, we'll sharpened and Of strong
steel, covered with metal case to keep
it dry and intact, is s]ung upon it, and
after taking drink, or a little light
refreshment, the word is given, All
right, the face glass screwed on, and
receiving tap on the helmet as q 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 signalman to hold his life line
(that lie, the line fastened round his
waist by which he is hauled up) and the
air pipe, both of which should be kept
just taut, SO 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 ono
pull on the life line it signifies, "How
are you getting on?" If al! is we'll, the
diver gives an answering pull to re-
assure those above. Two pulls on the
air pipe given by the diver mean "more