The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1898-01-15
ONE MANS LONG SERVICE UNDER
NEW YORK WATERS.

OuO VI tuo OulLctl SGuttS VOSCAHAAe"o .
Most Successful Dlvers-Tirst Descent
in Diving Suit-Ghastly Experience
in u Wreck or the Delaware Capes.
"For more than fifty years I have
made my living under the waters OF
the rivers and harbors of this section
Of the country. That is, I have
worked as diver during that time,
and while I am now getting to be on
old man, I still follow that profession.
I have had many and varied expert
cnces."
These are the words of John --,
who is now employed in the rigging
loft at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, and
who has been one of the most success
full divers in tho employ of the United
States Government.
He entered the service of tue Gov
eminent moro than forty years ago.
There is not portion OF the rivers
about Now York or the harbor that he
does not know. Whenever diver has
been needed to examine the hulls of
the vessels that come to the Navy
Yard, "the old man," es he is called
by the workmen at that place, was
called upon to 'go down" and look OF
them, and there are few vessels, espe-
cially the older ones, that he does not
know thoroughly. Ho has often been
called on to go to vessels that had be-
come wrecks along the coast.
Some days ago, while at the Brook
Ign Navy Yard, q New York Times
writer went into the rigging
loft. The "old man" was busy maxi
ing repairs to some of the diving ap-
paratus and adjusting one of the
pumps to be sent to naval station
down the coast: He was in areminis-
cent mood, and while adjusting the
rubber bands to a divers suit and ar
ranging the mir valve on the pumps,
told the following story:
II first put on Divers suit to go
below the water here in the Brooklyn
Navy Yard. Previously I had many
times been down in the old diving bell
that was in use here SO long. My
father and I were the only divers then
employed in the yard, and none of the
ships carried diving outfits. I first
put on the suit many years ago, but !
shall never forget it. One Of the old
wooden ships had arrived here from
q foreign port and was in bad shape,
as she had encountered rough weather
on the voyage. Most of her rigging
was gone and she leaked badly. The
blocks and props Of the stone dry dock
had been placed for the vessel, but he.
fore putting her in the dock I was or,
dered to go down and examine the
hull.
"After the helmet had been adjusted
! felt as if I would sutlocate; my head
swan aud I felt myself getting dizzy.
AS I went below tho water and the
light was shut out T thought I would
never come up again. I had been
down about half an hour and had he.
gun to get used to it. Then I made
an examination Of the hull, aud it was
q lucky thing for the Government thai
that ship was not put iuto the dry docl
until it had been examined. Over 10(
feet of the keel had been torn away
and it was dragging. The vessel hat
struck submerged iwreck and tori
away the keel. III had happened tt
one of the modern vessels she would
never have reached port.
"Since that time have seen many
wrecks and been down at the bottom
of the rivers and harbors about New
York many times. There was on
wreck that was called upon to ex
anime that I shall never forget. I
was tho wreck Of steamer off tn
Delaware Capes, and that was SO Ion!
ago that I have forgotten in wha
year she was wrecked. We loft TIL
navy yard on one of tho tugs tn
night before Christmas and starte'
for the sccno of the disaster. TIL
wrecked steamer had been struc]
amidships by some unknown Graf
and must have sunk Immediately
There is one thing certain, few of tn
people escaped. I had never don
any deep seq diving before that time
and I have done little since. Ate
we had reached the wreck, who's
spars were just out Of water, I pre-
pared to go down.
"When I reached tho deck Of til
ship the first place went into was til
wheel house. There I found til
skipper clutching the wheel. Yes,
did unnerve me, but I fastened a lin
to him and he was pulled up to til
tug. I got into the cabin, but II
NAMED only few minutes, when
gave the signal to be hauled up.
was more than an hour before I wen
down again, and I believe what So
was the cause Of turning my hal
gray. There were thirty-one bodie
in the place, and when I opened til
door several of them Aoated towar
me. I shall never forget that exper
| .~.o ~, 1,ou, fo1t