, 1898-12-03
UNDER THE DEEP SEA
HOW THE HEAVILY LADEN DIVER
GOES ABOUT HIS WORK.

His Dress Weighs Nearly Two Hun
dred POUNDS and Is n Very CompIi-
Gated AhRir-Thc SignaImnn Hold.
the Divcr's Life In His Hands.
The dress of a fully equipped diver
weighs, in round numbers, 10 pounds
Taking off his everyday garb, the diver
pulls on his thick underc,othing-a
white knitted sweater and trousers and
a 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 a man of average height 8 feet 8
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 a double collar, the
inner one to pull up round the neck,
and the outer one, of red india rubber,
to go over the b%reastplate and form a
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 12 holes are bored for securing
the breastplate. This is made OF timed
copper. The outer edge is of brass and
has l2 screws firmly fitted to it Mt in-
tervals 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. a little careful consideration
will make it clear that the dress is held
in position by its rubber collar, with
the aid of the breastplate fiange and
wing nuts.
The upper edge of the breastplate is
fitted with a neck ring and a segmental
screw. The use of this we shall present.
ly explain.
The boots are of stout leather, with
leaden soles, and are secured over the
instep by buckles and straps. The pair
weighs 32 rcunds-four pounds over
the quarter Of a 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 Misunderstanding, 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 afix
the air pipe.
The helmet, like the breastplate, is
OF timed copper and is fitted with a
segment bayonet screw at the neck, cor
responding to that mentioned as belong.
ing to the breastplate. The eighth of a
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 oval
at the sides and a round one in front.
The front can be upscrewed to enable
the diver to give orders without remov.
ing any other portion Of the dress. An
outlet valve is provided at the side or
back Of the helmet. which the dyer
can close should he wish to rise to the
surface. This valve allows the breathed
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
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 IA break in the air
pipe. The air pipe is made in lengths of
from 40 to so 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 s~harpened and of strong
steel, covered with a metal case to keep
it dry and intact, is slung upon it, and
after taking a drink, OF a little light
refreshment, the word is given, "All
right, the face glass screwed on, and
receiving a tap or 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 a 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, 80 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 a 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 on?" If all 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
air" {pump ~faster), and so on through
out the lode of signals.
In addition to the signal code modern
invention has adapted and utilized the
telephone, and "a speaking apparatus
for men working at n depth of go feet
or more Is frequently used. The electric
light also is now employed by divers
working at a depth beyond 20 feet
James Cassidy in st. Nicholas.
The Berbers Of Morocco are an inter-
arkinn hlnnd rnca disrnrcnl alnnu The