The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1898-01-20
CFhe PittsDurg Dispatch.)
PRESSURE OF DEEP WATER

Lying on it's side in Best, Fox & Cos
perior foe in struggle to the death and
gave up the ghost, is the Schon diving bell,
that was crushed by the pressure of the
water in the depths of Lake Michigan.
1t arrivedin Pittsburgh few days since and
has been an object of curiosity and study
to those who know it is here.
As it lies now among other scrap the
Schon diving-bell looks like square boil
er with slightly tapering ends, that had
collapsed. Instead of torn metal bending
outward, it is crushed in. Bronze metal
an inch thick is torn as one would tear
straw board. In the same manner one of
the plates in the angular end was ripped
almost it's entire length.
The box was planned by Hubert Schona
brass moulder of this City. 1t is or may
be called cube six feet in dim ensions.
The slightly tapering ends increase it's
height few inches but not it's bulk. The
material is phosphor bronze five eights of an
inch thick. Each plate was cast with a
flange, and they were bolted together, the
bolts being placed as closely together as was
consistent with strength. The side plates
We're further strengthened with ribs an inch
thick and two inches wide. There was an
opening for lookout on each. Fitted in
these openings were heavy bars, so heavy
that openings only three inches square
| YorOI1i5aH of erIo
plates an inch in thickness. Through
these openings the explorer in the box could
survey everything in sight and telephone to
the operators on the surface above.
The makers followed the directions of the
inventors who had estimated that the press
ure at the depth of $50 feet could not make
an impression on the creature of his fancy
and in course of time it was completed AMI
loadedfor shipment to Chicago. On the cal
it weighed $4,000 pounds. Inserted in the
bottom was a short steel shaft two inches
in diameter. To this were to be attached
weights to sink the box. The box was
shipped to Chicago and preparations were
made to test the machine off that city, but
since the chart showed maximum depth
of seventy feet, Milwaukee was chosen.
In the Beer City prepar atoms for testing
the Schon bell were completed by Mr. Lutz
Schon and Samuel Harper. Mr. Lutzs rep
resentative. Floating and towing equip
ments were secured and preliminary test
was decided upon. The scientists of the
city said that one could not remain under
water in that space longer than fifty to six
ty minutes. They figured that 216 cubic
feet of air would be consumed in that time
but Shon when he went down in it for a
test stayed three hours, smoked and burn
ed matches watched sewage of the city
float past him and then only came up be.
4 cause ne was tired of staying down.
With this point settled, the moreimpor.
tant one whether or not the vessel could
Withstand the pressure of deep water, was
the concern of the friends of the box
They estimated that at a depth of 200
feet each side of the box would be subiec
ted to pressure of $4,000 pounds. The
actual pressure at that depth is less. But
"
each of the four sides and two ends at the
same time the test could not be made
above ground. But SO sure was Mr.. Schor
that the machine was strong enough thai
He was persuaded to wait for the SECOND
trip.
Finally all arrangements were compile.
ted and with the bell on big scow anC
steam holster in the fleet, tug hauled
the explorers seaward.
The chart showed that the bed of the
lake at Milwaukee inclined gradually from
the shore, and when the tug haC
travelled nearly twelve miles the depth
of water was considerably more than 20(
feet. A pressure gauge made for the pur
pose was attached to the box Lashed to thu
chains attached to the end was scantling
projecting several feet to either side. Ropes
were attached to this to prevent tht
cage from swinging or twisting Inside
two stringers, eight by six inches were fast
ened across the box just below the win
dow to add to the strength of the heavy
metal sides and to assist in coping with th'
pressure under the water. A long distance
telephone was put in working order and tht
box was closed. To the steel bar in tn
J bottom was attached 5 00pounds of metal
but this was found insufficient to sink i
and 500 0pounds of chain were added.
Then the word was given and the engines
allowed the big bronze box to pass from
view. A brief stop was made to weigh tn,
entire outfit under water, and the resul
was a showing of 500 pounds. Here was
hollow tube ofsix feet weighing, all tolC
80, 100 pounds on the surfuce, reduced t,
$50 pounds submerged, indicating that tn
weightof water displaced was 26, ,000pound
or thirteen tons.
Again the thing was started bottom-ward
! Each of the ropes attached to the scant
{ lings were marked at intervals of twenty
five feet as check on the depth reached
Q Down, down, it went but it was very not Ion,
before some one saw the telephone com
. speechless to the surface. 1t did not nee'
. to be heralded everybody sawit and knew
whatit meant. Then as if all the seltze