The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-03-20

The vEr-ship Maine was blown Up al
midnight February 10Th.
The following morning a telegram was
sent TO Key West Fla.. "scnd down the
best diver in the service. Must be afraid
OF nothing"
As this answered my description pref
~ well thc authorities al key West
sent Tor me. vltu ths result that before
nlfh, j had agreed to go Co Havana 10
work upoa the wreck OF the Maine with.
out delay. } was 90 have three assisl-
ants 20 work tho pumps ana ropes and
was 90 receive siD pcr oay. 10 hc Gle
vidcd up among 90 hands. diver d-y
consists OF four hours / like 60 SO oown
81 eight IN the morning when Che waters
are clear, and say unul noon That is
about as Ions as / like to be beneath
the water although 4 have remained
under two hours longer
Diving in Florida waters and IN the
Cuf Of Havana is a different matter
from Mississippi work The Florida Wa
Gers are al clear az "a bell and a diver
need not carry electric lights with him.
he can sco the shells under his feet, ana
behold objects a long way of.
"a ma Florida diver and have always
worked in tropical waters except once
whom went 10 Lake Huron t0 recover
Vaiuabies from sunken steam Dap.
understand working below tnc surface,
and I can say that no diver can go down
with more ease and work quicker or long
or than ! can.
But the wreck OF the Maine was
dineront matter. Never iu my expo
lionce had j boon called upon 90 do fuch
a critical piece OF work Hero at mo
bottom of the sea, or submerged far be-
low tho eufflc5. was iiNltlD cruiser
containing $4,000 ia bank notes. silver
and Valucblcs. Besides these woro The
ships instruments OF costly make ana
rare design.
More than an there were bodies down
in the ehn and these we've TO be re-
covered. along with The gold ana silver
One Of my arrangements was FOR
complete electric light service j want
Cd LIGHTS in my helmet and where
could manage thom in my hands
wanted % be able 20 work as distinctly
as on laud aud even more $50. I want
al 90 80 down iu the Maine and bring
up everything that could possibly he
reclaimed Cor the service o. the Cow
eminent.
I shall never forget the morning. scy-
eral days later. when tho wI,ckinE
schooner took me out 10 the great sub
merged vessel and lowered me down.
The suit L wore ON that occasion was
worthy Of note. for / had brand-neW
one made. DO was az heavy canvas
cloth. waterproof ana strong. UNDER
"o,' %. O.. t, 90 ~ r.,,,.,s
N,o'' t.u ,,,,t,t, 'ccrrscto5
v'f,' .'. i., ~, ,,o,,,d ,,,,
-, t No.. ,'.,tor,5 IA, tnbog
.N, .,,., ll,,.,-,r, mo and for
-......i....,. ,.. ,.i,,, otr NJ boots had
49, .,i9s ,.,i.hfld en- heavily chat
eo,,i5 rot NOV. aropnd an land. and my
80. ,..s or. Min, G,, windows GO
a.. ,o,.fa .., .,,,t 40 81 window which,
49, go. ,,,.ro9 r,v head
..... c.t.a 40 tho euit 10
-. &c.. .,-o,,..t, ~ r.r,nit nav moving
..t.t s,..5o,, 1, ,ras az ,I...
-.. -..,.ll. d, c-hi,b moro wine
80 t-,,, ,.t,i-..
~. -.tt 60, - ,.,- ,,5,, 20 81, down.
ms 'g''' " "-' 49,. o.. 49,,
w., ID ,ot e,,,'5rt ,ts ,,eiebt NM
49, 1f,. &C.. ,,-t ~ which WEIGHED
,l..l-.,. ,.,,.,,,i. t.e IL, T.. uf.ed far ma.
go .g -, d,g., t,. ladder from the
side M he Wrcrter one of my assist
80 too. INV fee. Oh tho rounds and
80 ti,.r, .foo. ~ sa.b st.p afv
hand we're protected lightly with rub-
her cloves which connected with my
suit Win broad elastic bands. making
NV eIaaves v,atcr tieht
wanted 90 go down with my bare
nsDds fsslir- fb.t could work better
- ,.f+h NOR. r.iio,..- of tourh iu that
w but k,ev from experience how
numerous the little fish are and how
ebev bite and stinr thc fingers ] ln w
also what formidable creatures the Dis
asb arc An those waters and how they
would be- attracted by the bodies chat
were within. They rlp Off Divers bare