The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-09-16
MISS pH1LLrrs IN DIVING DRESS

away In that gigantic suit, and the addi-
ton of a copper collar, or breastplate,
weighing 30 pounds, made it necessary
for me to remain seated while tNa dress
ing act was being completed. ! could
feel that collar b~ruising my shoulders,
and the making firm of every screw caus
ed me a twinge Of pain. Next came the
donning of a pair of heavy canvas over
alls, which were secured around my
waist by heavy rope. Then the life line
was placed around my waist and made
fast to a cleat adjusted in the collar to
receive it. The air hose was similarly
attached and securely fastened. Next in
order came the shoes, weighing % pounds
apiece, monstrous affairs Of leather, with
copper soles.
"A ladder was run down the side of
the tugboat reaching to the water, by
which means l was to make my descent.
I was lifted over the side Of the tug
boat, as I was powerless to help myself.
Then. clinging to the ladder, the belt was
placed around me, q massive leaden af-
fair weighing So pounds.
II was Lying face downward on the
boat between the two head points Of the
ladder, my feet touching water, ready
for the adjustment of the last piece, the
helmet, preparatory to taking the plunge,
when Mr.. Grim, who was making the
descent with me, had me repeat our 'pri-
vafe' signals. He was to retain hold OF
my hand, and a shake meant all right
and a pull meant ascend At the conn
mand all ready the pumps commenced
working, and the helmet was placed on
my head and screwed securely in place.
"a moment later, my hand in Mr.
Grim's, | let go the ladder and felt my
self sailing, not in ether, but in dirty.
Shiny water of a sickly brownish hue.
The sensation was delightful, positively
exhilarating. / could heal the bubble
and gurgle of the water as we shot
through at lightning speed. l remem.
bered to give a big swallow. 1t was
really necessary. 1 chung to Mr.. Grim's
hand-tenaciously, he claims. But then
a man always makes such remarks where
a woman is concerned. However, he
signaled, and l gleefully responded all
right
II felt as if I could continue forever.
Presently we struck bottom. Peering
through the windows of my helmet, l
could see stones, shells and struggling
pieces of seaweed. Once again my com
panion signaled me, and, receiving a
confident handshake, he grasped both
my hands, and we ventured on a little
promenade, q friendly inspection of our
submarine cousins.
II found my IS pound shoes serving me
well, for they kept me from rising. My
progress was not very rapid. 1t was
more in the form of a double quick two-
step, for every step implanted was fol-
lowed By an upward move. The water
had changed to a sickly ~greenish brown,
and the river bed was far from present
ing a cleanly appearance.
Then, without warning, came a loud
roaring, as of many rivers, the sound
Of bursting cataracts. My feet became
~entangled in miles Of rope and hose.
Mysterious, d~eafening sounds were ev-
eryrvhere. / signaled my companion to
ascend, but no reassuring answer came
back. Instead ! felt his hold weaken,
and then a mammoth white wall loomed
IN before me. completely shutting off my
view. | found myself a prisoner in a net
work Of rope and hose, surrounded on
one side and covered overhead by a thick,
grayish white canopy.
"Mx eouapaniog's hold relaxed entirely.
and 1, startled and Fszzlea, gazed out
upon this indistinet labyrinth Of rope,
hose and wall. l soon realized, however,
we had miscalculated the length of our
esplanade and gone under the tugboat-
"Then followed the most horrible Of
sensations After repeated struggling
managed to free myself from the coils
of rope and from under the tugboat. Il
was a glad moment when | saw the first
round Of the ladder. Reaching up, ! made
a frantic grasp for 1t and Selling It with
both hands. clung with all the feryor and
concentrated strength Of a drowning man
- s~g-ta.R plank thar holds E@s1hhope