Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1903-09-24
THE DEEPEST SEA DIVING
1t Requires Courage and The
Greatest Skill.
SAYS ONE WHO KNOWS
Seeking Treasure at Depth of More
Than $50 Feet.

During the coming summer, accord
ing to Dick Meyer, a deep-sea diver
who arrived in Seattle yesterday morn
ing. an attempt will be made to raise
the Canadian Pacific Navigation Com
panys steamer Islander, lost on a re-
turn trip from Lynn canal points to
Vancouver, B. c., about two years ago,
and in which disaster about fifty pas
sengers and members of the crew lost
their lives.
Many times reports have been given
out to the effect that the vessel had
been located at different places along
the Alaskan coast, afterwards to be de-
MED. Mr.. Meyers stated yesterday
that last fall Capt. Henry French and
an engineer sent out by the Navigation
Company, after dragging the waters in
the vicinity of the coast for two
months, finally did locate the vessel in
1872 feet of water, three miles from
Juneau. The find was made late in the
fall, and. owing to the cold weather
setting in he says no attempt was
made to raise the vessel.
He has been engaged by the English
Marine Insurance Company to go to
Juneau in August, and go down to the
boat and exploit her position, with a
view to raising her this summer.
Il have been employed by the Ma
rine Insurance Company having the
risk on the Canadian Pacific Naviga-
ton Company's steamer Islander
which was lost while returning from
Lynn Canal about two years ago, to
dive and ascertain her position and
see if she can be raised" said Mr..
Meyer yesterday. Il will go up in
August to Juneau, and some time dur
ing that month will go to the place
where she is lying, about three miles
from Juneau, and go down to make an
investigation.
There have been many reports
about the locating Of the vessel since
she was lost. She was located last fall
by Capt. Henry French and an engi-
neer sent out by the company. They
had been dragging for two months be-
fore they made the find. she lies in
1872 feet of water, and there is no
do~ht in my mind but that she can be
brought to the surface, unless some
tiiag unusual is present that | do not
snticirate now. If this is the case then
it is very probable that n number Of
tile bodies of those lost with her will
be recovered, together with her Alas
kan treasure.
Some people think that it is impos-
sible to get q vessel lying in that
deDth Of water. but that is incorrect.
Nine wears AGO | made dive for the
British maaofwar Success at Mel
bourne, Australia, in 1856 feet Of water.
/ succeeded in locating her position,
and she was raised. SO it will be with
Lhe Islander.
Il have been engaged in deep-3ea
diving all my life, and have gone down
to vessels in all parts of the world. 1t
is net possible for a diver to go to any
dcpth. as ! learned while at work for
The United States Government at Sa-
moa. During the building Of the coal
ing station l got into water 2O5 feet
deep, to my sorrow. I became par
alvzed, and when / reached the top |
was almost dead. 1t took me ten days
to recover However, there is no dan
ger in getting to where the Islander
rests. and as I say, if live, l will go
down to her in August. After | have
seen how she rests then | will be able
to report on some plan for her raising.
"At the time the Islander went down
che was new boat, and therefore
should be in good condition. Lying at
her depth storms would not have any
effect on her. and therefore if she is
raised she will be suitable for commits
sion again as soon as she has been re-
paired. "-Seattle Post-Intelligencer.