The Pickens sentinel-journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1903-1906, 1903-06-04

steamer lnUan, Whlcn SLcHck the Sow
and Pigs a year age%Sst March and
sank in shaIleSHater
- vvzssH Il and another diver were work
in the steamers hold between
decks trying to patch a hole in the YES
seIs side They We're in only fourteen
= feet Of water and consequently had
considerable freedom Of action.
The object of the operations was to
make the hull Of the steamer as tight
as possible in preparation for the
pumping out process, which was to be
conducted later from the deck of the
wrecking lighter.
Unknown to the workmen on the
lighter Morap's air hose led from the
deck Of the submerged steamer into
the hold through one Of the matches.
Over this hatchway the crew on the
surface lowered q heavily weighted
covering. Attached to the hatch thus
lowered was ton or more Of pig iron,
and as the ponderous covering settled
into its appointed place it jammed Mo-
rams air hose and lifeline in a viselike
grip.
So great was the pressure upon them
the life line was all but severed and
the air was completely shut of in the
rose.
All this meant speedy death to the
diver unless the hatch We're at once
removed. He was utterly unable to
signal to his attendants at the surface,
since his pulls at the life line could ex-
tend only to the hatch. His one hope
OF life lay IN the other diver. He LIST
find him and find him quickly.
He groped his way aft in the dark
ened hold, and as he stumbled along
he wondered If he had slack line
enough to enable him to reach his CON-
panion.
Every second was precious, too pre-
cious to rush blindly about the hold.
He proceeded cautiously, scanning ev-
cry inch Of the tween decks compart-
ment He had gone perhaps thirty feet
when he was suddenly brought to
s:andstill. lie had literally got to the
end Of his rope His breath was COM
ing in gasLs, Tor nearly one minute Of
tie few he might expect to live had al
ready expired.
As be stood there, caught like a rat
in trap, he felt that life at the most
could last but one or two minutes.
Somewhere in the hold with him was
8 fellow being who might save him,
but bow reach him?
He could not move hand or foot to
save himself There could be no help
from the surface, because up there
they knew nothing Of his horrible pre-
tify them.
He stood thus for perhaps ten Sec
onds, every one Of which was an eter-
nifty. Then his eyes CHANGED to fall
upon an object on the deck stretched
out in an obscure corner. From where
ne stood it looked like the leg Of a man.
Eagerly stra!uins forward, Moran
threw himself on his face and reached
for the object. Had he bad two inches
less Of rope he could not have done it.
but as it was he grasped the heel Of
his conlpanion's iron soled boot and
gave mighty tug.
The other diver happened to be lying
on his side doing piece Of work be
could get at in no other way. He has
lilly scrambled over to Moran and, plac-
Ing his helmet against the others,
asked whas the trouble was. BY thus
placing their copper helmets together
divers are able to talk freely with each
other III any depth Of water
Moran tod his friend that his hose
was jammed by the hatch and that he
was getting no air whatever. The 9TH
ec's communication with the surface
was OF course unimpaireQ, and he i'm
mcdiataiy =:isnaiCd 10 have the hatch
lie then drew his knife and
stood ready TO cut Moran's life line and
air hose in case the hatch was not re-
moved quick enough to afford relief.
It was a moment Of dramatic horror. |
Moran told his companion that he |
could perhaps live two more minutes |
IN the air already in his helmet. The |
:wo agreed that they would wait one
minute for tie removal Of the hatch. !
2 at the end Of that time relief did not
>ome, the other diver was to sever No
ans life line and hose and start with
IiiD TO the surface.
It was q slender chance for Moran,
ut it was the only one he had. With
he cutting Of the air hose the water
Tould food the helmet There was a
are chance, however, that he would
OF be so badly drowned and asphyxi-
ted but that he could be reSuscitated.