The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1905-05-04

TIE HUGE sroHE eRAzKD HB head.
World Magazine tells some strange
stories Of adventure by English d.
vers, some Of which are given as fol-
lows:
Perhaps one of the most thrilling
and dangerous expeditions ever under
taken by q diver was that Of Messrs.
Siebe g. Gorman's head diver, Alex
ander Lambert, In connection with the
Severn tunnel It was a deed Of TIE
mendous pluck and deserves to rank
with the most valorous acts ever per-
formed In the blood heat Of battle. The
workings Of the Severn tunnel were
flooded, and there was sixty feet OF
water in the 200 foot shaft The food
was tearing through doorway. the
iron door Of which was open, from the
main tunnel into smaller tunnel
about eight feet wide and the same
hieh. This tunnel was distant about
a quarter Of q mile from the bottom
Of the shaft and was nearly full Of
water and debris. The task that had
to be performed was for somebody to
make his way to the iron door and
close it, thus stopping the thrush OF
water. Lambert volunteered to do It
he was equipped with an ordinary
diving dress, except that he had neil
ther air tube nor life line. The latter,
in fact would have been quite useless.
In place of the former he carried with
him a supply Of oxygen in a small res
ervoir and a crowbar. he descended
the 200 foot shaft through the sixty
feet of water and then made bis way
along the eight foot tunnel for quar-
ter Of a mile, the whole time battling
with all kinds OF Instructions, but
finally reaching the doorway In safety.
Lambert found that the door was held
fast by some stout iron rails, which
called for pretty hard work to release
them. he attacked his task with con-
siderable energy, being anxious TO COM
plete it and return victorious.
The diver became 80 absorbed IN
what be was doing that be quite forgot
for the time being the exceptional con-
ditions under which he was working
and gave no thought to bis supply Of
oxygen. Then suddenly it flashed
across his mind that the precious gas
must be getting pretty DOW, and as It
would have to last him during the Jour
ney back he decided to return at once
and leave his work for the present un-
finished So he set of as quickly as he
could, now stumbling over pile Of de-
bris, now battling with swirling EDDY
and hoping against hope all the time
that the oxygen would not give out and
leave him to perish mberably In that
flooded tunnel.
he succeeded in reaching the top Of
the shaft in safety, but when bis air
tank came to be exantned It was Dis
covered that there was only sufficient
oxygen left to have lasted for another
two or three minutesl Thus almost by
miracle his life had been preserved.
One would suppose that such narrow
escape would have daunted man from
making a further attempt but Lam
bert knew no fear. Again he descended
the shaft, journeying through the sixty
feet Of water and along that perilous
quarter mile Of tunnel to the doorway,
where he completed bis task and re-
turned triumphant.
One Of the most remarkable mishaps
ever heard Of happened to a diver
named Quick. he was working at the
Penarth docks and descended 30 re-
pair an injury to the bows Of a vessel
which bad had q hoIe knocked In It