Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-06-27

whether by accident or in the course Of
the present war, lie in comparatively
shallow waters, many Of them at a
depth of less than 400 feet, and the
problem Of their recovery does not
seem entirely hopeless in the light Of
recent improvements in deep-sea div
ing and the feats accomplished by the
expert divers Of the U. 8. Navy. The
matter is the subject Of an article in
the current number Of the Bulletin Of
the Pan American Union, Washington,
D. c. In discussing the organization
Of companies in the United States
whose purpose is the recovery Of some
Of the wealth now lying in the oceans
depth, the writer states:
Certain it is that the project Of re-
covering sunken ships, or the most
valuable Of the treasures that have
gone down with them Is more feasible
now then it was only four or FIVE years
ago. Such great improvements in div
ing appartus have recently been made
that it is now possible for a diver to
operate for limited time even at the
great depth of 800 feet below the sur
face. These Improvements are large
~ due to the remarkable experiments
In deep-sea diving conducted under tho
auspices of the Buersu Of Construction
and Repair of the Navy Department of
the United States in 1914. Prior to
this time the greatest depth reached by
dlFerS WAS 210 feet, two English Of
Hcers having accomplished that feat
during a series Of tests carried on by
the British Admiralty in 1905. For the
benefit of those who do not appreciate
the difficulty Of diving to such depths
it may be stated that a depth OF 10
rect below the surface the pressure is
4S3 pounds per square inch of surface
Of the body submerged. This pres
sure increases proportionately, and at
a depth of 100 feet it has increased to
453 pounds and at depth Of 300 feet to
1893 pounds.
Notwithstanding this tremendous
pressure, the expert divers of the U. 8.
Navy have succeeded in not only
reaching depth Of 300 to so5 feet, but
in remaining at that depth for from s
~ AAAAiAttSS az d IlItc, IudklQE eXs
aminations and observations in regard
to sunken vessel that made it's sub
sequent salvage possible This work
was done in connection with the rails
ing of the L. S. submarine F-4 which,
1t will be remembered, plunged to the
bottom Of the sea just off the harbor
OF Honolulu on March 25. 1915. Not
only did the divers establish new
worlds record for deep-sea diving
upon that occasion. but the subsequent
raising and recovery of the F-4 is the
only instance in history where a sunk.
en- vessel was recovered from a depth
Of 300 feet"
The writer thereupon gives. brief.
sketch of the history Of diving as
useful art from the time Of Aristotle
down to the present, and after describ-
ing modern diving outfit and explain
ing in some detail the matter of the
divers being subjected to two pres
sures of the air inside the helmet and
suit and the external pressure OF the
water, continues as follows:
The necessity of having the air
pressure within the diving dress COM
pensate the external water nressure
mus subjecting the diver to pressure
directly proportioned to the depth to
"hich ne descends, is the dangerous
element In deep-sea diving. At
oepth, for instance, of 100 feet. a diver
must be subjected to a pressure Of 4
dtinospheres, or so pounds per SQUARE
men, IN order to compensate tho ex.
ternal water pressure. Exposure TO
such pressure is apt to be followed nv
dangerous physiological effects. com.
monty known as 'caison disease tho
symptoms of which include pains in
the muscles and joints, commonly
called bends deafness, embarrassed
breathing. vomiting. fainting, etc.
sometimes resulting in death. Thev
40 not appeal while the pressure is be-
ing raised nor so long as it is con-
but only after it has been re-
moved; and the view now accented ia
that they are due to the rapid effer-
vescence Of the gases which are ah.
soroed In the body fluids during ex-
posure TO pressure. Experiment has
proved that when the pressure is sud-
denly relieved the gas is liberated in
bubbles within the body. and that
these do the harm. Set free in the
spinal cord, for instance, they NAV
cause partial paralysis, or in the heart
lead TO stoppage Of the circulation. II
mas been found, however, that if tho.
pressure is relieved gradually the bub-
pies are not formed, because the gas
comes out Of solution slowly and is rrt
RID OF by the heart and lungs, TO
prevent these effects, the withdrawal
Oh the air pressure-in other words.
tne decompression-shou be slow.
renee the divers ascent must be
regulated accordingly and the deeper
ne mas been the slower and LONGER
must be the periods for decompression.
1t was particularly in regard to this
matter Of decomposition that the ex-
perlments of the U. S. Navy Depart
nent In 1914 led to improved methods
enabling the divers to descend TO 400
[eet below the surface. Being able to
'aIely observe and direct the work Of
rescue at such a depth, and with mod.
ern lifting apparatus, who can say that
lhe recovery Of ancient treasures cot
sunken Spanish galleons, OF hundreds
ot more recent wrecks of mechrant
vessels, and finally Of many of the
magnificent war vessels that have been
sent to the bottom during the present
t. =