Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1917-04-09
A DIVERS
STORY
By HOWARD c. BEACH


| have been under water many times.
| am, or, rather, | was, professional
diver. didn't adopt the calling be-
cause | considered 1t dangerous, for
when properly done diving in armor is
not dangerous. The same may be said
Of aviation. | became diver In order
to make living. ceased to be q
diver after receiving a shock under
water
was hired to 90 down to examine
yacht that had been overturned and
sunk in gale with a view to learning
where the chains were TO go under her
to lift her. was told that the owner
was scientific man, great student,
an investigates He had invented a
number Of scientific devices that had
made him great reputation. The
wrecking company told me that he was
determined to go down with me, rath-
er for the sensation Of breathing under
water than for being Of service.
w utl We ENuOA VII lnt hltNhllE DOul
putting on the divers uniform | cast
glance at my diving companion, on
whose head they were about to put
The helmet. Why did not then and
there refuse to go down with him !
don't know. | suppose 1t was a dis
like to do something unpleasant. Sin
gular that should have been willing
to risk horrible death rather than do
something unpleasant. However.
presume It is the same feeling that
compels man to expose himself In
battle to certain death because he Is
expected to do so.
Mr.. Cheney, my diving companion,
went down by one ladder. by an
other some twenty feet distant from
his. The water was clear. and the
sun was shining upon 1t, so that |
could see about me to comparatively
long distance. kept IN eye ON Mr..
Cheney, who struck the yacht at the
bow, | amidships. She had settled on
her keel, and her masts were nearly
perpendicular was about to drop
over the side to hunt for a place to
get support under her when my at
tention was attracted to Mr.. Cheney.
He had mounted the gunwale and
stood with one hand on the ratines.
Then he began to 90 up hand over
hand. He stopped short distance
from the surface and began to drop,
sliding his hand along the upright
ropes.
This was certainly not making in
yestgatlons. 1t seemed to me that
he was amusing himself as child
might do going up and down, being
nearly balanced by the density Of the
water. Not liking his actions stood
where | was, and when he had gone
up and down few times he let him.
self down on the deck and came TO.
ward me.
Divers usually carry a knife, since
there is a probability Of needing one,
At any rate, | had one In pocket in
my diving suit. and Mr.. Cheney had
been provided with one. lie was
obliged to move slowly through the
water, and meanwhile was wonder.
ing what his intention was in coming
to me. As soon as he reached me he
gave ME push and at the same time
made II grab for my signal line. In the
tuSsle that followed lost it, and he
graSped it,
| would not have believed that so
much strength and agility could be
utilized under water. My antagonist
got his arms around my body and,
pulling his knife from his belt. cut the
rope connecting my waist with the
men above. Then he began TO dance
lbOut on the deck. evidently delighted /
hat he could jump so high and come
lown so enntly.
| was some thirty feet under water
With neither life nor signal line. at the
mercy Of madman. for his actions
onhrmed that glitter in his eye | had
IOticcd Just before his helmet was put
N. Why the others had not noticed 1t
do not know, except that there are
hings which, though plain to some,
re invisible to others. The only arti.
lie connecting me with the world
boye was the air pipe. was getting
lcnty of afr, but the maniac had prov.
d himself stronger than l-probably
n account Of his madness ana II hc
lterfcrcd with the supply OF air
'oud sulfOcate
Having danced to his satisfaction,
Ir Cheney started for me again. |
)uld see by the way he held his head
nat he was observing my air tube to
'e where he could cut IT, for he held
Is knife still In his hand, evidently
ute pleased whenever a beam Of sun.
ght gllttcred on it through the water
drew my own knife. determined If
acessary, to save my life by killing
m. When he came within few feet
me he Jumped and, catching the w
he above my head, severed ii.
He must have pulled on his sigma "
ne, for | saw him rise rapidly. There I'd
as enough air in my helmet to pre- 10
mt instant sulfOcatiOn. saw above ~
e one chance for escape, the feet OF -
Y would be destroyer | was just in Oh
me- by a spring, TO reach an ankle u
lth one hand. He tried to kick me of
It not only hung on. clutched the DC
her ankle with my other hand. With m
death grip | was drawn to the sur ha
ce ha