The Morgan City daily review. (Morgan City, La.) 1916-1920, 1917-09-17

in connection with our work for the
government
zone moIent, SIR" said Davies.
Have you match!'
Donald handed him one of the few
that remained. Davies struck it.
looked ut the depth meter, and whlstled
expressively.
Two hundred and eighty feet, sir"
he said In low tone
yes, that was about what l mag
ined,' replied Donald. 1T is about as
much as the old F5J would stand with
out buckling"
"But two hundred is the extreme
1t of deep-sea diving, SIR" Davies
ested.
"The Siebert apparatus Is especially
devised for going deeper than that"
returned Donald. "In fact, Seberr
himself went down to six hundred,
though he was all in when he came up.
You see, Davies, the new factor In the
Siebert dress is that 1t mas a compen-
sating pressure. l didn't specialize OF
it, but l understand it Is sort Of
Internal oxygen arrangement, COM
pressed, which partly neutraliZes the
pressure outside. 1t has enough com
pressed oxygen to last six hours.
Now, my plan is this: We must
leave the airlock one by one, with
rather light weight Of metal on our
feet. calculated to enable US to walk,
and yet not to keep US down. We
shall then simply climb the slopes Of
Fair island under the water"
II think 1t is the only feasible plan.
SIR" said Davies brlskly.
"How do you feel about 1t. Ida?"
asked Donald in low tone.
Ida put her hand into his. II am
ready to do anything you wish. Don
aid. DEAR" she answered.
"I'll answer for the lady with my
own life. sir" said Clouts heartily.
Then we're decided" said Donald.
"Now. follow me In single file, hands
on the shoulders Of the one In front |
Of you. All readyf'
He led the way through the dark
ness, down the ladder at the base Of
the coming tower toward the storage
room In which the diving apparatus
was kept. Then he lit a candle.
The Siebert apparatus possesses the
merit Of simplicity. Donald. as he
adjusted 1t on each with the aid Of
Davies, did not think 1t necessary to
explain the mechanism. 1t consisted.
irst, Of a waterproof uniform, then Of
! glass mask and copper cylinder. the
after covering the upper part Of the
'ody and fastening about the shoul-
lers. 1t contained supply Of COM
PRESSED oxygen for several hours. The
arbonic acid exhaled passed into q
eceptacle containing caustic soda,
which purified 1t, thus uberating the
xygen, while the nitrogen could be
inhaled over and over again.
There was also a single sleeve at
ached by wires to little storage bat
cry worn on the neck. In which, when
he apparatus had been properly adj
listed, small electric light could be
made to burn by the pressure Of a
luton.
They waited moment while Ida
ut Oh the waterproof Uniform; then .
IL followed suit. Donald and Davies
ressed themselves after Clouts, and
ttached the weights about the feet
each and to their own. Finally.
hen all were in readiness, Donald
nuffed the candle and lit his electric :
imp, which was inclosed in specially :
evised glass, calculated to resist a
reat pressure.
Each Of the party was now sealed
'om all sound. They saw each others !,
ices very dimly through the glass
asks.
Donald indicated to Davies that he
as to bring up the rear, his hands
pom the shoulders of Sam Clouts in
ont Of him. He placed Ida In front :
Clouts, and. raising her hands, put
lem upon his own shoulders, himself I
aiding the procession.
He made his way into the coming |
'wer again. He opened the inner
lamber Of the airlock, admitting Ida
I'd himself, and closed it again. He {
new that Clouts and Davies could
Ike care Of themselves. {
The airlock, built to be used for S
'cape In just such an emergency, was
cant for one temporary tenant alone.
ut two could just manage to squeeze :
. and Ida could not have undertaken
e plunge alone.
They were breathing the stored oxy-
n within the copper cylinders. They
ere safe for the present. The transit
as not especially perilous In itself,
It there were dangers to face-the
Of being too heavily weight
and sinking into the ooze; that Of
ling too light and losing balance.
hese had to be met.
Through the glass mask Donald saw .
as face. She was composed, and, in \
lite Of the distorting medium, he was .
re that he saw a look Of trustful =
We In her eyes.
He started the compassionate appa-
fua tO koon tho 600 uo<or ont ~ thu | ~