Evening star., 1931-12-09
NOTED DIVER IS SURE OF SUCCESS
IN OPERATIONS ON LUSITArJIA
Frank CriIIey Holds Medal OF
Honor for Subsea
Work.
Easy as Going Down in Ele.
vator," He Says of
Lakes Tube.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
| NEW YORK, December 3 (N.AN.A.)
Prank Crilley, one Of the world
greatest divers, who will be in charge OF
diving operations on the Lake-Railey
Iusitania Expedition, agrees with Simon
Lake that 1t will be "as easy rs goinG
down in an elevator" to reach and ex-
plore the torpedoed liner
For 81 years Crilley has been diving
for 27 years frothy streams OF air bub-
bling up from fathoins deep have marked
the trail of his iead-shod feet across the
beds of most of the seven seas. He has
| slogged through mud and sand, and in
1915, on the coral bottom off Hawaii
he worked under 306 feet of water
deeper than any man has ever been in a
collapsible diving suit.
And at the age of Al, after so many
years of this work, Frank Crilley is as
enthusiastic and confident and eager
about his newest adventure as any am
bilious novice.
Tube to Reach Deck.
In February Crilley expects to be ION
the bottom" On the rotting decks of the
Lusitania, deep in the silt off Kinsale
Head, Ireland. Through Mr.. Lakes
hinged steel tube, which will be lowered
from surface vessel to "A" deck of the
Lusitania, the aims of the expedition
can be accomplished in about 20 work.
ing days, Crilley says.
To the wiry, scanned, tanned little
man the salvage Of the safe in the purs-
ers cabin, about 200 feet below the
surface, will probably be an easy Job
compared to many Crilley has tackled.
In this safe, 1t IS believed, will be found
important and historic papers and
documents.
As TO exploring the grand dining sa-
loon and other parts of the interior and
taking pictures of the wrecked and
slime-covered grandeur of what was
once one of the proudest liners afloat,
Crfley said: Wen go right through
the skylight."
The diver pointed out that a huge
skylight rooted the dining saloon and
that entrance to the interior of the YES
sci could easily be made through it.
Enthusiastic About Tube.
Speaking in his slow sailors twang.
with the ready twinkle of the eyes and
the quick quirk of the lips which are
characteristic of the man, Crilley ex-
pressed his enthusiasm for the steel
tube, the invention of his chief, Mr..
Lake, for whom he has worked since he
left the U. s. Navy 10 years ago. 81
This invention, whereby you bring
your diving chamber to your work, is
what I've been looking. forward to d
long time" he said. He explained that
the tube saves time, dampens surface
wave motion and enables the diver to
avoid the dangers and delays encoIin-
tered when he is lowered to his work
from surface vessel fathoms above
him. With the tube, all the diver has
to do Is TO walk down stairway to the
diving chamber, which is at the scene
OF operations.
II have looked forward to working
with this tube on the other side" Crilley
said. He emphasized the ease with
which coal and other lost cargoes had
been saIvaged off the Connecticut coast
with the Lake tube.
Crilley may have from one to five
divers to assist him on the Lusitania
undertaking, if it is found necessary,
but upon his shoulders will fall the
chief burden of the underwater work
OF the expedition.
Holds Medal of Honor.
Judging from his past exploits it
will be burden he will be well able
to bear. Crilley, who isn't a big fellow
he's only five feet seven inches tall
and weighs i40-hoids the Congress
sional Medal of Honor, the Navy Cross
and other decorations for undersea
work He is widower and lives at
Verona. N. j., with his children, Mary,
fifteen and Frank, thirteen.
., Young Frank is already following In
the footsteps of his famous father.
and with five gallon gasoline can for
a helmet he has established a local
reputation as diver. Around Verona
MS services are In demand to retrieve
golf balls in country club ponds, or to
make underwater repairs to swimming
pools. Young Frank Crilley has been
down 18 feet with his homemade out
fit.
When Crilley, senior, Is not diving
ne watches his children and paints
the house. He wants 1t understood
that diving is an exact and exaoting
profession, as skilled in its way as
surgery.
MY most exciting adventure?" he
said. Il don't know. My most dan
gerous moment? I have never had
any dangerous moments. I never took
chance"
But this is the man who disentan-
gled the lines of an unconscious COM
raoe from threshing eight inch steel