Year: 1877

the divers work, and one day the idea struck me that would like tb go down:

 My husband finally consented to the ex- pertinent in shallow water, that is, where the depth was not more than fifteen feet The experiment uf thy first descent was not very encouraging. l came up bleeding at nostrils, mouth ahd ears, and tainted up- on reaching the surface. However, perse- vered; tried it again and again, and at length became so hardened to the work that I could remain down as long as any of them. In 1874 my husband was sufio- cated in his armor by the breaking of the air supply tube, and from that time until the end of the season 1 took his rlace ir the fishery. It may seem singular to you ! that I should tempt the very death which 1 had seen my husband succumb to, but

 only tell you what every other diver will, that the fascinatl9p of my dangerous trade ! overcomes every consideration of peril I have seen men brought up so badly injured tLat they lay for months in agony; yet

 during all that time, looking forward to the

 time when they could once more brave the fate they had so narrowly escaped"

 Did you find your sex hindrance to your success as dIver?" asked the report CT. "That is to say, not physically, but

 morally"

 Even the people at the pearl fisheries,

 although they knew me and my ability to

 do the work, hesltated to employ me, and found it absolutely impossible to obtain work on the lower coast until Capt Hartly, chief diver of Douglass tS Co.,, who had seen me at work In the gulf, gave me chance for work on the schooner Gaviota

 That was early last February. The schooner i was sunk on a sand bank eighteen miles from shore, in water 75 feet deep and, when- ever any wind was blowing, the sea became very heavy. l was heartily sick of the job the first time 1 wsnt down, but the men had sneered at me SD at the start that would not give up. never got to like that experience, anyway, and was glad enough

 when the last cask of dollars of her cargo came I'D and work was declared at an end"

 Did you meet with any peculiar or dan- gerous experience during the continuance of wOrk:" asked the reporter.

 "The first, and one which nearly cost all our lives, was an attack by the Mexicans. The GaviOta had been sunk with load of smuggled silver. At the time of the dis aster to the Gaviota, Mexican authorities were unusually vigilant, and it was very difficult to run" cargo o1 silver. After the Gaviota was sunk the owner sent Capt Hartley with several divers, of whom Twas one, to attempt to recover the cargo under the protection of an armed steamer. The Mexicans made seven efforts to driv ve the Americans of. One of these attacks re- suited in a savage fight, and We had to abandon work and run out to sea for sev- eral days. From that time forth we had to be constantly on the alert, but we were not further molested

 When the attack was made I was down at the bottom trying to make fast to cask of dollars that was partially sunk in the sand. We were diving from the port side of the steamer, and the first knew Cf the disturbance was the sudden. stoppage of found out, by the man in charge of the air pump having to desert his post to defend himself. It came all of sudden--like flash. felt d frightful sense of oppression at the chest, and thunderOus rum bling at the ears, while hot shiver, as if I had been suddenly exposed to the heat of blast furnace. Fortunately the man at the signal line was still on duty, and he an- swered my call for help by dragging me to the surface. l was nearly dead, my face was black and stained with the blood which had even started from the sockets of my eyes. It took an hour to revive me and for two days I was unfit for duty. If had been under water two minutes more would not be here to tell the Mercury of the adventure. We had to blow up the deck of the schooner twice in order to get at the cargo. The second time sad aeci- dent occurred. A Mexican diver, named Pablo Vasquez, went down to put the tor pedo in position. The man in charge of the battery was nervous, and must have pressed the lever involuntarily At any rate he exploded the charge before Pablo had risen to the surface, and the shock killed him, although he did not have a scra.ch on him. Pablo was first rate diver. One day, remember, he got up S4000, the heaviest by any man during the work"

 Do you intend to follow your perilous calling in this part of the world9" asked the reporter.

 "No more of it for me-" said Mrs. Gonsi.