Year: 1874

A"~N iOAichNSN pcoPics buti Hopoicno 10
her case seems to you, wrecker might de-
eide that It would be quite possible TO save
her. Several Of the Hudson River and
Sound steamers, which some Of US often
travel on, have once disappeared beneath
the waves, though they are now as strong,
as busy, and as fast as ever. The Albany
steamer Dean Richmond" familiar to
many of you, was sunk in the Hudson two
or three years ago, and was lifted by the
Coast Wrecking Company within thirty
days after the disaster, and brought to
New York under her own steam. So, too,
the steamer, "City of Norwich" was cap
sized in the Long Island Sound, and went
down, bottom up, apparently total wreck.
In three or four months she was lifted, and
again in service.


But much greater achievement than
either Of these was the rescue Of the ship
"Aquila" from the bottom Of the San
Francisco Harbor, by the Coast Wreck
ing Company, in 1864. She was a large
three -masted vessel, and sailed from New
York, having on board, in detached parts,
the United States monitor "Comanche, y
which loeighed one thousand siS hundred
and my tons. In four months, ship and
monitor were raised damaged, Of course,
but still ft for work. Very likely you
imagine that this must have required the
labor Of many hundred men; but so com
plete is the machinery used by the wreck
ers, that only twenty-five Of them were
needed in the task. In the fresh water Of
the Lakes, vessels may be submerged for
years without falling to pieces. For ex-
ample, the steamer "Lac Ia Belle" lay
deep in the st. Claire River for three years
and was then raised in fourteen days by
the company before mentioned Does not
this read like a wonder-story rather than
record of facts? Yet it is all true and
there are other things in the wrecker's ex-
perience yet more strange The fine steamer
"Thos A. Scott went down in Lake Huron
year or two ago, and was hidden in ten
fathoms of water. Twelve hundred tons
of cargo held her closely to the bottom
but the wreckers came promptly, and on
the fifth day of their work she was afoat.


We steam quietly down along the coast
for nearly two hours, until we reach the
wreck, which is indicated by the tops Of
three masts tapering few feet above the
surface. II is not certain yet that the
vessel can be saved, and before work is
begun survey Of her bottom must be
made by divers. We have noticed stall
wart fellow on the tug who has a courage
Gus face and thick set frame. He is one
Of the divers, who of all seamen have the
strangest experiences They go deep be-
meath the sea, separated only by thread
from death. Watch this man as he dons
his submarine armor and prepares to de-
scend into the water. Over suit Of thick
hannels he puts pair of trowscrs and a
jacket made from India-rubbcr cloth.
These fl close to the ankles, wrists, and
across the chest. Next he thrusts his head
through copper brcast-plate provided
with grooves, into which the body Of the
jacket Is fitted aud screwed down by an
attendant. The head Is now covered by a
helmet, with glass face, which is also
screwed to the breast-plate,- helmet aud
brcast-platc weighing together about 6fty-
six pounds. Twenty-eight pounds more
are added to this burthen by a pair of
shoes with leaden soles, and thus equipped
the diver resembles neither man nor fish.
A noar-sighted naturalist might puzzle over
him for hours, without finding out to
which species he belongs, so monstrous
does he appear. And il is not surprising
that the sharks themselves are afraid Of
the divers, and flee incontinently if one Of
their arms be outstretched.


The extreme weight of the diver is
fatiguing above water, and he is glad to
embark in the surf-boat, which has been
launched from the tug to convey him nearer
the wreck than she dare approach. A few
strokes of the oar bring the surveying party
directly over the sunken vessel, and the
final preparations for the descent are made.
You and ] watch breathlcssly, but the
diver thinks very little about the danger
Of what he is to do. One end of coil of
strong rubber tubing is fastened to
mouth-piece at the back of the helmet, and
the other end is connected with an air
pump in the boat. A hempen line is also
secured 10 the outside of the helmet, and
passes down the divers right side, within
easy reach Of his hand. Upon this tubing
and line his life will depend. -Four blocks
of lead, weighing fifty pounds, are now
slung over his shoulders and waterproof
bag, containing hammer, chisel, and
dirk-knife, is fastened over his breast. A
short iron ladder is lowered over the





starboayd side Of the boat, and the diver
heavily climbs down each round His
weight causes the boat TO dance and rock
unsteadily. IL is very exciting moment
for a novice, | can tell youl His COM
rades watch his movements attentiyely, and
in another moment he is standing on the
bottom round Of the ladder. Two men
stand by the handles Of the air-pump at
the other end of the boat. All is ready,
The diver grasps a rope, to prevent too
rapid descent he releases the ladder, and
the green water swells over aud hides him.


Full fathom Eve he sinks and as the