Year: 1871

 return from the perilous undertaking, the success or failure of which assured the safety or loss of the vessel. The pump for supplying me with air was fixed in the turrct chamber, and as the fragments of shot, which still poured in from Sumter, mi Int cut the air tube as it crossed the sheath, and discarded entirely the usual 

 "All being in readiness, after personally all of the apparatus, I cautiously made my way to the ladder, and having secured nay kit of tools, hammer, saw, chisels, etc., to the strong belt attached for the purpose, began my slow descent.

 Fortunately, the water was quite clear and free from mud, so l had no difficulty in seeing everything with perfect distinct ness. Gradually nearing the bottom, for the depth of water exceeded the draught of vessels of less than four feet, became aware of quite strong current setting me against the ship, which, while lessening my fear of being swept out of reach of my ladder, rendered working more difficult. As usual, my progress was attended by numbers of curious fish, and as nearcd the bottom one or two huge fellows passed close by, but seemed intent on other prey, leaving me in peace.

 "Once UT twice I was somewhat startled by heavy splash overhead, and dull tn ad, followed by the rapid descent of shot or shell within e,sy view, and as it would settle into the soft, cozy bottom. tiny cloud of mud would for moment obscure it from view. felt constant fear from seeing these oft7recurring clouds, lest some of them might be the spluttering fuze of an unexplodcd shell.

 Although an old hand at the diving business, it had never before been my for tune to operate in action, so I was not a little anxious, as you may imagine, as to the effect of a shell exploding on the bottom. I was not long waiting, and found out to my ,ntire satisfaction !, as I will presently tell you.

 "Well, at length reached bottom, and slowly trod my way along tae bends of the ship to the base of operations, the disabled screw, sometimes stepping on rusty shot, and once nearly tripped over the stock of some old rust-worn anchor. Being but fifteen or sixteen feet below the surface, I had no difficulty in perceiving the trouble with the propeller, which was this piece of chain attached to the floating Instructions had become so wound about the propeller-shaft, between the blades and ste. n-post, as to become per fectly rigid.

 "My tocls being prepared for just such work, began operations at once, and soon had two or three of the links. which were quite small, severed, and as I afterward learned, released the strain so suddenly that the engines gave one quick, short, partial revolution, 'on vacum,' tne of the engineers told me afterward, and one of the blades striking my expiration tube, threw me from my feet, and for moment it seemed tha. my fate was sealed.

 "The screw stopped as suddenly as it had started, and somehow struggled to my feet again. Seeing ut few strokes more were needed to complete my job, soon had the good old-ship in fighting trim again, so far at least as her propeller was concerned.

 "Being now at liberty to return, eau tiously retraced my steps to where the ladder hung idly swinging to and fro in the water, and was about to mount to the surface, when with crash and roar of ten thousand shots, big shell fell apparently right over my head, and after wGat seemed but the fraction of a second, settled, as thought, directly upon me. Passing but a few 4eet distant, it had scarcely reached tue bottom when the very earth and sea seemed shattered to atoms.

 'pne shell had exploded almost beside me By me means tle hooks provided in the breast of my armor had become fastened to rung of my ladder, else. thi: tale had never been told. Stunned and racked as it was, the instinct of selfpres ervation urged n to attempt the ascent of my only road to safety, the ladder I when, to my horror, the current bcgar sway,ng me back and forth in such man ner that found it impossible to do aught but bold on and trust to the chapter o

 ecidents for relief.

 "In an instant after I became aware o the current, dull, regular beat, united tt 8 seeming trcmor of the ship, convinced me that the ship was under way, ant probably steaming out to the fleet. 4 glimpse or two at the bottom assured ID, of this, for could plainly see it gliding past until the shoals deepenei and nothing could be seen underneath me but water Imagine my situation, you youngsters wh' think you have seen danger-towed to SCI under a monitor! "The motion rapidly grew more violent and had it not been for the hooks I hav spoken of, death would, have been inevi table, for my strength would not hay enabled me to retain my hold on the lad der, and should have drowned, my body weighed down by armor beyond recovery "All of this time, in reality minutes but seemingly hours, my faithful mel within the turret chamber had not cease,

 to give me plentiful supply of air, so m.

 only danger lay in being swept away After what seemed miles of ground passe, over, and hours of time, the beat of tn } engine grew gradually slower, then stopped and no sooner did I feel the pressure c the current relax, than prepared to mak } the best of way to the surface.

 l remember no more A deadly faia

 seized me, and for hours lay withou life, vibrating between this world and th one beyond. Returning senses reveale my four men around me, on the wardroon table, doing their utmost in my behalf and only gave way to the surgeon when heavy groan and slowly opening eyes toll , that my life was safe.

 ] "I speedily recovered, and for the frs time learned the details of my great peri ) and marvellous escape.

 Immediately on the strain being take 5 off of the propeller by the chains bein l cut, the engines gave the quick partis , revolution which I have mentioned, an the engineer, as in duty bound, of course 7 reported thlt the disability to the machin 7 cry being removed he was prepared to g ahead at any moment.

 } "It was but few minutes after thi } that the tide began to flow, causing tn current have spoken of, and the devote vessel bade fair to be again drifted anon l the dreaded Instructions and still neare to Sumter, whose guns never ceased thei