Year: 1871

THE DIVERS STORY.

 Few readers, perhaps, have ever seen the name of Simon Weaver in print, and fewer still would know who the man was should it be seen.

 Divers, as class, and in spite of all the safeguards afforded them by modern science, pass a most precarious existence, and each time g descent is made, be the water deep or shallow, tue practiced diver feels that perhaps his last glimpse of sun, sky and friends has been taken: Those of the most experience feel this the more 1eenly.

 One night while the snow drove like hail against the only window in the house, facing the sea, I found myself one of party of divers, wreckers and contractors for such work.

 had asked many questions of the sev- eral takers forming the circle, as to tho life, incidents and dangers of the profession, when Captain Stephen L-. an old gray beard among divers and such fix, nudged me, and whispered that if could get old simon Weaver into the talking humor my desire for stirring incident would be fully gratified.

 Cautiously approaching the subject of personal adventure under water, for Weaver proved a little shy, by few well-timed questions, succeeded in bringing him out" to my entire satisfaction.

 As write the words of the old man, I seem to see the earnest glance, the erect figure, and the almost snow-white head shaking and nodding as the memory of his exploits came before his mind.

 rrak;pO O froSh off iY, his oh casting his eyes from one to the ether of us boys,n as he called the younger mem bers of the party, the old diver began.

 "Few of our officers on duty off Charles ton in l86- will forget when the news came out to the wooden fleet that moni- tor had been partially disabled, and that until something could be done her situation was extremely critical She lay quite near the batteries, and as though dlyining her danger, their guns were plunging their shot and shell against her with the fierccst energy.

 "It was soon known that diver would be called into requisition to do the work under water, while the guns Of Sumter bade fair to demolish the whole ship in Q few hours.

 Being the most experienced of the div ing corps on duty at that time, the Admiral sent for me without delay, and laying the difficulty before me, asked if would un- dcrtake the job. By few judiciously put questions was soon placed in possession of all the facts, the work to be done, and the results to be expected from success.

 "The propeller of the vessel had been fouled by some of the numerous obstruc- tions set afioat by the enemy, and not wishing to endanger any other vessel in the same manner, the Admiral desired to send me alongside in steam picket boat with my best diving gear, and try to makc successful descent.

 In due time we, that is, myself and four more when I could trust under all peril, arrived at the place of operations. And now, before going further with my story, let me try to give an idea of the situation, and it's cause. A vessel had been sent in to reconnoiter, and, if neces- sary, to fire on the batteries to ascertain their force and strength.

 Proceeding cautiously until within g few hundred yards of Sumter, she had unconsciously drifted too close to the line of Instructions defending the entrance to the harbor, and in turning to come out her propeller, as said before, had become entangled among ropes and chains. All efforts to release the ship from her perilou' position had failed, hence the call fol diver. Immediately on perceiying the state of affairs, no hard task, the enemy had opened a fearful fro from all guns within range on the single craft, anG seemed beat on her destruction before as sistance could reach her.

 "The shot fell fast and furious against the iron of her turret and side armor while the water on all sides fairly boiled from the frequent shot striking its surface It seemed a veritablc iron hail.

 "As our little picket boat approached the scene of conflict, the firing suddenly ceased, and we were fortunate enough tt get below with the apparatus before th' storm again burst over the trembling ship The cause of this apparent kindness wa made known to us the following day by deserter from Fort Sumter.

 GAS the picket steamer appr cached tn monitor, the enemy imagined that messag from the Yankee commander was about t. be received, looking to an armistice O surrender, so slackened fire. After wait ing few moments, and the expected f1ai of truce not making it's appearance, tn enemy saw that somehow they had beel outwitted, and the shower of shot ant shell seemed to increase in fierceness a they reopened fire.

 In 8 short time I saw how matter stood, and succeeded in finding place ol the lee side of the turret, where, if tn ship could be kept in one position, no sho could reach me. Carefully lnstructing m, men as to their duties, I at length got ml ladder overheard on the safe side, and mad it fast in such manner that should tn wind change or-fise during my absenc under water, my means o8 escape shoul, not be entirely cut off. Leading my al pipe up through the turret and out througl enc of tbe ports, secured them to m, helmet. and requested that all firing iron the ship be suspended during my absence for experience had taught me the dange of a heavy discharge directly overhead of diver. .&&2kE N lsa

 "The position of the turret favored m request, and placing it's back to the enem enabled me to use the gun port as hay described. As my life would hang upon thread at best, made every arrangemen for safety that experience could sugges even going myself into the engine-roo, and enjoining upon the engineer of th watch not to allow the engines to