Year: 1870

bold diver: after Charley Lougee
had been helmeted and shut from
air, except that supply through the
slender tube of coiled rubber. with
a life line around his body and lead
en- clogs to his feet, with Good
bye and God bless YOU from all
aboard, he was dropped over the
side, and slowly disappeared in the
blue waves while a nervous tremor
shot through our frame as we real
lied the fearful risk undertaken by
that man who was seeking for truth
in over one hundred feet of water


Away at the leeward, borne by
bubbles to the suriace-life signals
from below. The men at the pump
were laboriug manfully, but becom
ing fatigued, attempted to change
for fresh hands and there was a
stop. "Great God! you will muir
der my brother! Quick. for Heav-
ems sake, quick" And as the men
recommenced.the revolutions of the
air-pump, the elder Lougee, with
blanched face and trembling lip,
gave the signal on the lifeline be-
low. For an instant there came no
response, and the face of that broth
er seemed to turn to marble; but
then we saw two quick motions from
the sub marine station and knew it
was the welcome signal Of ''all
right" and then Lougee turned to
the men at the wheel, who came so
near sending both below, ard sim
ply said, my only brothers life de
pends upon your efforts in keeping
that pump in motion--stop again at
your peril" The calm face and
passionate eye told those men not
to stop again, and with Lieut.. Tan
ner close by, they kept at work un-
til stopped by orders from Lougee,


Meantime while we were on the
deck of that ''sand-p counting
the tedious moments which length.
ened to half an hour, Charley Lou
gee was searching the Oneida at the
tremendous depth mentioned. Al
last came the signal for surface
anu instantly the life line was put III
motion; slowly came the coiline
hemp and rubber on deck, and al
last in the deep blue waves, camt
the diver. shrouded and panoplied in
wired garments. AS be came tc
the surface he reached Minister
DeLong sword and lacquered box
then was his helmet loosed, and oul
party crowded around to hear o.
the gallant ship. Among our party
were many of the survivors of the
Oneida; among them were William
Gro windshield, Captain Clark, Mas
ter Yates, and Dr. james Suddard
who were intensely excited to learn
the tidings.


Said the diver: s'The water fol
the fist seventy feet was quite cleal
as the sun gave excellent light, and
although my supply Of air was once
choked for an instant, reached the
deck Of the ship just astern the niz
zen mast, and by the mess-room
hatch; the tide was ebbing strong
and | was compelled to hold to lines
from the rigging to keep from being
swept forward. l first examined
the side of the ship; she was cut
from the mizzen rigging (at an an
gle of about forty degrees across
the whole stern Of the ship timbers
far below the water lima, being
crushed and broken, the Captain 5
cabin cut in two, the wheel and
stealing fear all carried away, and
in fact, the whole side and end ol
the ship stove in or cut away. The
ship is heading south west, and sits
upright Oh the bottom, and is max
inc land slowly, [ laid down on the
deck and peered over the broken
end into the cabin, but did not dare
trust my airline in contact With the
jagged timbers. The guns and arm
ament, except one, are all in place
aft; but l did not go forward, as
was afraid OF an ENHANCEMENT in
the rigging" Turning to Crownin-
shield, he said: Your evidence
which I read, described almost ex-
actly the injury, except that she was
cut deeper than you could have
known" Lugee expressed the be
lief that it will be mpracticable tc
raise the ship, but that the splendid
battery. personal effects, &c, car
be saved if the government sees
proper.