A Diver's Story.

Cromwell Argus, Volume V, Issue 227, 17 March 1874, Page 7

A Diver's Story.

The following is related in the Melbourne Herald by an old submarine diver : “ Mr Manning’s steamer, the Kaiama, had Tun ashore between Sydney and Twofold Bay, mid sunk in about 104 feet of water. There were known to be two corpses on hoard, and valuable property, so as the weather looked unsettled, two other divers were told off to attend me for quick despatch. Down wo went, and everything looked much the same «s if the vessel had been afloat instead of below. It seemed difficult in that clear water to believe she never would have steam up again. But we went to our hitter task, and a more touching scene I think I never beheld, before ■or since. The cuddy door was swinging backwards and forwards with the motion of the water, just as it might have done before by the vessel, and we pushed it open and entered.. Apart from the misty appearance, everything below decks had not altered at all. A double glass, a parallel rule, a pair of compasses lay on the table ; the chart had drifted ■away. But in the middle of the saloon stood two figures that I shall never forget as long I live. They were those of an old lady and gentleman. The old man had one arm tightly twisted round one of the cabin stanchions, while the other was embracing his wife’s neck. Bhe had her arms tightly clasped round his body, and so they stood' erect, as when the waters had cerae and deprived them of life. Dnr disturbing the water as we came in had the effect of making the bodies slightly undulate, and. the poor gentleman’s long white locks seemed to wave with a painfully lifelike motion. As they had fallen asleep, they bad evidently gazed their last upon each other. Their eyes were open, and looks of tenderness, almost of happiness, were printed ■on their countenances. They were pale as white marble, but had nothing of the appearance that we on shore habitually associate with death about them. No fallen jaws, no ■signs of decay (they had only been down two days), and the eyes glittering in the water as in life. It was hard work for the three of us to get the poor old man’s arm clear of the stanchion. That grip had stood the rush of water, and all we could do was to disconnect it. But as to getting them clear of one another the thing was utterly impossible. True to one another in death, as I have no doubt in life, it seemed cruel to. part them, so we made them both fast to the same line and they went aloft together as 1 hope and believe their spirits had already done. I belief there was a photograph taken of them ashore, before they were buried', but I never saw it.”