ENCOUNTER IN A DIVING BELL.

Dunstan Times, Issue 982, 11 February 1881, Page 3

ENCOUNTER IN A DIVING BELL.

“A rather good hint for novelists of the Jules Verne type,” observes the Globe, ‘•'was provided recently by an incident which occurred on the Seieno near Choisy-lo-Kio. The river is here about to be crossed by the new strategical' railway to bo destined to run through tho environs of Paris and connect tho outlying forts, and workmen are being busily employed in sinking the foundations of the new bridge. Amongst the men enrolled for service area number of ill-conditioned vagabonds of Italian nationality and it was a band of these last which was engaged hi the escapade in ques-. tion. Five of them were sent down in a diving hell under command of an inspector of works, who, after a while, found it necessary to object strongly to the style in which his subordinates did their work. These men, however, instead of attending to tho observations made to +licni, took it into their heads to resent all, such advice, and bethinking themselves that the time- and place wore favorable, suddenly, formed, a design of making away with.the obnoxious inspector.' They attacked, Mm, accordingly, with their knives, but mot with a strennrmsresiatance, and apparently showed ns much cowardice as could well be expected from any five men in a diving bell. , The inspector, having discomfited them in their first, onset managed to make good his escajte from the scone of conflict, and getting bold of the chain attached to the hell, climbed up to tho surface of the water, where he shouted for assistance, was soon gratified by tho sight of a boat pulling off to his aid. On getting inshore ho naturally.scnt for the police, who arrived in due course, and secured the five unsuccessful desperadoes, os they came out from tho bell when it was hauled up. They had, probably, , been counting upon' the certain death of(heir, intended victim, and congratulating themselves Upon having got rid of him wuhohttlio necessity of more violent proceedings f and they were, therefore somewhat disagreeably surprised to see him (dive and well, vr;th policemen at bisbapk. As for the inspector, the masterly manner in which ho effected a difficult retreating movement and turned the tables upon his adversaries seem to show that the contractors know pretty well what they wore about when 'hoy appointed him to superintend works ■ f a strategical nature.”