A DIVER'S DEATH.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8195, 27 July 1906, Page 3

A DIVER'S DEATH.

A Uapetown correspondent writes: —"An accident wbiob is described aa without precedent in the hiatory of diving operations has been tbo subject of magisterial inquiry at Simonstown. Two divers, Kraming and Macphail, were at work at some levels on the new dockyard works at Simonstown, which are being carried out" by Sir John Jackson (Limited). They were working at a depth of about 50 feet, and, though they did not go down together, they met under water, and were, it appeared, from the evidence, discussing by means of signs the position in regard to the levels on which they weie working. According to the statements of the survivor, Macphail, he saw his oonijranion's helmet suddenly fly off. In this desperate position ttje drowning man clung to Macphail, who ,gave thfa signal to the boat overbead to haul in, and the two men were drawn up to within ten feet of the surface. At this poiut the hauling ceased, the men in the boat being unable to raise tho heavy weight further, and Macphail was compelled to loose bis hold of his drowning comrade, who sank to the bottom. The other man reached the boat, and immediately went, down again, but Kraming was lying face downwards, on the bottom, and was dead when they finally got hlu' to the surface. No explanation was forthcoming of how it possible for tho man's he'.met to come unfastened. It was stated to have been adJusted properly when he entered the water, and the two divers were said to have been on perfeotly .good terms, no. question as to the possibility of foul play being raised. The verdict was simply that 'the man was drowned, but the magistrate confessed that the man- • ner in which the helmet came un;fastened remained a mystery.