JPK Huson 1863
Brev. Brig. Gen'l
- Joined
- Feb 14, 2012
- Location
- Central Pennsylvania
Great illustration depicting a diver having the best day ever, in 1870. War's naval ghost yard attracted salvage companies, divers sent to discover wrecks. Had no clue these suits were around in 1870, much less used during the war.
Again with apologies for a beginner poking around in the naval war, tripped over this. On the surface ( sorry... ), seems a little boring. Cleaning doesn't seem like a topic of interest. I know I find cleaning a big yawn as attested to by our healthy population of dust bunnies breeding under the guest room bed. Article describes a take on cleaning you could get your teeth into. Mindless slaughter of innocent dust bunnies has to wait.
Someone more conversant with ships would have to get into the topic of worms, barnacles and all other pests busy chewing holes in hulls. Out of sight beneath naval battles, these enemies could sink ships as effectively as any enemy. Well, they were an enemy. Hulls required cleaning regularly, always assumed it had to be done in dry dock?
What you love about poking around History's odd corners is finding someone back there who finds our odd corners fascinating, too. Correspondent wandered down to the docks, found himself in time for this. We've heard of Lowe's balloon testing new technology, reporter found Lowe's peers went the other direction.
Not crazy about the description of this guy but you could see where someone popping from the depths would freak out most of us, in 1863.
Cannot find ( yet ) an illustration of the diving suit he describes, apparatus for breathing may have been similar to this invention from England- 1860.
Hathi book on patents, 1860.
The sunken Weehawken!
Before the suit, the diving bell was employed as early as 1660, found an 1853 illustration on one being used, launched from a base on the Mississippi. Were diving bells considered obsolete by 1861 or if any were employed during the war?
A 1660 invention- we've always stretched, haven't we? ' Where no man has gone before ', we manage it.
NYPL, base for a diving bell looks like a house boat, I mean a house lifted from a foundation and dropped like Dorothy's onto the Mississippi. Wonderful across the board, isn't it?
Love to know more, this would be the place to go if anyone has anything.