Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall v4p1.djvu/270

  the time that these preparations were going forward at Rio, the Algerine sloop, (acting Commander William Henry Martin,) and the Adelaide schooner, with the Warspite’s launch, were at Cape Frio, and saved a few stores, which had been washed on the rocks by the surf.

“Under the auspices of Mr. Moore, the diving-bell was shortly completed by the armourers of the ships at Rio, and an air-pump, which had been nothing more than a fire-engine, was got ready, and provided with a hose, constructed with much care, from those belonging to Commander Truscott’s forcing-pump. The property of these hoses is that of being airtight; but they were rendered more secure by the application of tar and canvass, and fortified against outer accident by spun-yarn, passed carefully round them. The diving-bell being ready, the first experiment was made with it in the harbour of Rio, when it was let down to a depth of 7 ½ fathoms from H.M.S. Warspite, and found to answer perfectly well.

“Commander Dickinson now proceeded in the Lightning, with the diving-bell and air-pump, besides a collection of hawsers and anchors, to Cape Frio, the scene of operation. A net was also prepared, to be spread across the entrance of the cove in which the Thetis lay, to prevent any part of her wreck from being washed out to sea. On arriving at Cape Frio, Commander Dickinson, accompanied by acting Commander Martin, proceeded to examine the shore of the cove, and determine the plan to be pursued for suspending the diving-bell. The coast, as might have been expected, proved of that rocky description, which rendered the task still more difficult.

“To obtain a point of suspension for the diving-bell was now the chief concern. The general height of the land is about two hundred feet; and. Commander Dickinson imagined, that he could stretch cable across the cove from one height to the other; but the immense span which this required rendered it apparently impossible, and he determined on employing a derrick. To construct this machine, every piece of wood that could be found on board the ships was put in requisition, the land affording none that was available; and the work proceeded under the direction of Mr. Batt, carpenter of the Warspite.

“On the 2d Feb. 1831, Colonel Gasque, a Spanish officer of the Brazilian service, arrived at Cape Frio, with seven natives of the country, who were reported to be expert divers. These people, however, did no good whatever, neither did the gallant colonel; and, after failing in all their attempts, they returned to Rio.

“While the derrick was in progress, Mr. Jones, carpenter of the Lightning, was employed with a party in preparing a capstan and bollards, besides various fastenings, which would be required for its management. Mr. Moore was equally busy in preparing a clean even space on the summit of the rocks in the interior of the cove, for the main purchases, and