From time to time reports have arrived in town of the almost incredible feats performed by Japanese divers in connection with the salving of the cargo of the wrecked steamer Calanda, which lies in about 26 fathoms, On one occasion it was gravely asserted that a diver had gone below, without any of the paraphernalia usually associated with the calling, and had remained submerged for more than five minutes. It was stated that the man had been timed by the captain of a sailing ship, who has since left the port. The sceptical smiled, but the story was capped by an erstwhile harbour pilot, who stated that off Iwoshima it was x common sight to see Iapanese fishermen dive from their boats and stay under water for about '10 minutes! The object of the diving was not stated, but presumably the men were chasing the fish The record for remaining under water the longest is held by a woman, who in London in 1898 stayed below the surface in a tank for 4 mins. 454 secs. Of course there is no comparison between deep-ser diving and remaining below in " tank containing only a few feet of water, but the above case is quoted to show ti i to which the human body can be subjected, That wonderful fents are being performed by the said Japanese divers there is no reason to doubt, and to test the truth of the various reports a party of gentle men, among whom were Mr. F. Ringer and Dr. Moore Graham, proceeded in the former's launch on Saturday last to the wreck of the steamer Calanda, off Iwoshima. 'There they witnessed what is truly one of the most remarkable foute of endurance, which physiologically is an impossibility, viz., the fact of a human being without any' artificial assistance being able to Fothome and recover various cases of cargo lunge into the sea to the depth of 93
from the sunken vessel, which is lying in 26 fathoms of water.
The two Japanese who performed this alm-st superhuman task are Fukumatsu Sukamoto, aged 44 years, and Yoshitaro On arrival at the scene, all that one could see were two sampans, a few men, and sundry ropes or leading lines, The object of the visit having been known beforehand, the Japanese lost no time in making the few preparations required. Dr. Moore Graham examined each man prior to his dip and also on his return from the depths.
The first to disappear was Fukumateu Sakamoto, who for the space of a few minutes sat on the abe of the sampan, while his assistants fixed a small rope round his shoulders. There wax also n weighted line which he held, supporting about 83 Ibs of lead. After practically expelling most of the air ar dmueus in his lungs and then taking a huge inhalation, he disappeared, and from the time of hie entrance into the sea till he appeared again, 2 minutes and 25 seconds had elapsed. In the meantime he had fastened cords round a large case of
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.