User:Pbsouthwood/Helmet squeeze

1879	7	30	Jenkins	James Walter	USA			S/S Air	Recovering an anchor lost from the Barbarossa in a collision with the Italy some weeks earlier off New York Harbour, pier 1, North River. Assistant called attention to blisters in the air pipe, but Jenkins only laughed and said the pipe would probably last as long as he would. Assistants protested that the hose was unsafe but the daring engineer would not hear of it and went to his death with apparent gaiety He had reached seabed when the pipe burst on deck. Pulled up immediately. Upon removing the helmet the man's face and head presented a horrible appearance, being swollen to fully twice their normal size and purplish black. The tongue, swollen, discoloured and protruding was nearly bitten in two, blood trickled from the nostrils and ears, the arms were extended and rigid while the spasmodically closed fingers had buried their nails deep in the horny skin of the palms of the hands. Gasped once and expired with a long gurgling sigh. Unemployed for two years, desperate to support his family, basically, a quick dive for "cash in hand" of 10$. reported in the New York Times.