"One evening after alternating diving and rising many times, Dixon...and
several crew members compared watches, noted the time and sank for the
test...In twenty-five minutes...the candle would not burn...Each man had
determined that he would not be the first to say 'up!' Not a word was
said except the occasional 'How is it?' between Dixon and myself, until
the word 'up' came from all nine. We started the pumps...but I realized
that my pump was not throwing...I...took off the cap of the pump, lifted
the valve and drew out some seaweed that had choked it...We soon had the
boat to the surface...Fresh air!...We had been on the bottom for two
hours and thirty-five minutes..."
Lt. W.A. Alexander