Bert Cutting blind commercial diver from Mattoon, IL
Seeking information and/or contact with the family of Bert Cutting.Born about 1894, Mr. Cutting was blind from his early teens, but worked as a commercial diver in the midwest during the 1930s continuing to sometime in the 1950s.He used a special made shallow water diving helmet which had no ports and an old washing machine motor with a $10 air compressor hooked to a piece of garden hose for air.
On December 15, 1951, a barge carrying 150 new automobiles was swamped on the Ohio River near Paducah, Kentucky.55 of the autos were tossed overboard, but the others went to the bottom with the barge.Working by himself for 100 straight days, Cutting recovered 95 of the autos and the barge.
In 1952 he was in the Los Angeles Harbor area and visited his son "Harry" who was living in Arlington, California.
We are eager to obtain further information about Mr. Cutting and to make contact with any of his heirs.
Dorothy Barstad
Member - Historical Diving Society and the California Classic Equipment Divers.