As if a medieval fresco peeled away from the wall and inserted herself into the crowd unnoticed.

The closer I look the more intrigued I am by the nun.

Here's Buie's patent for his non-magnetic and non-acoustic diving suit.

When I see this sort of diving suit, I am reminded of the 1960s kid's show "Diver Dan". The special effects in that show were a thing of wonder to me as a kid. Thanks for the memories!

There are several faces in the crowd that I consider to be notable, but the nun in the top row, right of center, deserves a comment of her own. And perhaps even a maximum resolution cropped image.

for the hat on the guy at the left end of the front row.

What was a program of skills that the diver was demonstrating that made the kids so focused in anticipation? The "real deal" is happening under the water.

A Newspapers.com search shows just this one 1935 event with that name. That was a surprise.

One guess is that his name was listed incorrectly for his “Jules Verne” exhibition, which was not unusual for newspapers of the distant past based on several years of researching on that site.

[Your hunch is correct! See below. - Dave]

There must be a second around, somewhere.

Catholic nun school teacher Sister Agatha maintains a watchful gaze on her students, while they focus their attention on the diving exhibition.

Harris & Ewing seem to have misspelled Emerson's last name as "Burie." This is not surprising as Gunner's Mate Buie was underwater at the time and not able to be interviewed.

All joking aside, Buie enjoyed a phenomenally successful military career and received the Navy and Marine Corps Medal in 1942 for extraordinary heroism. He also developed the Buie Recirculating Diving Suit, which was used for all types of underwater work but was especially suited for disarming naval mines as it was non-magnetic and non-acoustic and utilized a re-breathing apparatus which eliminated exhaled bubbles.

His military record is as follows:

U.S. Navy -- World War II

• Navy Diver 1927-1947
• Instructor at the Deep Sea Diving School
• Developed a nonmagnetic diving suit known as the Buie Recirculating Diving Suit, for which he was awarded a U.S. patent
• Assigned duty with the Royal Navy during WWII

Navy & Marine Award of Valor

Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin 309, from December 1942:

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Chief Gunner’s Mate Emerson D. Buie, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service at the risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy, during disposal operations of an unexploded depth charge, on 26 April 1942. The depth charge was a constant threat to further diving operations necessary to salvaging the sunken vessel. The successful completion of Chief Gunner’s Mate Buie’s mission made it possible to carry out the operation of countermining with no loss to personnel or material.

By the end of WWII, Buie had achieved the rank of Lieutenant, had attained the designation Master Diver and was a graduate of the U.S. Navy Mine Disposal School.

More information:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/121814707/emerson-denmark-buie

https://www.divingheritage.com/buie.htm

Desco "Buie" Mixed Gas Diving Helmet

I truly hope a Shorpy member with skills at "digging up" info can find out about 2nd Class Gunners Mate Emerson Burie. No luck for me -- despite his rather unique name -- but I'm a D-minus student in the field of fascinating discoveries of the commonplace.

and they're dressed.