The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1857-03-20
F,om "a, Bo.ioa TraVsiisr, FEB. =.
Raising OF tho Russian War Vessels at
Seba3topol.

Seba,topol.
The YANKEE Expedition TO S6astopol- Con
tract 20 Raise aIiy-jou Vessels of War
Condition of the Hssseis-Megniiu6e o
The Undertaking the Rebuilding Of !Ssbds'
iOpOi, ETC, etc.
A few years since the combined nations o
England and France despatched 10 the shores
of the CriInea powerful and warlike expe-
ditiOn to extcrminate ana destroy. In
month or two an expedition will sail from
the shores Of this country for the same desti-
nation. but unlike the expedition FIRST
named, its purpose is to rescue and pre-
serve.
IL has been before briefly stated that NJ.
John +. GOwen Of Boston, had Obtained
from the Russian government the contract
to raise from tho waters OF the harbor oil
SshdstOpol the numerous vessels OF war
which were sunk there when the allied ar-
mics were besiesing that spot long famous
in the history OF the world The masni-
tude OF this contract has not been fully UNI
derstoJd in this country Mr.. Gowen has
heretofore been fayOn.bly known 10 the
world by his success in raising the I. ;
steamship Missouri from the ~atcr~ OF the
Ray of Gibraltar, n performance which en-
gineers from England and other countries
had attempted in vain. IL happened that
while nj Gibraltar q Russian vessel came
into the harbOr in damaged condition.
To che relief OF this vessel Mr. Gowen sent n
number of his men, refusing any compens,-
ton, and iI IL probable that this net OF
courtesy, with the fame Obtained by Mr..
Gowen in the bringing up of the Missouri,
isluccd the Russian government at the
time they contemplated raising their sunken
A,ct. Ia send Tor him. which was done
through the Russian Minister in this cOun-
try.
Mr.. Gowcn accordingly went to st. Pe.
tcrsTuTg. had "a number OF interviews with
the CIR nd Duke Constantine, and then
preceded acruss the cDuntTy 20 SehastopOl
Tor the purpose Of making u personal in-
v,stisltion OF the condition of the ships. =
lie was engaged in this business for several
months, having Russian steamer az hts
disposal. Here be descended with his sub
marine armOr % the bottom of the harbOr
aud examined the sunken vessels. lie iound
that tine channel Of the haTbOr was IN the
middle with banks upon the sides, that Og
the orth being OF sand, and that upon the
south OF mud. In the sind there were no
worms. in the mud they were quite plenti.
full. OF course the vessels exposed To the
attacks of the worms are now Ot but Little
value; but il fortunately happens that but
n small portion. comparatively, were sunk
where they would suffer from the attacks of
these worms.
When the English and French approached
SehistopOl, the Russians, 10 protect their
harbJr, sunk at the entrance, between Forts
Alexander aud Constantine, tNO oI the l2O.
run-ships, two OF the 3S-gun, two irigates
and two coryettes. The line occupied by
these suaken vessels was about thrce-quart
ers of mile long, the water being sixty feet
deep. The vessels sunk here were among
the poorest IA the feet. la the gale which
was ~ fatal to the English and French ves-
sells ia the Black Sea, this line was ~ much
disturbed, that the allies, if they had known
il, cuuld easily have obtained an entrance
to the harbUr. This caused the Russians 10
sink second line between Fort Michael and
Fort Nicholas, about mile inward. When
the Redan was captured by the allies, all
the balance of the beet was sunk, prepare
tory to abandoning the place. The iollJw-
Ing is "A list of the vessels sunk -
line-Oi-bdttle ships, boom ship,
Il irigtes, ] ton gun yacht,
cOryettrs, IS transports,
10 briggs of war, Is steamers Of war,
q schoouers Of war, ~ merchant ships,
5 tenders. In all 100 vessels
The machinery of the steamers Of war,
before bcing sunk, was carefully covered
with a preparation of GillOw 10 prevent in
jury from the water. They were scuttled
by boring three inch augur holes near the
water line, and all this was done before the
English aud French appeared before the
place. for the Russians dii not entertIin the
idea. of defending 1t, and one division OF the
army had advanced nine miles ON the Pere-
kOp road. when word was brought that the
English aud French, inste a Of entering the
city, had halted outside, and were iOrtiiy-
Ing their position. IL was then that the
Russian army returned, built tho earth ~.
doubts, and made taat long and stubborn
defence which has rendered the name OF -
bIalopol ~ famous. Thus the Russian Of.
hcials at S,hlslOpOl now tell the story. MIR.
Gowen examined thirty ships. made plan
of the harbOr and adjacent country, and ~
turned u ST. Petersburg. lie found that
there were no less than thirteen competitors
for the Contract from France and England,
among tho former being the company
known as tho Credit Mobilicr The govern
meut finally concluded "a make the contract
with Mr.. UOwUn ON the most iibcrIi terms,
which cannot fail, we think, % be- amply
rcmuncntNe. The yalIc 81 the ships sunk
j. said Go b. sixty.f,e million dollars, and
ne has a certain portion OF the value Ol each
ship RAISED at the mOinent IL is placed in the
hands Oi the Russian government
rhe expedition which sails from this coun-
try will CONSIST OF two vessels, one of which
leaves Philadelphia ON or about the lst OF
April and tue second sJOn after The nun
bss ol persons engaged IL accompany 1t frum
shis country Is abOut one hun ircd and hity,
the we'll known shipbuilder ol this city, ;.
r. llolbrOOk, Esq, being one OF the supcr.
inryndonts. There Wal! Ia, also, shipbdild-
ors, o.lulkrrs, machinlsts, engineers, Sc.-
Some OF thc hydraulic machinery for raising
the vessels Is of tho most colossal descrip-
iiOn, one Under alone weighing $1,000
ID indoed, 1t must he -, iVr sumo vi the
vessels u b, ralsl ar oC 5000 tons bur
then. The yalue oi the material % be fur
nlsbed by the Russian government TO b.
uscd ia the raising Oi this hcet will be about
u million and half Vt dollars, and the tiInv
occupied IN performing the contract, will, IL
is thought, bv about eighteen months, or two
yars F..I. .-F... AZ
At KerIch there are also some Eve or six
Russians vessels sunk, which are included in
the Contract and In the harbor Of SehAstop1l
there are sOmc S5O0,OO0 worth OF chains
and anchors. which tho Preach aud English
threw overheard from inability 10 carry
them OF. In addition to tho expedition
from this country, the Russian gosurnmen,
bind themselves to furnish irom thrco
thousand 10 i've thousand men, whose pay
from Mr.. Gowen, ~ Is usual in that coun
try, will not be more than ,wcnt, Ave cents
per day, they ''fnding themselves. Take
IL altogether, it Is the greatest contract
snh,narin, ar atherwis.-.x.r .nt.~..l Ia,