Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1857-03-07
From the Boston Tiavelcrl
THE YANKEE ExPEDITION TO sEBAsT0-
PM.

Contract to Raise Sirty four Vessels Of VA
Condition Of the Tesseis--Magnitude Of
the Undsrtaking-7he Rebuilding Of Sedas-
topol, etc.
1t has been before briefly stated that Mr..
John 4. Gowen, of Boston, had obtained
rom the Russian government the contract to
'aise from the waters of the barbor Of Sebas-
opol the numerous vessels of war which were
iunk there when the allied armies were be-
ieging that spot long famous in the history
If world. The magnitude of this contract
has not been fully understood in this country.
Mr. Gowen has heretofore been iavorably
inown to the world by his success Ia raising
he U. s. steamship Missouri from the waters
Of the bay Of Gibrater, a performance which
engineers from England and other countries
iad attempted in vain. 1t happeued that
while at Gbralter, Russian vessel came into
he harbor in damaged condition. To the
'eier OF this vessel Mr.. Gowen sent mum
Der of his men, refusing any compensation,
and it is probable that this act of courtesy,
with the tame obtained by Mr.. Gowan in the
bringing up of the Missoari, induced the Rus
sian government at the time they contempla-
led raising their sunkcn fleet. to send for hi n
which was done through the Russian minister
IN this country.
Mr.. Gowen accordingly went to st. Peters
burg, had number, of interviews with the
Grand Duke Constantine, and then proceed
ed across the country to Sebastopol, for the
purpose OF making personal investigation OF
the condition Of the ships. He was engaged
in this business for several months, having a
Russian steamer at his disposal. Here he
descended with his submarine armor TO the
bottom of the harbor, and examined the sun
ken vessels He found that the channel OF
the harbor was in the middle, with banks up
on both sides, that of the north being OF sand
and that upon the south Of mud. In the
the sand there were no worms IN the inud
they were quite plentlful of course the ves-
sells exposed to the attacks OF the worms are
now of but little value, but it fortunately hap.
pens that but a small portion, comparatively
were sunk where they would suffer from the
attacks of these worms.
When the En- ylish and French approached
Sebastopol, the Russians, 10 protect their
harbor, sunk at the entrance, between Forts
Alexander and Constantine, two ol the l2O
gun ships, two Of tke 9S gun, two irigates,
and two colvettes The line occupied by
these sunken vessels was about three quar-.
ters of q mile long, the water being sixty leet
deep. The vessels sunk here were among
the poorest in the fleet. In the great gale
which was SO fatal to the English and French
vessels in the Black Sea. this line was SO
much disturbed that the Allies, if they had
known it, could easily have obtained an en-
trance to the harbor. This caused the Rus
SLAMS TO sink second line between Fort Mi.
chael and Fort Nicholas, about mile inward
When the Redan was captured by the A lilies
all the balauce of the feet was, sunk, prepar-
atory to abandoning the place. The follow.
Eg is the list Of vessels sunk:
IS line of battle ships. ! boom ship.
frgates 10 gun yacht.
6 corvettes. % transports.
10 brgs of wsr. 10 steamers OF war
S sehooners of war. l9 merchant ships.
5 tenders