Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1857-04-25
From the Boston Traveller, Feb 2s1
RAISING OF TIE RUSSIAN WAR vEs-
Sells AT SEBASTOPOL.

the Undcria aking--The Rebuilding Of Sc
bnstopoI, otc., etc.
A few years since the combined nations Of
England and France despatched to the shores
of the Crimea a powerful aud warlike expedi-
iion to exiermnale and destroy. In a month
or two an expedition will sail from the shores
Of this country for the same destination, hot
unlike the expedition first named, its purpose
is to rescue aud preserve.
1t has been before briefly stated that Mr.
John f.. Gowen, of Boston, had obtained from
the Russian government the contract 10 raise
from the waters of the harbor of Sebasiopol
the numerous vessels Of war which were sunk
there when the allied armies were besieging
that spot long famous in the history of the
world. The magnitude of this contract has
not been fully understood in this country. Mr.
Gowen has heretofore been favorably known TO
the world by his success in raising the United
States steamship Missouri from the waters of
the Bay of Gibraltar, performance which en-
gneers from England and other countries had
attempted in vain. 1t happened that while at
Gibraltar a Russian vessel came into the harbor
in damaged condition. TO the relief of this
vessel Mr. Gowen sent number Of his men,
refusing any compensation, and il is probable
that this act Of courtesy, with the fame obtain
ed by Mr. Gowen in bringing up the Missouri,
induced the Russian government at the time
they contemplated raising their sunken fleet, to
send for him, which was done through the
Russian Minister to this country
Mr. Gowen accordingly went 10 St. Peters
burg, had number of interviews with the
Grand Duke Constantine, and then proceeded
across the country TO Scbastopol for the purpose
of making personal investigation of the con-
dition ol the ships. lie was engaged in this
business for several months. having Russian
steamer at his disposal Here he descended
with his submarine armor to the bottom of The
harbor and examined the sunken vessels. lie
found lha. the channel of the harbor was in the
middle with banks upon both sides, that of the
north being sand, and that upon the south Of
mud. In the sand there we're no worms ; in
the mud they were quite plentiful. OF course
the vessels exposed TO the attacks of the worms
are now of but little value; but it fortunately
happens tina, but small portion, comparatively,
were sunk where they would suffer from the at
tacks of these worms.
When the English and French approached
Sebaslopol the Russians, 10 protect their har-
boz, sunk at the entrance, between forts Alex
ander and Contantine, two Of the l2O gun ships,
two of the SO gun, two frigates and Two cor
vei,es. The line occupied by these sunken
vessels was about three-4uarters Of mile long,
the wafer being sixty feet deep. The vessels
In The great gale when was so fatal TO the Bri-
tsh 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 entrance TO the harbor. This caused the
Russians to sink second line between Fort
Michael and Fort Nicholas, about mile in
ward. When the Redan was captured by the
allies, all the balance Of the fleet was sunk
preparatory TO abandoning the place. The fol-
lowing is list Of the vessels sunk -
Is line -batile-ships. boom ship.
7 frigdtes. ten gun yacht.
5 coryettes. % transports.
10 briggs Of war. Is steamers of war
schooners Of war. 10 merchant ships.
tenders. In all LOG ships.
The machinery of the steamers of war, be-
lore being sunk, was carefully covered with a
preparation of taow to preven, injury from the
water. They were scuitled by boring three
inch auger holes near the water line, and all
this was done before The English and French
appeared before the place, for the Russians did
not entertain the idea Of defending it, and one
division of the army had advanced nine miles
on the Perekep road, when word was brought
that the English and French, instead OF enter
ing the city, had halted outside and were forti.
f,,,r shntr 4 han hot hp nS
sian army returned, built the earth redoubis
and made that long and stubborn defence which
has rendered the name of Sebastopol so famous
Thus the Russian officials al Sebastopol now
tell the story. Mr. Gowen examined thirty
ships, and made plan of the haIbor and ada
cent country, and returned TO ST. Petersburg
He fonnd that there were no less than thirteen
competitors for the contract from France anc
England, among the former being the company
known as the Credit Mobiler. The govern
ment finally concluded to make the contract will
) Mr. Gowen on the most liberal terms, which
cannot fail, we think, TO be amply remunera
: tive. The value of the ships sunk is said tt
be sixty five millions, and he has certain por
ton of the valne of each ship raised at the mo
ment it is placed liz the hands of the Russa
government.
The expedition which sails from this countr
u will consist of two vessels, one of which leave
: Philadelphia on or about the LIST Of April, an
J. the second soon after. The number of person
engaged to accompany it from this country
5 about one hundred and fifty, the well know
e shipbuilder of the city, S. F. Holbrook, Esq
being one of the superin,endents. There vii
u be, also, shpbulders, caulkers, machlnisls, en-
II gineers, &c.-Some of the hydraulic machir
" cry for raising the vessels is of the most colo:
s sal description, one cylinder alone weighing f
= ty-four thousand pounds indeed it must be Sc
% for some of the vessels to be raised are Of 5
J. 900 tons burden. The value of the materif
10 TO be furnished by the Russian government t
= be used in the raising of this fleet, will be abo.
p a million and half of dollars, and the time OF
III cupied in performing the contract will, it
' thought, be about eighteen months or two lae'
In Kertch there are also some FIVE or 81
:, Russian vessels sunk, which are included In tn
; contract, and in the harbor OF Sebastopol ther
- are some 5000, 900 worth of chains and anchors
w. w. which the French and English threw overboar
~ from ;nahili,u IN carry Them off, In additO