The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1857-05-07
......v,it OF despotisin,

.--.ssquenlly,. the foe Of everything
liberal which we Amcrical.s hold most dear.
Nevertheless, this exalted potentnte has al
ways eyinccl a strange affection for Yankee
land, and in many ways encouraged our
men of genius and. enterprise to regard st.
Petersburg rs city of golden reward
The railroads which the government has
found essential to its schemes of Internal
improvement have been built and equipped
by men whose local habilation is in Phia-
dclphia and Baltimore. The most valuable
contracts for the construction Of machinery
have been awarded TO American parties
over tho heads of skillful competitors in the
land Of Birmingham and Sheffield. And
now we find the government of the Gar,
which is working with inJefatigab'c energy
to retrieve the disastrous consequences of
the war in the Crimca, securing the services
of our ingenious engineers to raise from tfe
harbor Of Sebastopol that extensive navy
which it was found necessary to sink, to
save from the grasp Of the allies.
Concerning this Yankee expedition to the
Crimea, considerable misrepress sntation has
gone abroad, i'll consequence Of the hasty
statements Of the Boston press. In spite Of
the alleged sailing Of a company destined
to forcstall those who had been announced
rs the lucky contestants for the contract, we
are now positively assured that the sole con-
tract for the performance of this mighty
task was awarded by the Court Of St. Pc
tersburg to Col. John + Gowcn, of Boston
who is renowned in h.. peculiar vocation Of
submarine engineer. Tile company which
has sent vessels to Scbastopol: in advance
Of this distinguished engineer has merely
permission to survey the harbor and the
wrecks, and in case Of The failure Of The con-
tractors, to make an attempt to accomplish
the work. In the meantime, Col. Gowen
has made the most extensive preparations
for the expedition, and from the power and
efficiency Of his arrangements, he feels con-
iidcnt of his success. Besides the two YES
sells lie has engaged, there are two transport
ships, Of a Thousand tons each, several gun
: boats, powder, and an immense variety ofall
kinds Of materials placed at his command
by the Russian Government. The engines,
suits of submarine armor, pumps, floating
docks, and other facilities for performing
: the contract, are already complete. The
organized force to be employed will amount
to between 1900 and 1900 iion. 1t is
stated that the old method Of raising vessels
by means Of chains and scows, which the
"Boston Submarine Company" profess to
treat with contempt, is sanctioned by Col.
Gowcn as the only sure and efficient meth
cd of proceeding under the circumstances.
Philadelphia is interested in Col. Gowcn's
success. The company formed here is con-
nected with that gentlcman's operations
and moreover, we have the credit Of having
the first party at Ssbastopol engaged III
surveying the ground, and adjusting the
prcliminaries for more vigorous work.
Much of the outfit Of our company is stated
) to be already on its way. We intend to
capture Sebastopo], not by the batterine
down of another MaIakof but by the dis
play to the Muscovitcs of iAdomilaLle Yam
kee enterprise and ingenui,y.-Philaacl
phia Ledger.