Polynesian., 1857-05-23
Gbe ]Dolpneslau;
Pablshed weekly at Honolulu, Oahu, II. 1.
CHARLES GORDON HOPKINS, EDITOR.
From the Boston Trayeller.l
,jsiug oC the Russian War Vessels at Sc
bastOpOE.


bastOpOI.
4 few velrs since the combined nations Of Eng
f,nd and France dispatched to the shores Of the
Srmea powerful and wariike expedition to ex-
animate and destroy. In month or two an ex-
edition will sail from the shores of this country
IL the same destination, but unlike the expedition
frst named, its purpose is to rescue and preserve.
1t has been before briefly stated, that Mr.. John
/. Gowen Of Boston, had obtained from the Rus
<aa government the contract to raise from the
1aters of the harbor Of Sebastepol the numerous
xasses of war which were sunk there when the
aied armies were besieging that spot long famous
i the history Of the world. The magnitude of
his contract has not been fully understood in this
8untry. Mr.. Gowen has heretofore been faVora-
Hy known to the world by his success in raising
ae United States steamship Missouri from the
4aters of the bay of Gibraltar, performance
which engineers from England and other countries
b attempted in vain. 1t happened that while at
Hibraltar, a Russian vessel came into the harbOr
i damaged condition. To the relief Of this yes
d Mr. Gowen sent number Of his men, refusing
sy compensation, and it is probable that this act
la courtesy, with the fame obtained by Mr.. Gowen
II the bringing up Of the Missouri, induced the
|nlssian government, at the time they cOntemplat-
I'd raising their fleet, to send for him. which
81 ne through the Russian Minister in this country.
II
Id d a numbe- of interviews with the Grand Duke
81 nStantine and then proceeded across the country
81 Sebastopol, for the purpose of making person
ii Investigation of the condition Of the ships. He
Ia engaged in this business for several months,
Mving Russian steamer at his disposal Here
h descended with his submarine armor to the bot
IN Of the harbOr and examined the sunken vessels.
II found that the channel of the harbor was in
81 middle, with banks upon both sides, that OF
s. north being of sand, and that upon the south
81 mud. In the sand there were no worms. in the
ID they were quite plentiful. OF course the YES
81 exposed to the attacks of the worms are now
u of little value; but ii fortunately happens that
u small portion. comparatively, were sunk
= here they would suffer from the attacks of these
q rms.
When the English and French approached Sc
%st0p0l the Russians, TO protect their harbOr,
Snk at the entrance, between forts Alexander and
g 0nStantine, two Of the 100 gun ships, two of the
q gun, two frigates and two corvettes. The line
#cupied by these sunken vessels was about three
Qarters of mile long, the water being sixty feet
&ep. The vessels sunk here amongst the
1rest in the feet. In the great gale which was
8 fatal to the English and French vessels in the
s. ack Sea, this line was SO much disturbed that
81 allies, If they had known it, could easily have
#alned an entrance into the harbOr This caus-
e the Russians to sink second line between Fort
& ehael and Fort Nicholas, about mile inward
hen the Redan was captured by the allies, all
e balance of the feet was sunk, preparatory to
&ndOnng the place. The following is list of
vessels sunk: Is line-oEbattle- ships, frigates,
1oryettes 10 briggs Of war, 5 schooners of war, D
ders, boom ship, ten gun yacht, % trans
fts, l5 steamers Of war. 10 merchant ships. In
az l06 vessels
ne machinery Of the steamers o. war, before
ng sunk, was carefully covered with prepara-
- of tallow to prevent injury from the water.
"a were scuttled by boring three inch augur
M eS near the water line. and all this done be-
i4 the English and French appeared before the
&c for the Russians did net entertain the idea
etending it, and one division of the army had
anced nine miles on the Perekop road, when
30 was brought that the English and French,
- cad of entering the city had halted outside, and
Fe fortifying their position. 1t was then that
e Russian army returned, built the earth re-
aH BITS, and made that long and stubborn defence
IsAch has rendered the name of Sebastopol so
Gus. Thus the Russian officials at SebastoRol
as tell the story. Mr.. Gowen examined thirty
ps, made a plan OF the harbor and adjacent
ahtry, and returned to ST. Petersburg. lie found
there were no less than thirteen competitors