New-York daily tribune., 1858-11-04
,sHIP-RAISLyG IN SEVASTT ,p0r.
Of The n Y. Tribune.

,oving vessels sunk a, the head Of South Bay, VIZ
Empress Cathsrine, l24 guns; Chesms' - guns;
friyate -, 60 guns; small vessei name ne'
Known. Thevc were blown TO pieces and oil course
raised in fragments. The Company share OF 'ne
materials was probably iVo'o"o '"oes' eNpeh'7''
however, to be deducted.
We have now lying at our wharf.-the gln'brg
semelai. or Bold, which We raised entire. Next
xasthe beautiful steamer Turk, esp.ured from the
Turks during the commencement Of the war. She
was built expressly for the Satan, and used as a
Yacht Her engines were comparatively in perfect
order, her hall but little injured, and not at all
worm-eaten. The Russian Government appraised
her at 900 rubles $i5, 600, and accepted her at
a tri6e under the valuation. The next was
the GOisnoi, a war-steamer which was built IN
1895, and is Of course quite DID, but nevertheless
perfectly sound, uninured by werns her engines
in good condition, with massive copper boilers, and
cost in England when new, 4I5,O00. The Gov
ernme nj has not decided to accept her if broken,
the materials will be worth probably $4,000.
We have four steamers sung and ready to raise,
and we have had some difficulty with the war
steamer Danube, 10 which our caissons are
now fastened. She is Of irOn and 50 heavy
that the forward chain cut Der completely IN
two. which is very serious matter, a. she cannot
be pumped dry when raised 10 the surface; but IN
my next, hope to give yOu detailed account Oi
her with four others. Our caissOns work admIra-
bly,, but had they been Of double their capacity, the
power derived from them would DC immense. we
shall immediately construct two Others of large di
mensiOns and although We baye been here fifteen
months, all our preparations are not completed.
Millions of dollars worth of property lies buried
here which can never be recovered, unless some
Yankee will invent windmill pump of sufficient
power to empty the Black Sea. If Golfer dams were
built across the entrance to the BOsphOrus Sea Of
AzoG and the various rivers that empty into these
basins, all the treasure found IN SebastOpOl llarbOr
alone would cancel the cost. As you given at
home 20 magnificent enterprises. TO Pacific Rail.
roads, canals across the Isthmus of Panama, tre-
mendous tunnels, and Atlantic Telegraph Cables,
shall expect to see in some future number of The
Seustife american a diagram Of such pump.
The 6nly requisite is that il should empty the Black
Sea, and carry of the water.
But TO return: We have three Greek parties
employed numbering about $50 men. They dive
without armor, and are quite successful receiving
as compensation fourth part Of what they raise.
A short time snce one of them brought up piece
Of iron four feet long, with 3j gold mperias firmly
imbedded in the oxyd formed upon the bolt. Our
magazines stored fall of copper brass and other
metal, which brings the ready cash. Our yard
resembles vast arsenal, strcwed with portions
of the recovered wrecks, heaps Of guns, anchors,
chains, and every conceivable piece of iron used in
. war ship.
On account of our operations here, an increase |
Of population is the result to about 500. Houses |
are commencing and many have been completed |
since our arrival. The two hotels are doing good
business, as many strangers are induced, by curl
Osty to witness our operations, to visit the city,
Among the travellers of distinction now here are
Lady Franklin and niece, who appear quite anx.
ious to obtain relics of the sunken ships. Every
thing goes on harmoniously, and | am happy to
state that Mr.. Gowen has succeeded in obtaining an
amendment to his contract, whereby he is entitled
10 all that is raised instead Of the mOiety here
tOfore l think that the Boston Submarine
COmpanys two vessels Gen Knox aud Silver Key,
rather missed it ia leaving Seyastopo pending the
negotiation, which resulted in the advantageous
terms on which they might have worked subse-
quently and by which, by this time, they might
have realized xl00 900 easily. But this is matter
that does not concern me-
think that in former letter ! alluded to the
great mistake that has gone the rounds OF all news
papers, that the ships sunken III Sevastopo iiaroor
bad been proved be entirely worthless account
of worms; and have it from good authority that
prominent stakeholder of this company, who was
some four or FIVE months at Seyastop0 and who
aterwaId was in London, had exhibited at The
Times office u piece of the Twelve Apostles"
steering which indeed was much eaten; he
also represented that the entire ship was in the
same condition, and that it had been ascertaned
beyond doubt that all of the sunhen feet were
likewise eaten up by the worms. lOu may be as
sured that every story statement of this kind is
false. am convinced from unmlstakable Observa-
ton, that the damage by worms does not exceed
ten per cent, allowing the ships otherwise to be
worth as much as when sunk; and think If can be
satisfactorily accounted for in this way: the bottom
of the barbOr of Sevastopol throughout its length
aud breadth, excepting only some places near the
shore, is from five to six feet in depth of soft mud.
Very after the ships were sunk they formed for
themselves bed and the masts and spars were all
standing. the agitation Of the sea caused motion
which was communicated TO the hull, which, dis
turbiDg the muddy bottom, caused 4 sediment to
settle upon the ship within and without, which IN
all cases destroys the ncipient worm and prevents
others from commencing their attacks. All this
we have seen. Now the parts truly exposed are the
rails, comings of the hatches steering wheels and
other portions where the sediment does not firmly
adhere The sap on the spars s invariably destroyed,
while the heart is untouched. Many are under |
the impression that Russian ships ofwsr are built |
wholly of pine; this is great mistake, for i have |
never seen finer OAK timber in the world than that |
ofwhich these ships built.
Now let me tell you the process by which we |
raise these ships: We use 2S-inch chain,
pass,ng under the ship aud connecting with the |
caissons above. In order to get the chain under
meath the ship the diver is obliged to dig through
the mud sometimes for hours at once, which is no
easy TASK at fourteen fathoms under water. After
dig,.Dg to sufficient depth, the diver takes long
iroIt rod sharpened at end to the other end OF
whSh rope is attached, and forces IL through the
mu, under the Keel, moving it about so as to in |
creSse the size of the opening; to the other end OF
the srcpe is attached the aforementioned chsin, |
whsh is drawn through the opening by the engines
on Be cassons above. Thus the chain is passed /