New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-10-14
ny and save her; and in e,s than two days she Wa
Il New Yok. Some idea Of his isdonitshle energy
may be formed when the fac. ie stated thst q

may be formed When the fac. is stated thst a.
this wreck he stood fO-.y-eight hours continuously,
without sleep at bis p1mp. No one could aid bin,
ard the steam wss il jec.sd and cut Of solely BY
hand bar, 20 leave the pump would be 70 undo all thai
bad been accomplished ss the chip wouli then asa.n
Gil with water. The vreckipg orgs,izs,iou was Gov
fairly under way. Capt Sturgis had at command
Bosrinsr Thomss Bel, John Brown, and other very
eficer. men. all az true &c steel, and upon whom he
could rely implicitly 20 carry ont bis instructiors
Walter r. Jones had at this time assumed the mead OF
al s1ch affairs and from this date the progress hss
been continuous. A number Of email vessels were
kent in readiness by Joshua T. Jones, brother Of
Waiter r. Jones, and Capt. S,urgis could command
bis feet at a few hours notice. In 40 Boardman,
feeling Dissatisfied with bis compensation, decided TO
Try wrekpg on his account. and split OF from the
Board. He fitted out a vessel and built another
s.eam pump, purchased cable, and held himself in
readipess. The Board, representing az 1t dos the
majority Of interest in nearly every case, and eIer
cisirg their right 10 save property insured by them
creates a monopoly against which opposition
seems frui,ess; but Boardmsn, By keeping his
vessel out cruising, and proceeding out Immediately
after Storm often fell in with wrecks before
the underwriters had received information thereof,
and thus was enabled to maintain himsef. In 1873,
he formed a connection with Jones g. johnson, whose
business se adjusters Of average made them acquainted
with all the management Of such AFFAIR.", and who're
diplomacy was very valuable in negotiating the CON-
psbsstion sfter wreck was saved. Occasionally,
new vessel would be introduced IS wrecker, but
these generally confined to the service OF light
eripg cargo. The vocation Of wreckers, involving
a. it doe exposure in the worst weather and WORK OF
the hardest character their lives constantly in immi-
nent danger presents little attraction. 1t has thus
remain ed confined 70 nearly the same persons for many
years; some, however by their extraordinary energy
genius or aptitude, have made themselves conspicu-
ous, and now occupy prominent positions IN the pro-
fessiop. Capt Sturgis long since stepped aside Tor
more lucrative pursuits, and was succeeded by Capt
Hoyt, then by Capt VIM. Dayton, and after him BY
Capt V. Flynn and he nturn, by the present efficient
General Agent, Capt. josiah Q. Bovine, fOrmerya
Liverpool captain. son of Phinea, Bennett, Capt.
Aland Bennett is clsssed among the old wreck>rs.
Capt. Bovine is most ably seconded by Capt. Israel
Merritt, young man, who has so won upon his en-
poyers BY his successful energy that they have show
cred benefits upon him without STINT Boardman some
years sgo retired from wreckipg to take position a.
the head Of the Neptune Iron Works, where he
still confines TO build bis celebrated pumps. The
successors Of Jones & johnson, Messrs. Johnson and
Higgins, still keep up wreckiDg organization, snd
have had constructed the ieetest vessel on
the coast, which, with large outfit of cables,
stesm.pumrs, and they keep constantly really Tor
use Their force is under the able charge oil
Capt. John Lewis, an oil protege Of Bosrdmans.
We cannot better show the progress of wreckipg
than by giving summary Of the present position OF
the business and of the property employed therein IN
this city. The Board of Underwriters have now
l.. "A. Il, Tan oablas from
eight to sixteen inches in size and from 100 to loo
fathoms in length; their weight runs from 1000 to
600 pounds. They have number of anchors of all
Sizes five steam-pumps Of great c,pacity-three of
them are of the improved patent of WorthiDgton, and
throw from % to so barrels Of water per minute blocks
ar falls and other gear. The value Of the property
employed by them is, say $4,000. This dots not u-
clude the schooner, as she is not owned by them.
johnson e. Higgins have their clipper schooner, five
large cables from eight sixteen inches, anchors from
800 TO 1900 pounds, one Boardmsn pump, steam
hosting machine the only one used, diving dress
with arpumps, blocks and falls, and tongs Tor
graphing cargo and iron under water. Herbert
& Bennett have schooner, cable and anchor, blocks
and falls, steam-pump, and tongs of various kinds
Capt Henry Clock has a schooner, with cable, anchor
and one pump.
There are also schooners which are used for wreck
ing purposes, but not constantly. There are divers
who can be obtained al all times and not least in this
catsloeu ne is the great floating derrick which is en-
ployed in raising sunken vessels within the harbor
or Sound. There also seoSs and camels
which have been built expressly for wrecking pur.
poses beside oil casks which are used for floating
vessels when the steam pump cannot free them, and
mary other things appertsniDg to this service.
In the regular and constant employment of the
Board and the above firms, at least 40 to % men,
and the regular and constant outlay for wages renew
ing cables repairs &c. is from SiOO 600 to so 600 per
apnum. l. would be interesting to compare other
cities with New-York in THE respect. In Boston, they
have the magnificent propeller K. Is. Forbes, which
is fitted with steam pumps and cables, and ccnsl'
tutes their main available resource Very efficient IS
sbe and our underwriters can IN this particular take
lesson, as q powerful boat Ike her would be very
valuable here. From the difference in the coasts her
outfit is necessary for them. Their best service is
effected Immediately after the vessel gets ashore,
their coast being abrupt and if the vessel can be
started by tuggDg at her they generally pull her
of, otherwise she goes to pieces whereas, on
our coast the vessel lies unif jured for months, and
the slow process, of d-eharging and hllirg her with
empty casks must generally b. adopted. There is no
organization at Philadelphia, in fact at auy other
city on the coast. The New-York companies have a
stesm-pum at Charleston, which goes the rounds as
occasion demands. They also have agents stationed
at all the principal cities on the coast, who telegraph
instantly of any disaster, and assistance is at once
dispatched from this city. At Norfolk and at Key
West there are vessels and materials employed e1ca-
svely in this service, but it is by individuals solely
The Companies are not interested therein aud their
lv mn inst M