Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1859-04-09
A YOUNG AMERICAN AT SEBAST0P0L.

- lR' W. -A-i i--tlN.l.N Al El-DlClOl OL.
We are favored with sight of private letter
says the Springfield Republican, from G. b.
Weston Of Belchertown, who is now at Sebas-
topol engaged with the Boston company there in
raising the sunken ships. \ stormy voyage and
almost a wreck on his first attempt to cross the
Black sea added to the interest if not to the
pleasure of the voyage. The Americans at Sc
uaA1oPOi "oio 'Vi. . sou ." 49, ., 5,
tell them little of home, having been absent for
three years. OF the means used for raising the
sunken ships and the progress already made he
writes -
"The company have raised six vessels whole
and the steamers Turk, and "Grasney;" the
"GraSncy' has copper boilers which are worth
S2j00O to cut up. They are now breaking her
up and taking her engines to pieces Since my
arrival here they have raised the Danube" an
other steamer. She is of iron and came up in
two halves. The chain, in attempting to raise
her, cut her entirely through. Her engines are
valued at 100000. They have also raised
siXteen-gun brig and two large schooners. Col.
Gowan has now made a contract with the Rus
slams to have all the property that he recoverS.
and he is to find all the powder and purchase it
of the government at their price. This contract
clme in vogue last June, but was not signed un-
til Nov. 10th. The first was that the government
should have one half of the property and find all
the powder The price of powder here of the
government is $40 per 36 pounds. They have
already used eight tons of powder upon the Con-
stantine, and il will need as much more before
she is all got up. The appearance of the ships
upon reaching the surface is singular enough
after their long Soiourn in their muddy bed The
rnils ara all bnuaV-oo tho lapl.s
with mud to the deph of two feet. coils Of rig
ging spars and ballast are scattered over the
decks. The matches in most cases are open and
the hold halffull of mud and muscles are cling
ing to every part but the copper Many of the
ships were burnt before sinking.
"The method that the company have adopted
for raising the vessels is BY means of four large
''cassons,' with small steam engines of fifteen
horse power upon each. Two of these cassons
are stationed each side of the sunken ship. large
chains are then passed under her keel leading up
to the docks, or cassons by opening a submerged
valve these docks are sunk down to their proper
depth, and the chain is then hauled taut by aid
of the steam engine. The water is then pumped
out and the docks commence rising, and the en-
gine at the same time at work produces draft of
no ordinary kind. But the experience of last
summer has convinced them that there is not
power enough to raise the large ships so at pres
ent, under the direction of Capt. S. Holbrook
the company are constructing two other large
ones, which will be completed next spring. With
the aid of these they expect to raise large ships
Of eighty guns.
Before close, will say a few things about
places of note around here, which are familiar
names to all of you. / several times visited the
tar-famed Malakoh. To the summit of the hill
it is about 100 feet The ground is all dug up
with trenches from base to summit. The remains
of the tower are still standing. Near to the Nal
akoff is the Redan, which is nothing more than
broad, deep trench here and there are sunken
pits that cover the gallant dead all around the
ground is strewed with pieces of skulls, and the
other day. as was walking along upon the edge
of "Victoria Battery" | saw the place where the
jackals had dug out the skeletons of six English
men, which had been buried by part of the bat
terry sliding upon them. picked up the skull of
one and intend to send it home from CONSTANT
nople. | have also been to Inkeiman and Bala-
klaya There have been great number of acci-
dents here from the bursting of shells; some 20
men and women have been killed the past year.
young Englishman belonging to the steamer
"Bryant," which put in here last spring, with
some of his shipmates, was walking over the
Black Bastion, and picked up shell with the
intention of taking it home with him, but finding
it to heavy he threw it down, when it exploded,
killing him instantly. A party of Tartars had
kindled fire around the round shot, as they
supposed, and had placed their kettle of rice
upon them, when one of them, being shell, ex-
ploded, killing and scalding number of them
A few days ago, party of Russians were engag-
ed weighing old bombs for Shipment when all Of
a sudden one of them exploded, cutting one man
in fightful manner. This occurred within
twenty yards of our machine shop"