Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1861-05-24
CorrespoMdente.
No. XII.
PmILADkLPnIA, April, lS6l

PHILADELPHIA, -Aprii, Iool.
FRIEND SAWYER My business called me,
the other day, to 90 down to Front Street
and Delaware Avenue. These streets lie
along the Delaware river, by the wharves aud
docks have but little time for mere sight
seeing, nor for writing about what | do see
and 50 write on the trot, as | suppose you
and your readers have noticed
But my eyes were open and Hooked round
and among other things which saw was n
sunken ship;-that is, saw, not the hull
but where it was. and the nasts, or the tops
Of thcm, as much as was above water.
had heard Of the case before. Indeed saw
notice Of it in the papers when it occurred
last winter. They propose, if they can, to
raise her. Preparatory to that, and with a
view to save what they can of the cargo, they
are at work, by means of diving machines,
getting it out. But it is a slow and slavish
business The divers go down, not in div
ing bell, but clad in submarine armour with
a breathing pipe attached to the head case,
the end of which remains above water, so
that they have fresh air all the while. Still
they do not stay down long at one time, but
work away for time, sending up by means
Of line, traied by those above, all they
can find and get out, and then they come up
and rest and breathe, like the porpoise, and
then return again to their task.
In this way they expect to unload the ship,
and then, at last raise her to the top OF the
water. The shipping at the wharves in this
port look very meagre compared with those
in New York or even in Boston. There are
comparatively few Of them, and those gener-
ally Of small size.
/ saw large quantity of fruit mostly
from the West Indies, being discharged-sev-
eral cargoes of oranges and lemons. after
wards noticed that they were offered for sale
everywhere, all over the city and in the rail
cars, far into the country and very cheap too.
had occasion to visit the Navy Yard
Ny object in going there was to call on Rev.
Mr.. Perry, one of the seamen's chaplains,-
lie lives hard by the Navy Yard. He had a
meeting appointed on board the Receiving
Ship, then lying at the wharf in the yard,
and invited me to 90 with him on board to
assist him in the exercise. / consented. In
gong to the ship We passed directly through
the yard 1t struck me as not being equal
to that in Charlestown, Mass. They have
two ship houses OF ample size, ] suppose to
accomodate the largest ships OF the Navy.
No ships are building at this time, but |
noticed large amount ofmaterials for build
ing, snugly housed.
There is dry dock here, as at Charles
town, and great conveniences for repairing
as well as building ships. Few men seem
now to be employed in the yard. A small
vessel was lying there, said to be ready for
sea. called the Water Witch. think she
was put in commission Immediately, and was
one Of the number that went down TO the
nest of rebels at Charleston, S. c.
We were disappointed in our meeting
The men were so engaged, all hands, In haul
ing that vessel into the stream and getting
another to the wharf, that it was not conyen.
lent for them to attend, though they wished
10 do 50, fox there is at this time pleasing
religious interest among them. D. u