New-York tribune., 1867-05-23

was dispatched within On hour after the hrst ldhes vi
the bleaching OF the steamer received ana anOthe
steamer belonging to the Submarine wreekng Company
dispatched at o'clock last evening to tho scene Oh
The modes Of proceeding in cases Of shipyrecG are OF
course, various The experienced eye OF the agent or
quickly determines the course TO be pursued the YES
sel lies In such position that size possibly be haueu
from the shoa reef into deep water, the monstrous
hawser s brought INTO readiness, made fast, ana tne
brought to bear upon the stranded ship II the weather
Is favorable, attempts Of this nature will frequently Do
persisted IN Tor days. and even weeks until the emu
80 well the shiful wrccker determine whether the
worth anything when this is achieved that preparations
will frequently bo made for this purpose whep to the
unpractced the wreck appears to be IN the worst
possible position. Most remarkable cases have peen
known wherein huge hus have been hauled an almost
incredible distance the sands, and huay rRnted
and saved. The steampump-a engine OF great power
held in readiness and at the proper moment tne hge
tubes set 10 sucking the sand and water from the hOd
until time s had TO repair the bruised and shattered
sdes sufficiently to permit the hull to ride safely on heF
own bottom. But II there happen TO be heavy sea, II
the pumping Of the wreck betokens that she will speedily
pieces the entire efforts Of the wreckers are turned
Cargosaving, wen ship saving, and the method in
which IL Is accomplished is dependent greatly ON the con-
diton Of the and in which the vessel lies
In some cases, the steamtug, nghter ana attenusht
Of taking out the freghts greatly facilitated Tie
batened matches are quickly burst Open or aperares
made In the side the tackle with which the Underwe ePs
steamer is provided is brought into speedy requisop
and bale after bale crate after crate barrel after barrel
hurried into the holds Of the stanch little schooners
These latter appear TO be almost stOrm'proof At any
rate they gliding here and there among the foam
rnged inets and dangerous reefs, where IL would seem
impossible that any boat could live moment But their
hardy shippers have followed their perous profession
coast is known to sunken rock or surf washed
bar illuminated by the sentinel lanterns OF Absecum or
6 tnsy sail their little crafts among hem
But If the swell is too high to approach the wreck with
larger vessels had TO the surf boats
which is much more tedious and perilous experiment
The surf boats are quite small and are eacn proVurd
them push on to the rescue through heavy suf Is
TO witness an exciting and alarming scene ana TO inspire
rather that 80 many Of them survive 10 following their
portion Of the undertakingis tossed like egg
shell on the angry waves and sometimes rolls almost OUT
good steering She mostly emergcs and gains the neigh
bohood Of the reef The surf boat is never provided
with rudder long oar at the stern il used altogether
by the steersman who invariably the picked man Of the
entire crew. and mnst know his business thoroughly.
When the small boats resorted to- the scfooners TIC
of at safe distance and the wreck occupied by gangs
who stand ready with their wreckng tackle TO lower the
merchandise into the eurfboats. These will not safely
carry than single bale OF cotton, or couple of
barrels Of flour at time and the operation OF lowering
dangerous one The wreck may be beating heavily with
every rush Of the breakers. The surfmen must look
every incoming wave, and preparing to meet IL with the
prov, avoiding the motion OF the numbering wreck which
under its keel in addition to this they must watch their
chance Of receiving on board the pieces Of cargo sus
pended their heads Up and down with the twelve
foot swel they arc rudey tossed while high IN the ar
boat itself. and frequently they have TO wait many
minutes before they can receive il with safety.
OF course this method Of unloading wreck and con-
yeyng tho cargo piece by piece on board schooners
il q very slow and tedious one. When hlk ~ gong
can only be carried on by means Of small boats very small
portions OF the cargo can be saved But the rough boat
men cling 10 the tmbers while there Is the chance OF
saving anything Indeed, it frequently happens that
their greed their distractions for there have been
when the wreck has suddenly parted and out
Of sight with gang OF wreckers ia her crazy hold many
days after the passengers and crew have been safely
landed and housed. When the wreck is bad one, and
has shifted the bar which stranded her into
deep water that she is wholly submerged the only re-
course is diving for sunken freight which cannot be done
when the water is very rough The wreckinaster must
wait for a propitious time. As general thing, be-
sorted to- In order to cleanse the wreck Of the
masses of sand or mud which have ineumbered
used In this work is an ingenious one OF great
power seldom fails 10 accomplish ia portion OF the
labor number OF years ago latge cIpPe, Was los
the shoals in the neighborhood OF AbsecuD ght ana
remained completely submerged for nearly week before
the wTeckers could commence htir iaDoI by tis the
the vessel was deeply imbeddd IN tho me sand which
had at the time ed almost every accessible erevieo Of
tho hulk But the great tubes of the were
run S Inc 51la and ranged eos esd S tSron the vster
that IN snrprsingy short space Of time not only was
mtting the diver To explore with facility, but the
rounding bank was blown away, leaving the exterior of
the hull exposed In such manner that large breach
was made In her side by which the cargo speedily
removed. The divers all go down In the submarine ar
NOR and frequently remain under the water for many
hours Their work is attended with less difficult
y As rapidly as may be- The freight Is attached TO the
water aud into the holds OF the lighters waiting to receive
These methods OF wrecking which have indicated
are few OF the operations with which the
wreckers property which but for them would be
totally lost In the cast ashore for the enrichment
o the needy dweiers thereon The manner OF operation
so much depends upon the circumstance OF the ship
wreck. and is much at the option OF the wreckmaser
that IL would be difficult TO enumerate the various
modes Of procedure. But 1t may be well to speak OF
the organized system OF wreckng which prevails on our
entire and 10 become better acquainted with the
men engaged in It ON coast like that OF SewJersey
the wreckmaster who is a very important man In his
district and welds large influence amolg tne coast peo
also considerable, and the position therefore, much
desired.
When vessel goes ashore and gives her signal Of dis
trcss the wreckmaster his agent communicate. with
her nstanhy IL Is Optional h WIN n1 wrecked
or not satisfied that the vessel is lost and that II is TO
the advantage OF his insurers he will give the
and will surrender all operations into the hands OF the
wreckmaster II he refuses and cargo as well as snip are
ing To- the law there must be no Individual wreckng; all
wreckers under command or the wreckmaster anu
work for him at much per day. The finder OF goods
washed on shore is allowed only days wages 3 for
making the discovery; and the goods must De surrem en-
dered 10 tho wreckmaser who takes charge IN the name
of the State and Underwriters In conjunction with tho
agent OF the Underwriting Company, who may az arriSe I'VE
disaster the master takes charge OF everything Gangs
Of wreckers are formed boating forces
the situation OF the wreck Is examined ana
placed in readiness to through .ae yvsse
The poor dweers in the coast huts are needy
e g a. wis ana hid hra sway Sn secret disposition oi
shall contribute to support OF hungry wreckes wives
and sundry juvenile wreckers at home But these rregu
Iartes will exist in all systems and we may nave the
satisfaction OF knowing that the merchandise lost might
fall into worse hands. .-,.s
The wreckers themselves most characteristic peo.
pe and those OF the NewJersey coast must De excellent
specimens OF the entire race nom Lapfauor " o ''o'uA
Keys a, ,,,. A.,
Tishermen I'm the Summer wreckers In the WINTER they
yeeetate In their and huts on the bleak sea
strand and all through tho stormy months they lock sea
ward for wreck earnestly and yearnngiy rs auIne
the nder months they pray for heavy nets OF Duensh
and mackerel Even theh houses in many instances are
made OF Of old wrecks aud IL IL not unusa 70
see relics OF disaster tempest about the doors and
windows wherefrom the moody tobacco smoke y s tne
medtatye vrecker exhaies he broods by his drift-
wood Are waiting for the signal which brings MS SURF
boat In demand and welceme spois to his needy ROOF