New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-08-09
MECHANICAL SKILL IN
ORLEANS.
Raising the Bark Theresa Blu


1t has been the general impression that
certain works of engineering, and other
works requiring first-class mechanical skill,
can not be done in New Orleans. The best
evidence that this is mistake is offered by
the captain, officers and employees attached
to the propeller Tyler, now employed in
raising the bark Theresa Butler sunk in
the river front of Jefferson. while her vitals
were being eaten out by burning cargo of
lime in her hold.
The Theresa Butler was built and owned
in Rockland, Maine, and she came to this
port under command of Captain Butler one
of her owners. She was hermaphodite
brig of three hundred tons measurement,
and carried a cargo of three thousand five
hundred barrels of lime, valued at fourteen
thousand dollars. The vessel itself was
valued at twenty-six thousand dollars. Three
weeks before it reached this port the fire
broke out in the hold and the matches were
promptly battened down and the crew lived
on deck with few conveniences until they
made fast to our levee. An attempt was
made to save the vessel here, but it was
found impracticable and she was sunk i'll
deep water. wheye she now lies. Her bows
were Just out of water, but her stern was
eight feet below the surface.
Considered worthless, the vessel was sold
by her cOnsignees, ThOrrdike & Norton, of
CarOndelet street, To e. Grandy, ll9 Old
Levee. for $24OO Mr.. Grandy, a man of
enterprise, knew what he was about. He
Immediately engaged the services OF the
underwriters boat, the Tyler, and he will
soon have the Butler at1Oat, almost as good
as new. The river had fallen within a few
days all of two feet, great item in favor
of the purchaser. =
The great advantage of the Tyler and the
advantage upon which Mr.. Grandy built up
his hopes of making profit out OF his pur-
chase was the steam pump. The pump has
not been before tried. and it possesses
power and force never before equaled. 1t
is "Earle's patent manufactured by the
South NOrwalk, Connecticut. Machine Com
pany. and sold in this city by L. b. BOdley.
The steam cylinder is twenty by twenty;
the water cylinder is fourteen by twenty.
The suction is ten-inch, with twelve inch
discharge, taking suction through top and
lischarging through bottom. With all the
lime and solid matter it Is compelled to
handle. it has verticle suction OF twenty
eight feet.
The TYLER commenced work on the twen-
ty-eighth of july and five minutes after
Captain Davis ran his boat alongside of the
wreck, Mr.. Lattimer. the chief engineer,
had commenced boxing the fore hatch. The
water reached the top of the box, Sut the
water was pumped until the main deck was
dry in an Incredibly short time. Men de-
scended under the direct command OF MIR:
NJ W. Francis, the famous diver, and
bursted the barrels containing the lime
with hatchets and axes. What they could
carry up they carried to the upper deck, and
they left this marvellous pump to do the
balance. Strange to say, the pump, under
Mr.. Lattimer's management, was equal to
the occasion Not only did it yomit up the
lime and water but it forced up pieces of
slaves and barrel heads and several pieces OF
limestone weighing no less than from two to
three pounds. Captain Davis had gone at the
business scientifically, and he was admir-
ably backed by Mr.. Lattimer. Two small
pumps were kept at work washing down
and liuuifying the lime for the benefit OF
the monster ready to suck 1t up In two
days they were able to take the lime TO
within two feet of the kelsOn in the fore
hold, making a cavity OF six feet in diane
ter. We can hardly tell all that these men
on this Tyler have accomplished. That
they will raise the vessel is a fact without
doubt. Their magnificent pump, with
capacity Of 2S00 gallons a minute, and 42OO
gallons when put OH its metal, is unap-
prOachable.
We give, as not onl y matter OF refer
ence. but as matter OF credit to men who
do good duty to the owners of our shipping
the muster roll of the sterling little Tyler
Captain, Martin Davis.
Chief Engineer. w. A. X. Littimer.
First Officer, William Smith.
Second Engineer Frank Walker.
And while giving the names OF the men
whose exertions are proving to the world
that New Orleans can provide skilled labor
for every branch of mechanism, we must not
and we do not overlook the famous diver,
NJ w. Francis, of the firm of Francis d Co.,
divers and Wreckers.