New-York tribune., 1870-01-05
THE WRECKS IN CHARLESTON HARBoR.
WHAT THEY ARE, AND HOW THEY CAME
THERE-CONTRACr FOR THEIR REMOVAL
OPERATIONS SOON TO COMMENCE.

WHAT THEY ARE, AND HOW THEY CAME
THERE-CONTRACr FOR THEIR REMOVAL
OPERATIONS SOON TO COMMENCE.
A corporation of enterprising gentlemen OF
this CITY, known tho Monitor Wreckipg Company"
OF which Mr b. T. Benton President has been awarded
nv the Treasury Department the contract for raising the
wrecks now lying I'm Charleston HarbOr. Among these
are the Keokuk, Weehawken and Patapsco ironclads,
and the Housatonic ship besides large number OF
others Of less importance Store ships blockade runners
torpedo boats OF known variety fitted for
war or peace found by the divers strewn over the
bottom OF this Harbor probably there is at present
another place in tho world where many submerged
wrecks are collected within small space The har-
Dor IS formed by the junction Of the Ashley and Cooper
rivers, which here combine TO empty their
waters into tho ocean. Across the entrance, seven
miles below the City, agsand bar stretches from
Suivans TO Morris Island. On tins bar the Government
stopo feet of G vessels sunk In 1861, with the D.
tenton Of rendering the entrance mpassabe but as tho
river current followed out channel on the other
side as good first, 10 did not materially Impede
navigation. This bar renders the harbor inaccessible to
large vessels except high tide. and dangerous at all
times; but tho explanation OF the wrecks which all
around with fragments the sea- is not to be found
I'm this but in those gigantic conflicts OF which these
quiet waters not long ago the scene.
The Keokuk the first iron ship sunk in battle, was
double turreted ironcad, built by Mr. whitney OF This
city On the morning OF tho 9TH Of August lsG3, she
brought the rear OF Va
vessels which steamed up Charleston harbor TO attack
the Rebel stronghold. The illfated Weehawken, on
whose ribs the now feed near by leading the
attack The odds terrific fleet, rnountng32 guns,
against forts mounting 800 Theattack continued through
the day. The Keokuk bore the brunt Of the fight, ad
yaucing within few hundred feet of Fort SUMTER and
receiving no than 90 Of the heaviest shot Her hu
at watermark showed 10 shot holes. She was kept up
through the night only by plugging ana continual pump
ing and went down next morning, with cooTs sl hyns
abreast OF Morris Island, where she now Hes Ihe
Patapsco-monitor-wa sunk by torpedo which tore
an immense hole in her bottom, ana he ousatoe sor
ship, met the same fate.
The loss OF the Weehawken will be remembered by many
from the sad tragedy attending IT, four engineers and
seamen having been carried down IN her. She sunk at
her anchorage the 9th OF December, 1863 IL was as
serted at time that the forward hatch was open ana
the continuous stream poured In by the high wares wash
ing over the bow deck weighed her head down before e
crew. who aft knew anything OF H. 40 that sue sank
nation though it has improbable aud even
Impossible by the surviving ofcers u was an 3gioous
end. reminding one OF the wreck oi tne Ho' d "e'H'
Vi was not in tb. 6st, smp.s. CAV. the 'bOct
She ,pra9g not fatal leah she ri9 an upon % 20 ti ro,s; N,
=. IL bis sheath and & s' ,.iss ass S, @ SuS f
Bnt unfortunately it is TO say In the case OF
these vessels as he said OF lhat one
Weigh the vessel Up. once dreaded By our our foe,
niagle with The cap he tear ,h.. k"Ea1d o.s'
Fa charged kns.uh. ,luOIs' and poarh ios distant main
sHors Whitney IG expendod three yesrs labor and
fortune in erdeavorng raise the Keoknk but without
avail and Mr Benton has lost great deal IN tne lullo
attempt which made during tho last three seasons
10 float the Weehawken. His plan was 10 run mug
iron cylinder down the top Of the turret 10 make ~"
tight at the JOINT. and pump the vessel OUT tVugn IT,
THE uIan would probably have succeeded Dut Just Ut o
,i,ne when the machinery all erected ana an iron
Iinder 81 feet In diamaer and 80 feet high had Dee
syccesfully ioined the turret, storm came up h
washed the whole structure aTayithe men DaieI esc"p
ing with life. a., -. ,ho.o ro.seis whole
they nave now long suDinefgesthht tue
tive worms which abound ia those waters nave @ ea,o
eysv y the wood work that II has scarcely cnoussh
strc1otL left 10 hold together, and In many parts
niece ia hoo led IL comes away Ifoh lhe tot.o nun
p',6on any nerceptble resistance Under these creum
stances the Government has wisely concluded tna
10 attempt raising the vessels whole au .o
nreent conract merely looks 20 the preservation VI %
nndestroy ed metallic parts Tho method pusunna pnrv S
he IN biast out pieces and raise them Dy nhohns,3
Much of the machinery used by tbeMreeklng 20 W
former attempts stll remans aud can Do usou iul n
purpose The mlnes viii be hd by tuDhuIl@no @ No.,
with thc assistance Of sand pumps fculoN hsoVy 49,,
per inmate, for where The N~tesns ~ ura re psi''
,red with aLfting sand. which - Oiten Tue case ,
Alter tho blast the dNers "'h aoSccnu VAN N'''"''