Port Royal standard and commercial. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1875-12-09
RAISING THE vASe<saRD.


Col. Gowen Invited to Raise an .ali,b
Ironclad Vessel--Carrying the her
Steamboats, over BArs--A Lifting Pow6S
of $4,000 Tons. -
Col. John E. Gowen, of New York
city, having been officially invited by
the British admiralty to offer propos-
ais for raising the ironclAd Vanguard,
sunk off Wicklow Head, a Sun reporter
called at his Office. He found the en-
gineer on the point. Of aispatching his
reply to the lord commissioners of the
British admiralty. - !
"Col. Gowen," said the reporter,
"the Sun would be pleased to know the
nature of the invitation you have re-
ceived from her maiesty's service rela-
tive to the proposed raising -osthe
Vanguard, and the cause which sag-
gested it."
"The invitation" replied the colonel
"came officially direct from the secre-
tary of the admiralty, and the reason
that it is extended is that the English
engineers are afraid, or, at least, un.
willing to undertake the task. The
English, as nation, are the best engi-
neers on the face of the earth, 30 long
as they have leader to map out the
course of their action; but they are not
imbued with q progressive and fearless
individuality sufficiently strong to enable
them to strike out boldly, and assume
personal responsibilities after the true,
American fashion. The English press,
and naturally the London Times, has
ridiculed the idea of any man attempt
ing to raise the Vanguard, and charac-
terizes as unqualified, stupidity the
proposal of an American to essay what
an Englishman fails 70 accomplish. ]
am confident that I can do TIE work, and
my confidence is fully warranted by past
experience in similar enterprises. have
perfected plans for raising the vessel,
the invention of which I do not lay
claim to, because do not believe that
any person really invents anything, but
I do assert that the application of old
modes and principles developed is en-
tirely new and original With myself.
There is no question of the feasibility OF
the experiment.. I raised seventy eight
vessels for the Imperial Russian govern
ment, whose dead weight averaged
5000 tons, and could have raised dead
weights of 20, 600 tors by the same raa-
chinery by a simple extension of its
area. Subsequently I projected ma
chinery for carrying vessels across the
bar at the mouth of the Mississippi
river, where I had lifting power of
25, 600 tons. the efficacy of which was
certified to by Gen. Mcclellan, as well
as Gen. Hnmphries, engineer-in- chief
of the United States. The Vanguard is
IN no more exposed position than the
Russian vessels were in the roadstead at
Sebastopol, and the difference in depth
is no serious detriment to its positive
recovery" -
"Whas is the weight ot~the Van
guard 2"
=" Eight thousand five hundred tons. !"
"How long will it require to rise it =
"About two weeks, after all arrange
ments are perfected.
Colonel, what will be yom terms for
executing the work2"
81 propose that the British govern
inert shall defray all expenses, includ-
ing those incurred by the construction
of the machinery. The cost attending
the work will be from 975 600 to 9100,-
600, or nearly $5OO,0OG After the yes
sci is raised, the materials and machin-
cry would be worth about twenty-five
per cent. of their original cost. Iwill
superintend personally the construc-
tion of the machinery and recovery Of
the ship, and after she is araised, the
admiralty may give me such sum as they
may think proper for my. services. i
don't want to make money blythe opera
tion. I simply want to show the Eng
lish that American talent and energy is
not to be sneered at. AS Mr.. Pick
principle.
."What other recognition have you
received from European governments
on account of your. capabilities as an
engineera"
Twas knighted by the Emperor of
Russia, the Emperor of France, the
King of Italy, and the Sultan Of Turkey,
in consideration of my Services in raising
the Russian feet, but I assure you that
such honors are not calculated to
awaken egotism.