The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1879-04-12
Wreck Raising.

The London Times says In view Of
the fact that vessel of our own Royal
Navy and one belonging to the German
Imperial Navy still lie submerged on our
coast, it will not be inopportune if we
place before our readers description of
plant and apparatus which have been de-
signed with the view Of raising Her Ma
jesty's ship Vanguard. 1t may be re-
membered that Mr.. Druitt Halpin, G. f.,
the engineer to the Victoria Craving
Docks, raised the steamship Edith from
her long submersion in Holyhead harbor
in December last. That success led Mr.
Halpin to devise means whereby the rails
ing of the Vanguard might, at least, be
rendered possible, and these plans have been
patented. Two main difficulties confront
at the outset all who may attempt to raise
large ships which are submerged in deep
water. The first difficulty is that of ef-
fectiug proper attachments SO as to obtain
sure hold on the ship; the second is that
of avoiding the sinking Of an immodeTate
amount Of capital in the necessary plant
Mr.. Halpin claims for his designs thai
they meet both these difficulties in a very
practical manner. He effects the first Oh
iect by means of special boring gear, work.
ed from iron towers, while the second i.
attained by so constructing the lifting
plant and apparatus that il forms float,
ing dock capable of transporting itself to
any part of the world, thus also obviating
the cost of towing hitherto incurred in
taking floating docks to distant naval sta
tions.
The general principle consists ia attach.
ing steel wire ropes to the vessel to be
raised and in putting them in uniform
tension, so that the ship is not subjected
to any strain. To this end a wrought-iron
cylindrical tower, about FIVE feet ia diam
eter, and formed in deep wrings or sections,
bolted together by flanges, is lowered
and built up as it is lowered-from a
floating staging into position beside the
wreck The tower Is open at the top,
while the near the bottom is a working
chamber, beneath which is a compartment
capable Of being filled with water. In a
chamber below this compartment quan-
tity Of ballast is placed to lower the centre
of gravity Of the structure. Tho tower is
guided to any desired position by the aid
OF four small anchors, the wire ropes Of
which are rove through blocks at the bot
tom Of the tower, while the free ends are
under control from above. Guy ropes are
also led from the top Of the tower to an
other set Of anchors, and by their means
oscillation is controlled.
The working chamber has glass sight
holes, through which the operations may
be inspected. The electric light is used
to aid vision at night; and 10 order to dis
perse the fish that might be attracted by
the light, jets Of paraffine are occasionally
elected into the water near the light.
Around the working chamber is belt
with trunion, which carries long bar,
which bar revolyes around its own axis as
well as vertically around the axis of the
trunion. Il is also capable Of being run 10
and out horizontally, or at an angle to-
wards the wreck. In fact, Il has pre-
cisely similar action TO the handle of a
smiths vice. One end OF this bar carries
steel wire brush, while the other is fitted
with steel fluted drilling tool shaped ike
pointed projectile. The brush end Of
the bar Is hollow, and Is in oommunica.
tion with head Of water giving very
much higher pressure than that due (
the head Of water at which the work /
being carried on.
The brush, having been brought to bcal
against the side Of the vessel, IS made K
rotate, snd, at the Same time, the watel
under pressure rushes from the centre oI
the brush. BY this means the seaweed Il
cleared away, preparatory 10 the drill be
Ing applied, the action Of which would b.
greatly impeded by the marine growth
A spot having been cleared the bar is re
versed, end for end, and the boring-foo
Is brought into play on the cleaned plate
The drill being rotated, hole Is boret
through the skin plating ofthc vessel. IN.
drillbaE is then broughtinto a vertical posi-
tion and receiyesa cast.stecl togale, which i
to form the attachment, aud which is PASS
ed into the hole BY us aid The togele i
connected to a steel wire rope, which i
led up above. These operations having
been completed, the tower is moved bodil,
forwards to the point at which the next
hole Is to be made, and 80 on until oil ID.
holes have been drilled and al tie toaelel
placed IN position around tAo ship. The
drilling arm y worked by gearing aud !
shalt which runs up outside the tower ana
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