Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1880-08-05

States, the agents threw every obstacle in
the way OF concentrating the transfer,
While the negotiations We're in progress
the Khedive abdicated his throne, and
Consul General Firman at once sought
an audience with his son and successor,
Tewfk Pasha, who fully coincided with
his fathers cesires in the matter, and at
once confirmed the grant, presenting the
monument 10 the city of New York
The American consul general at once
appraised Secretary Evsrts of the success
of his efforts, and then plans for carry
ing on the work of removal were speed.
lily mstured. Mr.. Dixon. the English
obelisk mover, had lost his obelisk
in storm at sea, and his troubles
growing out OF suit for salvage,
brought against him by the parties who
rescued the monolith, indisposed him for
further enterprises of the sort. While the
American movers in the enterprise were
looking around for some one else,
Lieut.. Commander Il. II. Gorringe,
in commsnd of the United States
steamer Gettysburg, returned home
from long cruise in the waters Of
the Levsnt He had taken lively inter.
est IN the project, and while in Aexau-
dria had made Especial study of the posi-
ton of the standing obelisk with refer
euce TO the conditions under which it's re-
moval must be conducted, he satisfied
the Secretary OF State that he had mas.
tered the question of the removal, and the
Secretary referred him with the strongest
recommendations TO the editor OF the
World. After a careful examination of
his plans, the work Of removal was form
ally committed to him. He at once set
about the construction of some new aud
ingenious machinery, devised by himself,
for taking down and shipping the mono.
18th, and early last fall he returned to A /.
exsndrla. The engineering difficulties
before him were not the worst OF the OBJ
stscles which beset him The consumma-
ton of the enterprise was opposed by the
great maj )rity of European residents In
Egypt, and every influence they could
bring to bear was exerted to defeat it.
Russian representatives and the Greek
community were the only European H.
fiuences in Egypt which were not exerted
against the American officer and
his work. His patience tact
and hrmness, however, triumphed
over all difficulties, and the work of re-
moving the obelisk from its site and ship
ping 1t for its long voyage WAS success
fully carried through. For the purpose
of transporting the obelsk, Lieut.. Com
msnder Gorringe bought the English
steamer Dessouk, which he altered to suit
his purposes. La this vessel he sailed for
New York from Alexandria, on Saturday
June 3, with Cleopatra's needle in the
hold. Much interest was added to the
novel and difficult work of lowering the
obelisk by the discovery in Its founda.
tons Of certain emblems which have been
claimed by some distinguished members
Of the Masonic fraternity to belong to
| their order.
About ten feet Of the obelisk was be.
low the ground, and its total length was
found to be 81 feet az inches. Its esti
mated weight is 1876 tons. Great fears
were entertained that the immense shaft
would break in two in the process of low
| ering, and the resources OF engineeripg
were drawn upon to insure the safe
accomplishment OF the work. The
! first thing done was to incase the mono
! 18th Ia casing made OF twolnch oak
! planking, bound at intervals of three fee
with strong iron bands. This done, the
obeisk was guyed st the top from -four
points, like The mast of vessel so tina
! there was no possibility of its falling
over. A pit WAS dug all around the OBJ
elisk, and from the obelisk down to the
sea. A canal forty feet long and sixteer
feet wide WAS excavsted. In this cana
float was constructed on which the OBJ
elsk was to be placed and towed down to
Alexandria, distant by the sea some three
or four miles. After completing the ex
csvations, Commander Gorringe bull
two solid masonry buttresses on two op
Ito Of thn al aly Tha
nous steel trunnions were then firmly
bound by steel bands TO the obellsk, a few
feet below its centre Of gravity. Thes
trunnions rested on steel frames, which
were in turn supported by the masonr,
buttresses. The obelisk then resembed
gigantic cannon, elevated to such de
gree as 70 be perpendicular. 1t was feareC
that the great weight of the ends nigh
break the obelisk in the middle, wbel
swinging into a horizontal position
Steel ropes were therefore fastened
to the two ends and passed over prop
projecting at right angles from the centr
| of gravity TO the obelisk.
A pile OF timber was raised at one emf
OF the float for the purpose of cstchin,
and supporting the top end of the obelisk
When all WAS In readiness, the manolitl
was pulled over into a horizontal position
and then rested on its trunnions and tn,
timber pile. Another pile was then raise
TO support it's base, after which all thu
machinery was removed, and the ston,
was gradually lowered to the float by re
moving the timbers one by one 1t wa
taken into the steamer through a larg
hole cut in the vessel jus. above tn
water line.
THE VOYAGE
| The Deasnnk Left Gihralt for Ner