The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1885-07-09
Opening the Sea Valve.

The steamship Guyandotte of the Old Do
minion line, plying between New York and
Norfolk, Va, arrived from Norfolk last We'd
nesday evening and tied up at Pier 81, North
River. She had on board a cargo of fruit, veg
etables, tobacco, and general merchandise.
Stevedores worked on her all night discharging
her cargo, and the next morning all the fruit
and vegetables and small portion of the to-
bacco were unloaded Al 7.30 in the morning
all hands were at breakfast with the exception
of Assistant Engineer Fleming, couple of fire.
men, and a few others. Engineer Fleming and
the two fremen were in the lower engine room,
apart the feed pump valve. Fleming was then
called away.
Latiand took wrench and set zeaously to
work removing the bonnet or cover from the
twelve-inch valve. This valve is way down
near the bottom of the vessel. and twelve feet
below the water line. 1t is one foot in diam
eter. with superficial measurement of 113
square inches. on which the water has press
ure of pounds to the square inch. The bon
net. which tightly closes it, weighs over 200
pounds. and is fastened on by Is heavy bolts.
But Latiand was not discouraged He tackled
the nuts of the bolts with a cheerful energy,
which soon brought them all off. But still the
iron cover, with superiority of wisdom from
which the enterprising Lahand might have
protited, refused 10 come off. Lafand then got
"a chi>el and pred al it vigorously. His labors
were rewarded. The enormous iron cap sud
denly shot half way across the engine room,
followed by round and solid mass of water
foot in diameter, which came in with the roar
of cyclone.
Mr. Lafand was surprised. He was also
wet and. moreover, the North river was climb
ing up his legs at an alarming rate, and he
mastered the proposition that be must get out.
He went on deck rapidly, the other fireman
who had not noticed what he was doing until
too late to stop him, having gone up ahead and
given the alarm. Chief Engineer Sundel and
Assistant Fleming made rush for the engine
room in the mad hope that they could back the
bonnet. They plunged into the water and made
Tor the valve. but saw they were being over
"helmed. They barely got out alive.
The Guyandotte now began settling comfort
ably down toward the mud in the river bed,
while the hundred or more men on board of her,
and on the dock, rushed to and fro and bumped
up against each other without knowing what to
do or how 10 do it. Meanwhile Fireman Laf-
land was on his way up town. He was fully
convinced that an irregular state of affairs eX
listed on board and he washed his hands of the
whole business
The Dominion company's wrecking boat
Louie was got alongside the Guyandotte, as
was IA boat of the Baxter Wrecking company,
and both were soon at work pumping the
steamship out, one with a slX-lnch suction
anu lne olnef WIN a nlne-lncn. But Inc niue
Niagara down i'll the engine room was too
much for them. They wheezed and stormed
and sputtered but Fireman Laflands majestic
cataract down in the engine room rolled stead
lily on. and slowly but surely pressed the big
boat to the bottom. An effort was then made to
spread a canvas over the outside of the valve,
but the steamer was so near The bottom that
they could not well get the necessary lines I'M
der her. a diver had gone down in the engine
room meanwhile and found the bonnet iammed
In among the steam pipes. He succeeded at
last in covering the opening with board cup.
but not until the Guyandotte was firmly EN-
bedded in the mud. The spar deck, on which
Is the cabin, was five feet under water. An
the carpets and hard wood will be substan-
tail, ruined. 1t is estimated chat the damage
10 The steamer will be from $1,000 to $4,000.
OF the tobacco 5000 hogsheads were on board,
and, of course, ruined. They were worth
100000. The total loss will be in the neighbour
hood of $50 900.