Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1886-06-27
DIVERS AND THEIR ASSISTANTS.

Interesting Details Abou. the Workings
OF a Big wreckins Company.
A reporter call at the Office Of the largest
wrecking company. sit is quite an under
taking for one to explain the system which
marks cur operations" said the gentleman
IN charge However, I am always willing
20 enlighten the public through the press.
Yes this occupation Is a most intricate and
risky one 1t is so intricate, in fact, that If
one labored at it for full decade he would
not be thoroughly conversant with its work.
ings But few ships are stranded or sunk
under like circumstances, and, as a conse-
luence, we were obliged at intervals to orig
mate many curious plans in order TO make
Dur endeavors attain a successful termina.
ton 1t does not take us long to hit upon
these plans, but when we put them into exc
cution they frequently prove worthless.
"The business is very risky, not alone for
the reason that those who really do the Ia
borious portion of the work are In danger
Of losing their lives, but also because we
ourselves toll on the mo cure, no pay basis
In other words we undertake the task of
saving some unfortunate craft on the prin-
ciple that we are to receive compensation
from either the owners or underwriters only
when we are successful II we fail to float
the ship, it is time, labor and money sacri-
feed, for we have to pay the hirsd men out
Of our own pockets. The general public
does not sufficiently appreciate tia danger
Gus character OF the work. This is because
it can not understand where the many perils
and hardships come in. 1t is believed that
in case Of stranding all that is necessary
is to jettison q portion of the cargo, place a
hawser on the imprisoned vessel, and haul
her Off into deep water. Let few of the
untutored accompany one Of our relief
boats on her next errand, and l think the
sight will appall them. They will seq per-
haps how the craft will have to battle for
days in the surf before she can approach
the stranded ship; how all that time the
men are striving to get on board; with
what difficulty they succeed in laying
hauling cable and in getting our steam
pumps on her deck, and finally how she has
to be lightened OF her cargo, and pulled
from her bed of quicksand bit by bit
-Ail this consumes time; usually weeks,
but occasionally months and years We
never throw the cargo overheard if there is
the slightest possibility OF landing it in
lair condition 1t is TO our interest to per
form the work in the lest style, for We re-
ceive salvage on that, too. To show you
The risks we assume, 1 have only to mention
the case of the Oregon. With two boats we
have lowered over the spot where she went
Town for about four weeks, and during all
hat tins we managed to work thres-guar-
.ers Of day. OF course, the clements are
,verse of our plans, but We have to pay the
thirty odd men on board just the same
Then, again, there's the case Of the Europa,
which We fioated the other day. Her stern
vas buried in sand up to the hatch, she was
and settled, and we had to boz; her
Up completely aft before the pumps and
1oiier which we put on board became effect
We in keeping her partially free from wa
err New York Mail and Express