New-York tribune., 1891-05-17

THE YANTIC REMOVES ELEVEN OF THESE oB-
sTRUcTIoNs TO NAvIGATIoN-THE DANGERS
AND DIFFICULTIES OF THE WORK.
Few people, outside of those who navigate the waters
along the North Atlantic Coast and the marine In
people, appreciate the value Of the employ
ment in which the slOOp-ofwar fantic has been en-
gagged the last four months, destroying the sunken
wrecks which for long time have menaced the
safety of steam and sail vessels. And few people,
other than the officers and men who have been en-
gagged in this work, know the difficulties and dangers
which these people encountered In finding the wrecks
and destroying them with the powerful agencies OF gun
powder gun-cotton and dynamite. In the four
months which the Yantic employed in the de-
structlve work she blew up and destroyed eleven
s1nken wrecked vessels the benefit from which cannot
be measured by the cost OF the labor and the use OF
materials in accomplishing 1t. Nor can its value be
computed by the Chamber of Commerce, the Maritime
Exchange the boards Of trade aud Others who were
so deeply concerned in the matter as to request the
Navy Department to have these dangerous wrecks
removed from the paths of navigation.
The Yantic Is not vessel, in construction or equip
ment especially fitted for the work that was so sue
cessfuly done nor is any other vessel OF the navy
fitted for such work when Commander Charles H.
Rockwell received orders 10 in search OF reported
dangerous wrecks to destroy them, he and his executive
officer Lieutenant j. D. ]. Kelly, with the assistance
of Iieutenants Clayton S. Mchman, Albert Mertz
and Waldemar S. Rose fitted up the necessary tack
ling provided tools for cutting wire rigging and heavy
pars obtained underwater telescopes, and the neces
sary torpedoes, and went to sea within few days.
Most of the wrecks found lying on the bottom
o, the ocean, with from ten to twenty fathoms Of
water over them, and they were nearly all large
iron vessels, with their masts and rigging standing
almost as complete when they were ahoat
Upon finding the wreck, the officers had TO watch
the opportunity Of good weather to remove 1t, ano
even when the sea comparatively smooth the
a iatl
when the eyes Of the rigging the top of the lower
masts were below the surface OF the water. The
first thing necessary to cut the rigging for even
if the masts themselves were blown out OF the step,
the rigging on either side would hold 1t upright
Lieutenants Rchman Merz and Rose had direct super
vision of the processes Of destruction, and II was OF
that dangerous character TO make it necessary that
each should take part in the muscular work " en-
courage the men under them
AS an Illustration, the iron vessel Hargreaves, OF
more than 5000 tons displacement, was found with
the top Of her lower mast spar 81 inches in diam
eter few feet above the water Her
wire rigging was from four TO five inches in crcumfer
ence. Lieutenant Richman, with boats crew, went
from the ship To the wreck. and, while two men held
the boat up TO the mast Others with axes began TO cut
away the rigging The swell was light one bus
sufficient 10 LIFT the boat up and down, so that at tho
second blow with the it cut into the rigging four
feet above the first blow But after couple OF days
side Of the wreck to the bottom OF the ocean, To COM
nlete the destruction torpedo made fast 20 ono
OF the hoops around the mast and by this was lowerea
TO its foot in position demosh the deck and to BLOW
the mast out Then the boat was hauled on 0Oo feet'
the electric battery touched, and terrific up
heava OF the water showed that the torpedo ad uone
rs work AS further proof that the great iron vessel
was no longer gerOus 10 navigation Tor the ares
shins thorough soundngs made by the Officers
Tn. 1vrecl, OF the yiscaya gave much trouble TO
the Yantie people because the top OF the lower mast
was so far below the surface OF the water Lieutenant
Rose had charge OF this. He successfully planted
orpedo at the foot of the mast but not without many
vexatious attempts and found after blowing the lower
mast out of its STEP that the great spar simply leaned
over 10 one SIDE the rigging holding IL in that posi-
tIon Later he was successful in cutting the mast Al
the eyes OF the rigging and the obstruction was thus
An amusing incident occurred at the destruction Of
another wreck, the hull Of which was far below the
SsRt %daa rd THAT saand a'e Of the % Explosive
encircled the mast near the deck OF the
stood so long that Lieutenant Kelly remarked, We'll,
that attempt has failed But he had hardly uttered
bottom The mast had been cut so perfectly at its
circumference that II stood for several seconds until
One Of the sunken wrecks IS now doing duty at
buoy. II IS large iron vessel which would be danger
Gus to navigation unless entirely removed, and as II
Lieutenant Richmsn concluded that il would make
rseass S ID danger sa9y ana mari msrnes as nave BAY inc eessa
lie cut the top of the mast on leaving several feet
instances noted viii give SEVERAL idea OF what
has been aSS & bS oes msssi
who. 1t Is thought by some, have a very easy and
S aes @ an GAINED G ca ana aes Canned a.
desccated yegetahleA