Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1893-03-18
Divers Report on the Formosa


SO great an interest has been mani
tested by the people of the Bay cities
in the unfortunate accident by which
the fine British ship Formosa was
tOwed ashore on Deadman's point, that
a detailed report of the condition of the
ships bottom, as made by the submar-
inc diver, has been obtained and is
published to show that no disastrous
results, other than the delay and the
cost of discharging a portion of the
cargo, were experienced by the ship.
Diver Harmon, who is in the employ
of the Lloyds' agents at Victoria, yes
terday made the following statement of
facts:
FAIRHAvEN, March Il.
To Captain Albert Ohrloff, British ship
Formosa, Survey board and whom il
may concern:
Gentlemen have this day completed
thorough survey by submarine diving of
the aforesaid ship; also of the bank upon
which the ship was slowed aground. / he
following being my report by sections or
dives:
March Is, first dive-Forefoot both sides.
no indications of taking the ground.
Second dive-No scratches but bottom
paint apparently newly scrubbed.
Third dive-Noticed bottom of keel
newly frightened; this being about the
break of forecastle. Copper paint same
as above.
Fourth dive-Same as above, number
three.
Fifth dive-Noticed small patch of
Craze on port garbord plate Copper paint
only gone.
Sixth dive-Same as number two.
Seventh dive-This appears to be the
ground, but no damage whatever. This
dive enabled me to survey as far aft as
the after end Of the main hatch.
Eighth dive Bottom shining; no
scratches.
Ninth, tenth and eleventh dives-Same
as eighth.
Twelfth diYe-From here aft being the
run of the vessel, she is as clean as If Just
left the dry dock
Thirteenth dive-After end of vessel
and rudder, carefully examined, prutails
and gudgeons, found everything in first
class form, not a scratch of any descrip-
ton. This dive completed the survey of
the ship under favorable circumstances,
viz: Clear, bright weather and smooth,
clear water.
Survey Of Deadman's point-I found the
bottom to be formed of mixture of sand
and clam shells, scarcely a pebble any
where, the whole surface being covered
with a massive growth of submarine
grass seven feet high. This grass account
ing for the clean appearance OF the fore
part of the vessels bottom, having acted
the part Of a scrubbing brush in taking
of the slime.
This, gentlemen, is the state Of the YES
sells bottom; also Of the place on Dead
mans point where she grounded.
III have the honor to be, respectfully and
truly, THOMAS HARMON,
Submarine Diver.
Capt. Biondi, of Port Townsend, who
was acting for the underwriters who
held the insurance on the ship, and
Capt. Thomas Townsend, of the ship
Eskasoni, who was associated with him
in the survey. left for home yesterday
morning, in company with Capt.
Harmon, the diver, who returns to
Victoria. The work of reloddIng the
ship was continued yesterday and to-
morrow it is expected that she will be
ready to tow to Port Townsend, where
the British consul will certify to all
facts and reports, and forward all pa
pers to Victoria, where the agencies of
the companies, who held the insurance
ON the ship, are located. No settle
ment of the loss can be had until the
bottom of the vessel is more fully ex-
amined in a craving dock, at Callao, or
upon her return to Europe, after which