The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1893-10-23
WILL MCDOWELL VIM
PROGRESS OF HIS PLANS TO
FLOAT THE WRECK.
Public Opinion is in His Favor, and He
is Very Confident Of
Success.

The upper end Of the Mail dock was
crowded with spectators this morning,
who came to see McDowells prepare.
tons for floating the Miowera, and who
remained for the most part to find out
just how he proposed to do the bust
ness, and later on to decide whether
it could be done in that way or not
The tackle to be used, so far as it is
ready, consists of two Samson poles,
each of which is formed Of four pieces
of timber fifty feet in length and twelve
inches square. The four heavy timbers
are securely bound together with rope
in the center and chains at both ends
besides being bolted through and
through. AT one end of each of these
huge pillars are fastened two cross
pieces, each eight feet long and twelve
inches square. These are to be placed
on the rock at the steamers side, and
to the ends of the poles sticking up
above the vessels hull large iron blocks,
made at the foundry for the occasion,
will be attached and chains passed
through them ard made fast to the
cross beams of the middle deck, run
ming through the small port.hole in
the sides.
There will be eight of these poles,
each Of which will stand a strain of
over 100 tons, which gives a complete
lifting power of 500 tons. 1t is con-
ceded by most of those who are com
petent to judge that 400 to 500 tons
will be an ample lift to float the steamer,
so that by providing for a hoist OF
double the required power, MIR. Nc.
Dowell has apparently made success all
but certain.
81 want to haul her about forty feet
forward" said the plucky little con-
tractor this morning, ian then will
fill her forward compa rtment with
water and the tug and two of the Inter
Island steamers will take hold Of her
and-you will see-she will slide off
as easily as can be.
The opinion that she will capsze has
been expressed, but the contractor says
there is little danger Of that, as she will
come off very slowly.
The eight poles will be canted
slightly forward, so that when the YES
sel's stern has been raised enough to
force her into deeper water they will
all tip forward, which will carry the
steamer ahead about twenty feet. Mr..
Mcdowell believes that by setting the
poles twice and hosting the vessels
stern twice, she can be easily taken off
In short, the plans for raising the
stranded steamer are exactly the same
as those published exclusively in the
STAR some time ago.
The use of pontoons has beer
abandoned altogether as Improbable
by reason of the unitness of any thing
of the kind already built, and the
length of time it would take to con
Struct them tor the purpose
The poles will be placed in position
as fast as they are completed, anc
sufficient strain put on each to hold il
in place. Thursday afternoon at high
tide the grand effort will be made tc
float the steamer, and should the Mari
posa, due that day, get in late, the
general opinion along the water front
seems to be that the Miowera will be
in the harbor upon her arrival.
There was strong breeze blowing
this morning and the water around the
stranded vessel was very rough, but a
visit to her deck showed that she wa:
as steady as if she were part of the
rock. The crew, with the exception o
such of the officers as were ashore
were all on deck watching the pro
ceedings with much interest, as all art
heartily tired of their enforced residence
on the steamer, and are very sincere ii
their expressions Of hope that the plar
being put in execution will succeed.