The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-06-13
RAISED OUT OF
HER OOzY BED.
Work Ceased When the
BlairmOre'S Stern
Swung Clear.
FIRST TRY A SUCCESS.
The Pumps Worked Splendidly
and Raised the Hull
Nearly a Foot.
CAPTAIN BURNS IS CONFIDENT
Extra Precautions Taken-A Fur.
Their Attempt to Be Made
To-Day.
CAPTAIN BURNS IS CONFIDENT

The feasibility of raising the Blairmore
was demonstrated yesterday. The methods
inaugurated by Captain Burns, who rep
resents Lloyds, and Captain Whitelaw,
the wrecker, were proven to be on the
right lines, and although supposed mis-
hap prevented the completion of the
work, there is no doubt now but what it
will be successfully accomplished IN the
end.
The air pump was at work for two hours
and the water pumps took continuous
stream out of the hold for an bour and a
half. The stern of the vessel rose half a
foot out of the mud and the entire hull
moved in it's oozey bed. At S:45 A. NJ.
everybody was exultant, as it seemed q
certainty that the work would succeed.
Suddenly there was a collapse and Captain
Burns at once surmised that leak had
occurred in the hull somewhere and that
work for the day would have to cease.
Divers were sent down again to repair
dana es and when they we're through
they reported that everything was air
tight. The stern will be weighted with
sand, all the pumps overhauled during the
night and another attempt made this
morning.
AZ A M S6SleIudy every Ju1lS was III
readiness for the test. 1t was really only
a test" as Captain Whitelaw called it.
because the hose leading to the air engine
on the wrecker to the hull of the sunken
ship and the pumps had not been tried
since they were placed in position. The
air pump worked without a hitch and did
splendid work, out the water pumps got
choked again and again and IN consequence
Captain Whitelaw was kept constantly on
the Jump
On the hull of the Blairmore and
between the timbers erected to hold the
leverage tanks were 12-inch and 6-inch
centrifugal pump and also an 8-inch out
side pack plunger. 1t was some time
before the plunger would work but once
it started the water poured forth in
volumes. All kinds of gar bage was thrown
out and close watch was kept. One of
the pumps cIogged persistentIy, and Cap
tain Whitelaw remarked, "There is some
thing solid in the way"
DO you think it is the body of one of
the d. ad sailors?' was asked, and Captain
Whitelaw answered while shaking his
head, sit might be the remains of one of
the poor fellow. Nothing but something
yielding could choke that pump up so ef-
fectively."
Whom all the pumps were going the
scene in Mission Bay was pretty one
The steam went up in clouds from the
stern of the Whitelaw, while on the bow,
watching the work of the Catalina, were
Captain Andrews of the Cromdale, Cap
tain Cav of the sunken ship and Captain
Burns. Plying between the wreck and the
wrecker were several boats and on the hull
of the sunken vessel were at least a dozen
men attending the pumps. The exhaust
steam from the latter almost hid the
superstructure from view, while the elbow
off from the Catalina and Whitelaw's
boilers created a noise that made ordinary
conversation impossible.
The tide had turned and was running in
when the Blairmore began TO lift. LET
her come" said Captain Burns. 1--WE will
raise her clear of the mud and then let her
back again. Tomorrow morning il will
be easy work to get her where we want
her" The words were hardly out of his
mouth before the hitch came, and all work
had to be stopped. Burns took it in a
philosophical manner and remarked
We'll, it's nothing more than [ expected.
Rome wasn't built in day, you know.
Some of the packing has given way, and
the water is pouring IN as fast as we pump
it out. When slack water comes we will
send down the divers and repair damages.
We know the weak points, and now
think we can confidently predict that the
BlairmoTe will be in shallow water inside
of twenty-four hours"
Captain Whitelaw and all his assistants
have worked hard and faithfully on the
job, and the hope is generally expressed
that they may be successful. Captain
| Whitelaw is equally as confident as Cap
tain Burns as to the outcome,