New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-28
A SCHEME FOR STRANDED VESSELS
To the Editor Of The Tribune.

10 me rsUitOI Vi lie lIlDune.
Sir: The Tribune Of February states that the
cranks have been confuted by the wreckng compa-
MES In getting the St. Paul off the sands. News
paper Offices have been flooded with letters propos.
ing the widest and most fantastic schemes for saw
ing the great vessel. But the wrecking companies
wiser than the cranks. and the result is Q
marked triumph for skill and sagaclty in saving
the steamship"
At the risk Of being classed in the species crank"
genus "unatic," by The Tribune, / protest
against the verdict Il took less than ten seconds
and less than $40 to run the 81. Paul
aground but it took ten days and many thousand
dollars to gAt her afoat, and then 1t was accom-
pished only by the prov!dential combination OF just
enough tide with just enough wind from just the
right direction to give just enough water. little
less wind or one from less favorable quarter. and
the St. Paul would still remain New Jersey real es-
tate: while with little wind from less IA
vorable quarter, she would have become worthless
wreck. eloquent CT the skill and sasaclty Of the
wreckng companies
Where does 1.-THE skill and sagacity" come in that
leaves a million dollar vessel valuable cargo and
many lives in dire danger unit, tickle Neptune de-
cjdes TO release or destroy? While Booster was
fighting bear In the dark vagrant bot OF light
ming ripped up the bears carcass In relating the IN
cident Boaster admitted the presence OF the light
ming but allowed 1t Only aided him to where
70 dspatch the bar with skill and sagacity." The
a WreCkinH
seems 20 be case in point. Had they pu, the ves-
sci safely aioat within twenty-four hours from call.
The Tribune verdict would have been better merited.
1t would seem In these days 81 unlimited resources
and miracle engineering as though the grea. port
of Nev-York ought to be served by wreck saving
apparatus that would speedily release saEd-strand-
ed vessel without waiting the Enthusiastically "a.
vent OF a northeast storm.
Some OF the other "cranks and lunatlcs' may have
ANTICIPATED M wild fantastic scheme Tor relief
in such cases. or IT may he aged dea but as II Is
new to me- will venture the skeleton minus the
details
Promising the fact tina. powerfully elected stream
OF water il successfully used IN hydraulic mining
ard other excavating for speedily removing the
toughest clays gravel powders. etc. would employ
ike means FOR removing the sand and clay beneath
a stranded vessel.
boat provided with the requisite hydraulic ap-
paratus could by moving forward and back. or
around and around quickly cxcavate channel upon
one or both sides. desired. In either case the
vessel would gradually and evenly settle to noatage
without strain II equal and limited quantities were
successfully removed from the several parts II
needed, other Ike means or the same apparatus
could be used 20 .xcayaie c.rarante az ,ne s'e.n
ani In" vessel coHi move OF uh.er nsr e oM.
To prevent the excavated material from setting
back into the channel hydraulic draughf tGb"S %
Unstable TO proper position can take up me eJecteo
water and Ito burden ana carry II Jut u tle Isl,
Either election draught tubes alone can be sue
ces.fu.iy isel 10 remove sand very rapidly, Olt a
combination OF the two WILL under many crcum-
stances give better results There are no mechan-
zeal difficulties IN the construction or operation o.
perfectly practical apparatus Of the kind
The lnteres, and insurance on ship and cargo. inc
service expense AMI loss IN earnings Tor trl
davs the st Paul lay dead would amply cover cost
OF construction and il would for many future
ike emergencies and he well adapted Tor many en-
cheering 7urpcs SEES. IT,
/ can furnish details Of practlca. value. and would
Ike 20 interes; some energe'iH parry - eAIio'E"s
the idea j. W BLAME - e.
Dalton. Ca. Feb. %. 1886