The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-02-23

companies succeed in raising the Maine
and towing her to Norfolk they shall
receive u bonus of 100000.
In view of the large first cost of the
Maine, about $J,000,000. and the nation
al desire that she shall be raised as
evidenced by the prompt and unanimous
action of Congress upon the joint resO
lutiOns, Secretary Long believes that he
is fully justified in making the above
terms with the wreckers, though at first
thought the per diem compensation seems
large. 1t must be borne in mind, how
ever, he said to-day, that this will con-
Stitute the largest wrecking expedition
ever equipped in this country A clause
Of the contract requires the companies
to proceed with all dispatch and in a
bllsiness-like manner with the work of
wrpcking, and. though this haste adds
to the cost of the work. it is believed to
he necessary IN view of the possibility
Of the early appearance of yellow fever
at Havana harbor with the approach
OF the rainy season next month.
Make UP OF EXPEDITION.
Captain Humphreys and Mr.. Chap
man, representing the two companies,
who will do the work, explained to the
Associated Press the plans they will
adopt in raising the Maine. In adj
ton to the emergency work to be prose-
cuted by the Right Arm, the main eX-
peuition Will be made up of about 100
men. including six skilled divers, the
wrecling steamer Underwater, of BOs-
ton, of 900 horsepower, the wrecking
steamer John G. Jones, of Norfolk, of
similar power; the iron barge Star, OF
Boston, capable of carrying 5000 tons;
the floating derrick Monarch, capable
of lifting 26O tons, the largest floating
| derrick in the country, and another der
rick capable of lifting thirty tons. The
forwarding Of the bOats the Outftting.
the taking on of coal and assembling of
men and equipment The boats are ready
to start at any time, but it viii take
a day or two to get together the ex-
ciDtional facilities required for this
large undertaking. The wrecking com
Panies officials say it viii be impossible
to- assemble this material and get it
into Havana harbOr ready for work for
Il week. They will make every effort,
however, to expedite the wOk The
Underwater has Il crew or seventeen
men, including her own staff of divers,
who are veterans in this line of work.
I h2 Jones has like crew and equipment
wrccking work, but aside from these
men there will he forty experienced
wreckcrs. Each wrecking vessels has a
large complement of pumps. anchors,
iron maSts with heavy hoisting gear,
| cab. :. etc. Who will command the ex-
peditiOn HAS not been determined thus
far. as the companies have several ex-
rericnced wrecking masters available.
| v hECKERS HAVE FULL CHARGE
The wTccking master will be in com
plctc charge, as thc government viii
trust entirely to the experience of the
wreckcrs. although Naval officer will
be detailed to inspect the work as it
proceeds.
AXE officers of The two wreckipg com.
l.Inits said to-day that after the eXpedi-
tion was assembled in Havana harbor
:; compile inspection of the wreck would
be macs and the exact line of work de
tcrm.ned upon. THE facilities will be 50
ample that all of the divers will be
able to work at one time ON different
parts of the wreck. Most of the lifting
will be done by the smaller derrick.
which is of sufficient capacity for the
| lighter upper works Of the Maine, but
it will take the monster derrick Monarch
| to lift the huge turrets of the Maine and
the guns mounted Within them. Capt.
Humphreys stated that the purpose was
not to separate til big guns from the
| turretS, but to lift them as a whole. This
wall be Il tremendous undertaking, as
the combined weight of each turret and
gun is - tons. The Monarch can
lift $50 tons, so there is an ample mar
gin of lifting power.
The wreckers were loath to express an
opinion as to their ability to raise the
hull OF the Maine. Mr.. Chapman an
Captain Humphreys stated THAT nothing
but a close personal inspection would
Permit a decision on that point. They
are hopeful however, that the ship
can be brought to the surface. The
iron barge Lone Star will he used to
receive the turret guns and wreekage,
and as fast as loads are made up she
will be tOwed to THE Norfolk Navy
Yards.
QUIET AT HAVANA.
IIhe most potent signs that the fyst
and exciting stage of the Maine disaster
has been passed was the fact that no.
single cablegram was received over
night or this morning at the Navy De-
partment relating in any manner to that
event.
Acting Secretary Day spent soma time
at his office. but he had little news to
communicate. He had receiyed only
one dispatch since yesterday from Con-
sui General Lee and that related to
the shipment of Cuban tobacco to the
United States. The Department las
heard nothing of the reported revival
of the Weyler edict prohibiting the cX
portation of tobacco from Cuba On the
contrary General Lees reports show that
the movements ae in regular pr0gl Ass
on at least had not been checked up to
the 9th instant
Judge Day had received no news of
the rumored capture of the Dauntless,
and in fact the above mentioned telc-
gram was all that he had had from
havana in the last twenty-four hours.
The naval officers assert that the re-
port to the effect that the movements
of the South Atlantic squadron EOw un-
der way are with view to the early as
sembling of the vessels near Havana is
without foundation. The movement,
they say. is in direct accord with the