The state herald., 1898-02-25

sary To enable n diver To grope his
way safely through the Internal parts
of II mighty ship like the Maine. torn
and dismcmbered, as she Is, and this
work is highly dangerous. Creeping
through narrow iron-bound passages
and CROPPING for the doors OF the
waicr-tight bulkhcad which divide the
hull Into compartments. on slimy floors
and In perfect darkness requires the
highest expert skill. and that is why
Captain Sigsbee with only sailor divers
mt command had not been able TO do
much so far towards unravclipg the
mystery of the Mainc's untimely end.
II ls to meet Just this emergency that
the Navy department Is making every
effort To hasten the beginning of the
work of recovery of the goods and per-
haps the raising OF the hull by pro-
fesslonals.
10 that end. Captain Lemly. the
Judge advocate general of the depart
mcni. was nj work to-day In his office
with representatives of wrecking com
panies trying Ia draw up contracts for
the immediate prosecution of the work.
He has been nj the task now two days.
and II has MOI been easy To dispose of.
This IL owing To an apparent DISPOSE
lion on the part. NJ least of one. of the
wrccking companies to drive n hard
bargain. leaving the dcpar,men, In the
dark ns To the amoun, of money TO bc
paid for their services.
But It is believed the obstacles have
now been surmounted and the con
tracts can he signed tomorrow. Ii ls
the purpose of Captain Lcmly 10 hurry
this work. and To that end he IL ar
ranging To have Two Of the companies
combine their forces. They VIII be paid
an the scale of II days work. with
provision for n bonus II they succeed
In raising the vessel. thus insurlng the
recovery Of ny much OF the valuable
equipment as Is possible. should II not
he practicable To ilont the Maine again.
Great difficulty Is expected IN rccov.
crlng the hlg tcn-lnch turrct guns. each
worth SiO,ooo. owing not only To their
wclghi-ifiy tons apiece. without eat,
rlngcs-hut to the enormous turrris IN,
closing them with 100 tons of steel. II
II doubtful II The tops of these iurrcls
can bc removed, ns was iirst supposed.
by cutting on the bolt heads TINT ix
them in the Sides. NJ these large bolts
anr probably counter. sunk. nnd thus
hold below the surface nf The mctnl,
while The confined space within the iur.
rcir would make II very difficult 10 op.
crate there on the inside ends under
wnicr. II Is hoped tlai II may In fras
lblr Ia raise the iurr"i entire with N,
guns. II lifting apparatus OF sulllcicn,
power cnn he applied.
The decision of the government Ia al.
low concurrent Investigations of tlic
cause of tie Maine disaster for lis
own part making mn independent invcs.
tlgntlon through the naval court Of In.
qulry already appointed. while permit.
ting the Spanish authorities TO mnko
such investigation ns they desire. This
arrangement commended Itself tO M.
val men alike ns fair Ia MI. nnd NJ the
snmc time calculated tu develop the OK.
net facts IN u manner TINT could not be
questioned,
chief Engineer Melville has decided
Views IN favor uf the proposition To ~.
build the Maine.
Even suppose this costs 81 900, ,OOO."
said he, ~ new ship equal to tho AInlnr
would cost nearly sl.nOO.OuD, The ~.
pnirA could bc mndo nni the shin mn
In service nEnln In ycnr nt the fnfih.
est, 10 build n new ship like her
would take M least three years. with
regard lo tie prnrllcahlliiy Of mlHinp
The vessel II N 10 BE- remarked I'm
large vessels have been raised which
were ~ sch, whore they wcre csposril
io tho wnVcH. while the Maine N In IA
perfectly quiet hnrhor one end reatlnp
IN the mud nnd pnri of tho other end
above wnter
"rho Maine IA IN u shallow sput. m
protected ~ q mlll pond 1nt she H.