Evening star., 1898-02-22
CONTRACTS SIGNED
Plans Completed to Recover the
Maine.
AGREEMENT With WRECKERS
Secretary Long Insists on Beginning
at Once.
40 NEWS At THE DEPARTMENTS
Mo, ,ments of the South Atlantic
Squadron.
40 NEWS At THE DEPARTMENTS


The plans of the wrecking expedition for
the relief Of the Maine were completed to-
day. after long conferences between Secre-
'aTy Long and the representatives of the
Merritt & Chapman Company and the Bos-
ton Tow Boat Company. The companies
had expected 10 begin work in Havana
harbor in about week but at the last
moment Secretary Long insisted that pro-
vision should he made for sending forward
at once at least one large wrecking boat,
with divers and equipment. This was
agreed to. and a dispatch was sent to the
captain of the Wrecker Right Arm, now
at Key West, TO suspend his private work
now in progress. and proceed at once to
HGvi ma. If the Right Arm has started
rCrth torpedo boat will be sent after her.
At the same time dispatch was sent to
the New York offices of the company to
send two of the most experienced divers
by train to Key West, where they will go
to Havana and join the divers and wreck
ers on the Right Arm.
The commander of the Right Arm is or
dered to place himself with his divers and
machinery, Under the orders of Capt. Sigs-
bee, who will thus be free 10 avail himself
of their services in the recovery of bodies
any particularly desirable piece of
equipment or property before the regular
wreckiDg operations begin. These are
emergency steps. which precede the main
wrecking expedition. which Will be out
fitted at Boston, New York and Norfolk,
with view to beginning extensive opera
titns within a week.
Terms of the Contract.
The terms of the contract as concluded
and signed today, provide for the payment
to the wrecking companies of the sum of
Ss71 day for their regular plant, and ar
additional payment of $500 a day for the
use of the floating derrick Monarch while
the latter is actually employed. An express
provision is made that the government may
terminate the contract at any moment. 1t
Is also provided that the compensation
shall not exceed the sum of money $500,
OOO) appropriated by Congress for this pur-
pose in the joint resolution passed yester-
day. Finally, 1t is provided that If the
companies succeed in raising the Maine
and towing her to New York. they shall re-
ceive bonus of 100000
Largest wrecking Expedition.
In view of the large first cost of the
Maine about S50OO,OOO, and the national
desire that she shall be raised, as evidenced
by the prompt and unanimous action of
Congress upon the joint resolution. Secre-
tary Long believes that he Is fully justified
in making the above terms with the wreck
ers, though at first thought the per diem
seems large. 1t must be borne in mind
however, that this will constitute the larg-
est wrecking expedition ever equipped In
this country. Moreover. the wreckers ex-
pressed a willingness to go to work in the
usual way that they serve underwriters
namely. to do the wrecking and then take
the award of a board a arbitration This
plan. however, was not open to the govern
ment which is required to fix exact terms
in advance. A clause of the contract re-
quires the companies to proceed with all
dispatch and in a businesslke manner with
the work Of wrecking, and though this
haste adds to the cost of the work. II Is
believed to be necessary, in view of the
possibility of the early appearance of yel-
low fever at Havana harbor with the ap-
proach Of the rainy season next month.
The Force Employed.
Capt Humphreys and Mr.. Chapman, rep.
resenting the two companies who will dc
the work. explained the plans they will
adopt in wrecking the Maine In addition
TO the emergency work to be prosecuted by
the Right Arm. the main expedition will
be made up of about 100 men, including sia
shIieu UIEerS, the Wrecklng steamer Tn.
derwriter of Boston. of 6OO-horse power
the wrecking steamer John G.. Jones OF
Norfolk. of similar power; the iron barge
Lone Star of Boston. capable of carryins
5000 tons: the floating derrick Monarch
capable of lifting 26O tons the larges,
floating derrick in the country and an.
other derrick capable of lifting thirty tons
The forwarding of the boats, derricks ant
men will begin at once
kilograms were sent today to begin thu
Quitting, the taking of coal and tn.
assembling Of men and equipment TIL.
boats are ready TO start at any time bu
1t will take a day or two to get together
the exceptional facilities required for thi,
large undertaking.
To Rush the Work.
The wreckers say 1t will be impossible Z.
assemble this material and get IL into Ha
vana harbor ready fos work for a week
They will make every effort however Il
expedite the work. and on leaving Secre
tary Long at 1 o'clock they took train
for New York and Boston with the deter
nination of rushing the work.
The Underwater has a crew of seyentee,
men, Including her own stan of divers
who are veterans In their line of work
The Jones has q like crew and euuipmen
Of divers. The crews are available To-
wreckiIg work. but aside from these Their