The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-07-26
CHANCE OF SAVING THE coLox.
The Wreeking Company Agrees 10
Rush Its Preparations.

--ai 4 tEANAOAAs
New York; July 25-Lieut. Richmond
HobsOn arrived in New York to-day from
Washington, and after consulting with tho
officials of the Merritt & Chapman Wreck
ing and Dry Dock Company. announced
that that company had consented 60 under
take the rescue of the Christobal Colon,
and was making every effort to begin The
work as soon as possible
The difficulty of saving the Colon. said
ne, lies an the compete submergence upon
her beam end of a steamer of 1000 tons.
only short portion Of her stem is clear
or wafer, which fills her whole interior.
Her sea valves are open, ana her sides are
IN a few places perforated by shells The
beach upon which she lies is exec edingly
shelving, forming part, in fact of the
mountain which there rises out of The sea
and towers aloft
In short, all the conditions are present
which render the righting Of The ship an
engineering feat of large proportions. AT
the same time il is quite simple and feast
BILE. No new appliances are needed Moth
ing has to be invented it is simply QueS-
ton Of getting 70 he spot in time with the
accepted means and methods on a sufti-
oient scale"
AS to the plan for raising the Colon,
Lieut. Hobson said: 1--WE will run the pom
toons alongside of the Colon, suDmerge
them, and after chains, under the bottom
OF the ship have been fastened to the pom
ICONS and tightened, the pontoons viii be
pumped out Al the same time We will use
air pumps in trying to force the water out
of her air chambers and water tight com
partments.
If many of these compartments are
found to be in good condition this com
bined force from the outside ana inside will
be sufficient to raise the Colon several feet.
If they are not sufficient, then air bags
will be put in her hold and inflated by
compressed air. Every time the ship is
raised a few feet from the bottom she will
be lowed further in shore, so that after
several Easy stages she will be high enough
out of the water TO make all necessary re
pairs.
III that is found to be the case, the Co
Ion may be quickly towed to a dry dock
in this country for permanent oVerhauling.
Il think it will be fully two weeks be-
fore the work of raising the Colon can
begin. As TO when it can be finished will
depend largely on the SmOothness of the
water. Pontoons cannot be worked in
rough water. Fortunately for us, the
weather has been prOpitious thus far, and
it is our hope that it will continue until
the Colon is high and safe on the beach.
Lieut.. Hobson went over to Glen Ridge
this afternoon and lunched with Mrs.
Sampson, wife of Rear Admiral Sampson.
Constructor Hobson bore special messages
to Mrs. Sampson from the admiral.
Lieut.. Hobson left at midnight tonight
for Boston for the purpose of purchasing
pontoons to be used in raising the wrecks
of the Cristobal Colon and the Maria Te-
resa. He said before leaving: q hope to
finish my business in Boston in a day or
two and return to Washington Wednes-
day. l don't know how soon 1 shall leave
for Cuba
Tonight he was the recipient of an in
formal reception by the members of the
army and navy club.