Evening star., 1898-02-18
OFFER OF THE ARGONAUT.
Lake Company of baltimore Tends
Boat to Government.
Baltimore Sun of

Lake Company of baltimore Tender
Boat to Government.
Baltimore Sun of To-day
The Lake Submarine Compaay of Ralti-
more, owners of the submarine wrecking
hoat Argonaut. yesterday telegraphed to
secretary of tire Navy Long Offering to
tne United States government the use of
the Argonaut for investigating the cause
OF the sinking of the Maine and for recov-
erlng the bodies of the drowned sailors and
the supplies, armament and hull of the
ship.
Immediately after sending the telegram a
letter was sent by special delivery, making
the oner In more formal terms, and de-
scriolng what the company proposed to do.
The letter is as follows:
Hon. JChn u. Long Secretary of the NAVY
navy department, Washington, d. c.:
Dear Sir: We hereby offer our services
anu tne use OF our submarine boat ArRo-
maui Tor recovering the bodies of the crew,
the armament, supplies and hull Of same
is not loo badly injured Of the United
States battle ship Maine, sunk Ill Havana
harDor. The Argonaut will be of great SER
wee IN investigating the cause OF the eX-
ploslon ana the condition of the ship. If
1t had been caused by the explosion of a
submarine mlne with shore connections,
there are, undoubtedly, other mines or
some underwater evidence in the vicinity
them, and also to see where their connec-
tiunS terminate
We can take your board of inquiry down
alongside the Maine, and allow them to
view or inspect the hull and photograph
same, II the water is reasonably clear. Tel
ephone connections could be kept up with
the submarine boat while at work on the
bottom. The boat is provided with power
ful electric lights for lighting up the local
ity over which she is travelling or while at
work. Ihe divers are not disconnected by
surface conditions or currents; they have
their tools right at hand and machinery
Tor their assistance. The Argonaut is
capable of Carrying a crew of seven or
eight persons and remaining on the bottom
Tor several days at time. We have spe-
clal tools and apparatus, which will greatly
facilitate the raising of vessels.
we 1nclose a couple of views showing the
vessel at work on a wreck and travelling
on the bottom. The advantages of oper-
atng with this system are so great that
we will be able to perform work ON sunken
vessels at sea where 1t has been hitherto
1Tpracticable. 1t would be impossible for
US to give you in brief letter all the ad-
Nantages possessed by submarine vessels
Oh TINS type or course you can readily
appreciate its advantages when fitted out
as submarine torpedo boat or for laying
down or clearing a harbor of submarine
mines.
Our Mr.. Lake would be glad to meet you
or your representatives and explain mat
ters in detail. We refer to Hon. VIM. r.
Malster, president of the Columbian Iron
Works and Dry Dock Company, who is well
Known in your department. Mr.. Malster is
also connected with this company, being
treasurer of same.
Yours, very truly,
THE LAKE SUBMARINE COMPANY
Mr. j. G. Lake, father of Mr.. Simon Lake,
inventor of the boat, said last night that
he had no doubt that the exact cause of
the sinking. of the ship could be learned by
the use of the Argonaut. The testimony Of
divers would not have to be relied upon,
he said, because the governments commits
sion could be taken to the bottom of the
harbor. and by use of the electric lights
carried by the Argenaut could he shown
the exact condition of the vessels hull
All the expensive armament not wrecked
by the force of the explosion could be re-
covered before the action of the sea water
ruined it.
While the Argonaut could go to Havana
under her own motive power. Mr.. Lake
says that it would be impracticable, be-
cause she would not be able to make suGi-
cient speed. She could, however be towed
there, or she could be ligi,tened and put on
the deck of fast steamer and taken there
In shCrt time. 1t would be a compa ra-
lively easy matter to lift her out of the
water with the big shears at the Sparrow's
Point shipyard. or probably with those at
the Columbian iron works.