The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1898-02-25
Ttlx Nerala ata IIeaps
TO RAISE THE MAINE.
Largest Wrecl<ing Expedition Ever Inaugu
rated to Attompt 1t. ..

Washington, Feb. 22.--The plans
Of the wrecking expedition for the
relief Of the Maine were completed
today after u long conference be-
tween Secretary Long and tho rep
resentatives Of the Merritt. Chapman
company of New York and the Bos'
ton Towboat company. Tho com
panies had expected to begin work
in Habana harbor in about week,
but at tho last moment Secretary
Long insisted that provision sfould
be made for sending forward at once
at leust one large wrecklng boat with
divers and equipment. This was
agreed to, and a dispatch was sent
to tho captain of tho sea wrecker
Right Arm, now at Key West, to sus,
pend his private work there and pro
ceed at once to Habana.
A dispatch was sent to the New
York Office Of the company to send
two of the most experienced divers
by train to Key West, where they
will 90 to Habana and join the divers
and wreckers on the Right Arm.
Tho terms Of the contre It as con-
cluded and signed today provide for
the payment to the wrecking com.
panies of the sum Of $S71 per day
for their regular plant, and an addi-
tional payment of $500 per day for
the use of the Monarch while the
latter is actually employed. An ex-
press provision is made that the gov
ernmont may terminate the contract
any moment. It is also provided
that the compensation shall not ex-
ceed the sum Of money ($2O0,OOO)
appropriated by Congress for this
purpose in the joint resolution passed
yesterday. Finally, it ia provided
that if the companies succeed in
raising the Maine and towing her
to New York, they shall receive a
bonus Of 100000.
In view of the largo first cost Of
the Maine, about s5,O0O,OOO, and the
matte po1 Joe;ro tbot oI,o chc,,lI ba
raised, ..s evidenced oy tho prompt
and unanimous action Of Congress
upon the joint resolution, Secretary
Long believes that ho is fully !justi-
fled in making the above terms With
the wreckers, Though at first thought
the per diem compensation seems
large. 1t must be borne in mind.
however, he said today, that this will
constitute tho largest wrecking ex-
pedition ever equipped in this coun
try. Moreover, the wreclers ex
pressed a Willingness to go to work
in the usual way that they serve un-
derwriters, namely, to do the wreck
ing and then tako the award Of arbi.
tration board. This plan, however.
was not open to tho government
which is compelled by law to fix OK.
act terms in advance A clause OF
the contract requires the companies
to proceed with all dispatch, and IN
o business-like manner with the work
of wrecking, and though this haste
adds to the cost of tho work, it is be-
lieved to be necessary in view of the
possibility of the early appearance
of yellow fever at Habana harbor
with the approach of the rainy sea-
son next month.
Capt. Humphrey and Mr.. Chap.
man, representing the two companies
who will do the work, explained to
the Associated press The plans they
will adopt in wrecking tho Maine.
The addition to tho emergency work
to be prosecuted by tho Right Arm,
the Maine expedition will be made
up Of about 100 mon, including six
skilled divers, the wrecking steamer
Underwater of Boston, Of 600 horse
power; the wrecliug steamer John
G. Jones of Norfolk, of similar power;
the iron barge Lone Star, of Boston,
capable Of lifting 2GO tons, the larg-
est floating derrick in the country,
and another derrick capable Of lift
ing 30 tons. Tho forwarding of the
boats, derricks and mon will begin at
once. Kilograms were sent today to
begin the outfitting, the taking OF
the coal and the assembling of men
and equipment. The boats are
ready to start at any time, but it will
Jyn 49,, 81