The evening times., 1898-08-17

New York. Aug. T.-Lieut. Richmond
Pearson H0bson spent six hours on the
Merritt pier at Stap.eton. s. l., yesterday.
trying to test the we.ght-raising capac-
ity of air bags made OF a combination OF
rubber and canvas. HIS experiments on
this line. which he has been making for
number Of days. are preparatory to the
raising of the sunken Spanish cruiser
Cristobal Colon. Three tests were made.
but they were all failures. The bags
would not bear the pressure. and three
Of them burst. In spite Of this discour-
ngsny experience. Lieut.. Hobson still
thinks the air bags will prove a valuable
auxiliary in the working of raising the
Colon.
The bags were constructed supposedly
to bear a certain pressure to the square
inch, and the experiments yesterday were
to ascertain the exact pressure of air
necessary TO raise a certain weight from
a given depth. The lieutenant was pre-
pared to take careful note of the results,
and from this calculate the weight rails
ing strength necessary to float the Colon.
Lieut.. Hobson. reached Stapleton at II
o'clock. accompanied by Capt. Delaney
OF the Merritt-Chapman Wrecking Com
pany and number of rubber manufac-
their particular brand of bag would be
Hsed in the raising Of the Colon.
1t had been the intention of the lieuten-
ant to make deep water tests In the lower
bay. but when he reached the Merritt
Wrecking Company's pier at Stapleton
and saw the model that had been con-
strrcted to be used In the tests he con-
demned 1t at once. 1t was not made in
accordance with his instructions, he said,
and he wanted another built at once. This
was done. and then the tests were con-
tinued alongside the pier.
The very first test made with the three
ply rubber and canvas bag proved fall
uTe. The bag, which was six by three in
size. was filled with air to a pressure of
fifteen pounds to the square inch. when
i. exploded with the sound of a five-inch
gun. Then a four-ply rubber bag was
filed with a pressure of sixteen pounds
to the square inch, and 1t also exploded
to the great disgust of the lieutenant.
Then a three-ply bag with a safety valve
attachment was used and. to the surprise
of the experimenters. this bag collapsed
at a pressure Of but six pounds.
Lieut.. Hobson decided to give up the
experiments for the day and left instruc-
tions with Can't. Charles NJ. Andrews, of
the Wrecking Company. for the construc-
ton of a model twelve feet in length. with
a beam of six feet. This will be sunk and
divers will descend to attach tackles to 1t
and to the air bags on the surface.
At the Merritt office 1t was said that
divers would be sent down to the Colon
and all the sea cocks-opened by the
Spaniards when the capture OF the cruis-
er was certain by the Americans-wili be
closed The divers will also examine the
hull carefully to note If any stray shots
from the American batteries perforated
it, II 1t is found intact, pontoons Will
be attached to the wreck and powerful
pump will be set to work forcing water
from the interior of the vessel The air
bags are expected to assist the pontoors.
and the air pressure below decks TO raise
the cruiser.
Lieut.. Hobson said that three different
sets of air valves would be used in the
next test.