The times., 1898-07-26
HOBSON AND THE WRECKS.
Nearly Completed to
Save Two Spanish Ships.


Save Two Spanish Ships.
New York, July 25.-The real reason for
the presence in this country of Lieut..
Richmond Pearson Hobson, the hero of
the Merrimac, and his frequent confer
ence with the Washington officials, was
disclosed today by Mr.. Hobson himself
There was difference or opinion be-
tween himself and the first Government
expert, who examined the wrecked Span
ish warships as to whether or not any of
them could be saved. The first expert
said that none of the ships could be
saved. Mr.. Hobson and the Board of In
spection declared that both the Cristo-
bal Colon and the Maria Teresa could be
saved. and Hobson himself made spec
ial report to that effect after he had
been detailed for second time to make
a thorough examination of the vessels.
Under the circumstances Admiral
Sampson decided to send the young ma
val constructor North 10 lay the entire
matter before the Government in Wash
ington and get the Navy Departments
instructions. The Government has adopt
ed Mr.. H0bson's views and every effort
will now be made to save the wrecked
war vessels.
Lieut. Hobson arrived in this city about
9 o'clock this morning.
He left Washington last night and slept
on the train. He had breakfast in Jersey
City then hurried over to this city and
went at once to the Office of the Merritt
Chapman Wrecking Company, al 40 Wall
Street, where he was evidently expected.
He walked down Wall Street without at
tracing any attention. He was dressed
in a brown suit of clothes, a black Derby
hat. and carried small handbag.
Il am going back to Washington to-
night or tomorrow morning" he said
"The time when I go back Will depend
upon when get through with Capt. Mer-
riUt. l have come here to inspect some
pontoons and other wrecking equipment
that the Government must get in order
to raise the Cristobal Coon. Then we
may be ready to make the contract.
Has not the Merritt Company been
given the contract to save the vessels,
Mr. Hobson was asked.
NO" he replied, they are working
on per diem arrangement as yet"
t'How many pontoons will the Govern
ment get for the work?"
I'VE will get about 100 tons of buoy
ancy," replied Mr.. Hobson. That will
mean about four pontoons. The Merritt
Company has already got two pontoons.
so that we will have six pontoons alto
gether.
THE whole trouble over the matter of
these Spanish vessels" continued Mr..
Hobson, lis due TO the fact that the first
expert who examined them declared that
they could not be saved.
HE so reported toCommodore sampson,
Commodore Sampson at once detailed me
to go down to the wrecked ships, examine
them and report. / had already examined
them as a member of the Board of In
spectiou, which had reported faYorably
upon the Maria Teresa and the Cristobai
Colon. But / was sent there TO make
special report on the second occasion,
and then Commodore Sampson concluded
that it was better for me 10 come North
and lay the whole matter before the
Washington authorities.
.Win you superintend the work of rails
ing the wrecked ships?' Mr.. Hobson was
asked.
Il cannot say as to that" replied Lieut..
Hobson. 1T may depend upon whether
or not the fleet is going to be active II
there is going to be any activity in the
fleet then / want TO be with the feet.
The Maria Teresa may be saved with
the apparatus that is already on the
ground. She is in good shape and the
work on her is simple, ordinary wreck
ing. But the work on the Colon will be
very different. It will be big engineer
ing job She is lying on her beam ends,
sloping down a hillside. and it is going
to he a difficult engineering task 10 raise
her. The first thing to be done is TO re-
place her buoyancy. This will have 10
be compressed by means of compressed
air or by pumping air into her compart-
ments and driving the water out
''Wil you use bags of air for the pur-
pose?"
That will depend We. will try the
easier method first by pumping air into
the ship but If we find she cannot hold
air we will use bags, which will be in
fiated inside the vessel. We are taking
chances. of course. in trying to save the
vessels. but the Government feels that IL
ought not TO lose a splendid warship
even if IL does require some time effort
and money TO secure her. Capt. Merritt
fully agreed with me, after l had ex-
planned the condition of things TO him
that the vessels could be saved"
When will YOU get the wrecking ex-
pedition sta.ted?"
Perhaps in about three days II viii
take a week to get tre pontoons 20 the
scene, as it is slow work towing them.
1t will be fully two weeks before the
work on the Colon is under way. As to
the length of time it will require to do
the work, l cannot express an opinion
Lieut.. Hobson came from Washington
over the Jersey Central Railroad.
He was recognized on the ferryboat on
which he came to New York. The boat
put in at the Battery pier. alongside the
Staten Isand ferry, and the crowd
cheered HobSon and congratulated him
before ne could get away from it and
take a Broadway ear uptown.