The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-09-10
MAGNETS TO LIFT WRECKS
New Scherue Of the British Government
to Raise Submerged Vessels


One of the most amazing developments in
modern electric science is the proposal made
to the British government to raise by means
OF magnetic force the sunken ironclad Vic
toria, now lying at the bottom Of the Medi-
terranean sea in $50 feet Of water. And If
the Victoria, why not the Maine?
Everyone familiar with naval matters will
recall the story Of the wreck Of the Vic
toria. Admiral Sir George Tryon, who loved
nothing so much as original ideas in ma
neuvering, had one favorite evolution of
which he never tired. This simply consist
ed in making the giant boats perform the
"right-about-face" after the manner Of In
fantry privates on parade. And it was this
little weakness Of Sir Georges that drove
the ram Of the Camperdown into the sides
of the Victoria and sent $50 men, including
Sir George himself, to the bottom.
All attempts to raise the Victoria by
means Of hydraulic pressure have complete
ly failed. The boat has been too far under
water for divers to reach her.
The method now under consideration by
the admiralty is as follows:
Above the spot where the Victoria Is
known to be will be moored feet Of wreck
lng pontoons.' Monster magnets. shaped in
the form Of horseshoe, will be let down
from the sides Of the pontoons and sunk
until the attraction Of the steel sides Of the
Victoria will draw them to the ship, to be
attached In strong embrace by the mys-
terious force that every boy has seen ex-
erted on a small scale.
On the estimate made by the inventors of
the scheme 1t is believed that the lifting ca
pacity Of each magnet will be not less than
100 TONS, and as the weight of the wreck is
at least 1000 tons, it is estimated that up
ward Of seventy magnets will be required.
Only when the magnets have been fixed can
the work of raising the wreck be begun.
Each pontoon will be furnished with n.y.
dratflc rams and dynamo machines. Each
lifting cable will be attached to the lifting
pontoon by means Of sheave on the head
Of hydraulic lifting ram having stroke
Of twelve feet. which would give an effect
i've lift Of twenty -four feet. The hydraulic
cylinders will be connected with each other
balancing accumulation regulating the
amount Of pressure.
BY this means 1t was proposed to raise the
vessel twenty-four feet at a time, until she
can be towed into shallower water and then
beacned.
On a small scale the test OF the efficacy of
raising boats by this particular method has
already been made. Into depth Of water
that represented comparatively with the
size Of the model boat the depth Of the
Mediterranean were lowered a number of
magnets of relative power. The experiment
was entirely successful.
One objection raised by naval experts has
yet to be overcome by the actual experiment.
1t has been suggested that the sides of the
Victoria have long been incrusted by barn
acles and other matter which would almost
destroy the magnetic attraction Of steel to
steel. The electrical experts. however, de-
clare that the water Of the Mediterranean
ID comparatively clean and pure, and that
the magnets would In all probability attract
themselves readily to the steel sides Of the
ship.
There Is little doubt that the experiment
will be tried. The Victoria cost &, 900 900. The
small hole in her sides can readily be re-
paired. The cost Of raising the ship will not
exceed $4,000, and II the test proves sue
cessful the British government in particu-
lar. and science generally. will Be the gain
ers.-New York World.