The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-02-23
TO RAISE THE MAINE.
Contracts Made With Vreeking
Company By Secretary Long.
WORK WILL BEGIN in HAVANA
HARBOR IN ABOUT A WEEK.

Details of the Immense Undertaking.
Wreckers 10th to Express Their Opin-
ions About Their Ability to, Raise the
Hull of the Battleship,
Washington, February 22.-The plans
of the wrecking expedition for the rellel
Of the Maine were completed today alter
conferences between Secretary Long ano
the representatives of the Merritt q
Chapman company OF. New York, and she
Boston tow boat company. The compa-
nies had expected to begin work in Ha-
vana harbor in q about week, but at the
last moment Secretary Long insisted
that provision should be made for send
ing forward at once at least one large
wrecking boat, with diver and equip
ments. This was agreed to and dis
patch was sent to the captain of the sea
wrecker, Right Arm, now at Key West,
to suspend his private work there and
proceed at once to Havana. If the Right
Arm has started north torpedo boat
will be sent after her with orders to pro-
| OCCAi w Aotcll0s <Au uuo bdulo UlmC u 0O-
spatch 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 go to Havana and join
| the divers and wreckers on the Right
Arm. The commander of the Right Arm
| is ordered to place himself with his
divers and machinery under the orders OF
Capt. Sigsbee, who thus will be free to
avail himself of their services in the re-
yrPh h<<7s 1o,on silva
BILE pieces of equipment or property be-
fore the regular wreoking operations be-
gin. These are emergency steps which
preceded the main wrecking expedition
which will be outf1tted at Boston, New
York and Norfolk with view to begin
ming extensive operations within week.
The terms of the contract as concluded
and signed today provide for the payment
| to the wrecking companies of the sum of
$871 per day for their regular plant and
an additional payment of $500 per day
! for the use of the Monarch while the lat.
ter is actually employed. An express
provision is made that the government
may terminate the contract at any Ino-
ment. 1t is also provided that ths COM
pensation shall not exceed the sum Of
money ($2oO,oo0) appropriated by Con-
gress for this purpose in the joint rosolu-
tion passed yesterday. Finally 1t is pro-
vided that if the companies succee, in
raising the Maine and towing hs to
New York, they shall receive bout of
OF. the Maine, about $1,000, 900, a. III
natural desire that she Snail be -
as evidenced by, the prompt and unani-
nous action of Congress upon the joint
resolution, Secretary Long believes that
he is fully justified in making the above
terms with the wrecking companies,
though at first thought the per diem
met No
borne in mind, however, he said, today
that this will constitute the largest
Wrecking expedition ever equipped in
this country. Moreover, the wreckers
expressed willingness to do the work
in the usual way that they serve UNDER
writers, namely, namely to do the wreck
ing and then take the award of q board
of ar hitration. This plan, however, was
not open to the government, which is
compelled. by law to fix terms in ad-
vance. A clause in the contract requires
the companies to proceed with all dis
patch and in business like way with the
work of wrecking and though this haste
adds to the cost of the work, it Is believed
to be necessary in view of the possibility
of the early appearance of yellow fever
at Havana with the approach of the rainy
season next month
Capt. Humphreys and Mr.. Chapman,
representing the two companies, who will
do the work, explained to the Associated
Press the plans they will adopt in wreck
ing the Maine. In addition to the emer-
gency work to be prosecuted by the Right
Arm, the Maine expedition will be made
up of about 100 men, including six skilled
divers; wrecking steamer Underwater of
Boston, of 600 horse power; the wrecking
steamer John G. Jones of Norfolk of
similar power; the iron barge Lone Star
of Boston, capable of carrying 5000 tons,
hlQ of
lifting 260 tons, the largest in the coun-
try, and another derrick capable OF lift
ing 80 tons. The forwarding of the boats,
derricks and men will be begun at once.
kilograms were sent today to begin the
outttting, the taking on of coal and
the assembling of men and equipments.
The boats are ready to start at any time,
but it will take day or two to get to-
Qether the exceptional facilities required
for this large undertaking. The wreckers
say it will be impossible to assemble this
material and get it into Havana harbor
ready for work before a week. Ihey
will make every effort, however, to expe-
diate the work and on leaving Secretary
Long at O'Clock they took trains for
New York and Boston with the determi-
nation of rushing the work.
The Underwater has crew OF IL men,
including her own staff of divers VINO
are veterans in this lire of business.
The Jones has like crew and equip
ment of divers The crews are available
for wrecking work, but aside from these
men there will be 40 experienced wreck
ers.
Each wrecking vessel has large COM
plement of pumps, anchors, iron masts.
with heavy hoising gear, cables. etc.
Who will command the expedition has
not been determined thus far, as the COM
panies have several experienced wrecking
masters available. Capt Thomas Kivlin
of New York, is mentioned among those
likely to be placed in charge. He is
man of long experience, of cool Judgment
and exceptional ability in deep sea
wrecking. Capt. Chittenden OF New
York, another wrecking master, who Is
thought of for the command of the ex-
pedition, had a"special forte in hauling
off beached vessels He directed the work
of hauling off the American liner st.
Paul when she was beaohed near New
York.
The wrecking master will be in com,
plete charge as the government VIII
trust entirely to the experiences OF tne
wreckers although naval officer VIII
be detailed to inspect the work as IL pro-
ceeds.
Probably Lieutenant Commander VAIN
wright, the executive officer of the Maine,