The age-herald., 1898-08-12
WITH poNTooNs AND AIR BAGS.
Lieutenant Hobson is Convinced That
 He Can Raise the Colon.

From a Washington Dispatch.
 Lieutenant Richmond Pearson Hobson intends to demonstrate once more his ability to overcome obstacles whlch are apparently insurmountable. Notwith- standing the fact that a great eastern wrecking concern concluded it would be impossible to raise the Cristobal Coloh' which is grinding on the rocks Of the Gu ban coast near Santiago, Lieutenant Hoo- son believes he can save the spanish Ves- seI. and practically completed the prelimi- nary arrangement today.
 While the work will be done by the wrecking company whose officers threw up their hands in despair upon viewing the wreck, it will be done under the personal supervision of the famous Merrimac hero' to whom all the credit will go if the teat is successfully accomplishe. Lieutenant Hobson came to Washington early thls morning from New York and this after noon he received the writer in his apart ment at the Army and Navy club.
 'It will be impossible said Lieutenant Hobson, "to raise the Colon with ordinary wrecking methods. Indeed, will depend upon methods which are seldom resorted to and I hope for success. Pontoons and air bags will constitute the material wrecklng facilities. Several attachments Of pom toons left New~york two days ago Tor NOT folk where another detachment or pon- toons will join the expedition. expect to make a flying trip to Hampton Roads pe- fore the expedition leaves there to see that all arrangements are perfect. l Will go 10 New York tomorrow to see about the manufactu of air bags and leave on Thursday for Santiago.
 "It is our intention to sink the air bags and infiate them while submerged, thus creating a system of buoys which will ntt the wreck from it's resting place at the bottom of the sea. The pontoons, Wnhe not capable of raising the vessel, will se- cure it as it rises towards the surface with the aid of the air bags.
 "When you consider that the weight Of the Colon is 5000 tons you can easily see II will not be an easy undertaking In tact an engineering feat of such magnitude mas never before been attempted in this hemi- sphere. Something similar has been ac- compished by the British government, put I doubt if the English navy was hampereo by such obstacles as confront us In the case of the Colon. We will be constantly in danger of being dashed against the rocks by sudden storm, for the hurricane season is fast approaching.
 ''The longer the work is put off the more difficult it will be to save the ship. The Colon lies forty miles west of Santiago, l5o feet from the shore, grinding on the base of the mountain which forms the coast. If sudden storm came up 1t would De impossible to reach a harbor, and it would be miraculous if the Colon and the wreck ing vessels should escape destruction. But if the work proceeds expeditiously the Co., lon will be saved.
 'The Marie Teresa should be af1oat by this time. Tn its case it was only the ques- ton of Plugging up a few holes and pump ing it out. The Reina Mercedes which was sunk in the channel of Santiago har- bor by the Spaniards, will also be saved When I left Santiago wreckers were just commencing work on the Mercedes and it will not be much longer before 1t is afloat"