The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-03-02
Raise The Maine.

Largest WrecK1ng EKpeutttoH
Ever Inaugurated to At
tempt It.
Washington. Feb. % The plaps
5of the ateekiag expedition fot the re
Iief q sae Maine we're completed today
lafser ) long costsre1ce besseen Scores:
ssry Long asd the representatives OF
so Merritt. Gbapman company OF New
York ana the Boston Tovboat cons
paag The companies had expected to
begin work il Habana hsrbor in about
= Raek. but as the last moment Sec
resary Long insissed chs. provision
should be made for seeding forward
at doce at least one large wrecking
boat nth divers and equipment This
ms agreed to, and . dispatch was
sent @ the captain of the sea wrecker1
Right Arm. Dov .. Key West. 10 sus-
pend his private work there and pso-
sesed at once 20 Habana.
Dispatch uas seos TO the New York.
oifcs Of The company to seod two OF
the most experienced divers BY train to-
Key West, where they will go to Ha-
bans and JOIN the divers ana wreckers
On the Right Arm.
The terms of the contract as con
lelnded and signed to-day provide for
The psymsnt 70 the EreckiDg companies
of tie sun Of $s71 per dag for their.
reglisr plans. and % addisional pay
:me1t Of $500 per day for the nae Of
she Monarch While the latter IS actually
employed. An express provision is
made that the government may sefs
inmate hecontract any moment It's
also prosided that the compensation
shail nos exceed the sum Of money
($2e0. .OO0) appropriated By congress
for this parpose IN The joins resolution
passed yesterdsy. Finally. It is pro.
vided that Il the companies succeeded
n raising the Maine aud towing her
TO New York. they shall receive q
bonus Of 500 900.
~ 10 viewing Of the large cost OF the
Maine, .b0u. $5 900. 900. and the pa-
tionsl desire thss she should be raised.
as evidenced by the promps and nnaoi.
mons action Of congress upon the joint
resolution. Secretary Long believes
sbss he is fully justified 10 making the
aboye terms With the ureckers. though
.. frss .hought the per diem compens
ss.ioD seems large L must be borne
4 10 mind. however, be said today, tbas
shis viii constitute the largest wreck
iioe expedition ever equipped in this
eouotry. Moreover, the wreckery ex.
pressed sillingoees TO go to work 10
sbe nsaal way that they serve under.
writer's, namely, TO do the wrecki1g
and then take the award OF arbitration
board This plan. however. vas not
open to the government, which is com.
PEELED BY las to fix exact tesms 10 ad.
vance. A clause of the contract re-
quires the companies to proceed With
all dispatch, aud iu bnsiness-like
manrer vith the work of vreckipg.
and though this haste adds to the cost
OF the work, it is believed to be neces-
sary 10 view of the possibility Of the
early sppeasance Of yellow fever at
Habana harbor With the approach Of
the raioy season next month.
Capt. Humphrey AID Mr. Chapman.
representing the two companies who
will do the work. explained to the AS
eocissad Press .be plsns they will adopt
10 wrecking the Maine. The addition
TO s5e eYergeocy work TO be prosecuted
by the Right Arm. the Maine expedi
sien will be made up of about 100 meg,
including six skilled divers the wreck
ing steamer Underwriter of Boston, of
500 horsepower; the wrecking steamer
John 6 Jones of Norfolk. Of similar
po~er, the iron barge Looe Star of Bos-
TOO, capable Of fitting 260 tons, the
larges. floating derrick in the country
and aoother derrick capable of lifting
80 tous. The forwsrdiog Of the boats
derricks AID meo will begin at once.
Telegraus were aeDt to-day to
begia the Quitting. the taking
of the coal and the assem-
bling Of men snd equipment
The boats are ready to ssars ct any
time, but i: will take day or Two to
gather the exceptional facilities re-
ouired for this large undertaking
Ths ureckess say it will be i'm
possible to assemble the cuff. and ge,
iaso Habana ready for work for q week
They will make every effort. to espe-
date sbe the work. aud 90 leaving Sec
,otaru T.ong At O'Clock they took