The times., 1898-07-18
MAY SAVE sUNKEN FLEET.
Wreckers Claim That Cervera,s
ships Can BE FIGnted.

Ships Can BE FIGated.
New York, July 1.-THE wreckers wh1
have been examining the remnants Ct
Cervera's sqld1ron have given IL Is their
opinion tna- they can successfully raise
every one of the Spanish ships f the
United States Government thinks il wants
them lifted.
This statement has not excited anv
great amount of surprise for the same
men said they could float the wreck of
the Maine, and proceeded to set about it
with confidence born of certainty. The
Maine was the worst and most thorough
wreck that ever went to the bottom of
the sea, but the wreckers say that moth
ing but the outbreak of hostiHties pre-
vented them from raising the ship on pom
toons and removing 1t to a dry dock.
1t has been said of the modern wrecker
that he would hoist out the bottom of the
sea If he could only get his graphing
irons securely fixed, and the exponents of
the craft seem 10 bear out the statement.
Tnere IS no task he will not attempt no
place INTO which he will not go and in
most or his enterprises he is successful.
EVERY one OF the vessels that were
once the pride of Spain is ashore. and
from the news that comes from Cuba
they seem to be there good and fast
one OF the ships-the vizcaya-fs 50
badiy torn that il would hardly be worth
the trouble 10 try to float her The Viz
SdSd was destroyed by the explosion of
her own torpedoes, after she had been set
on fire by American shells. The Others
according TO the wreckers. can readily he
raised and taken TO the United States for
restoration
The methods to be adopted to float most
OF the ships will be the same as those
used to rescue the ST. Paul when the
Hher stuck her nose into the sand at
Long Branch Very heavy kedge an
IaiorS VIII De carried out to sea and sunk
III the sand From these lines will ne
carried TO the ship and attached. If
steam can be raised on the Spanish shin
d "lhch Will be put TO work hauling On
the kedge anchor, at the same time tbat
the powerful wrecking tugs draa, IN
separate cables. As the Spanish shins
seem TO have gone ashore at low Uafer
be fioated. -' N'14i
If these devices fail, powerful de-r,cI,
tugs will be placed on each side OF the
wrecked and stranded vessel. Al the
same time that the winch turns and tha
tugs pull the derricks will exert their
strength 10 lift the vessel Should even
TINS rail- there yet remains the plan of
placing pontoons beside the sunken ship.
These pontoons. which resemble big
scows. are placed in position alongside
and then allowed to fill with water
When submerged to the level of the
sunken ship they are secured to its hull
by heavy cables and chains which are
put into place by divers
When everything is in order the big
pumps on the wrecking tugs are set TO
work pumping the water from the pom
toons. II the adjustment has been right
and the weight is not too great the pom
teons. as they rise. bring the wreck TO
the surface with them When the whole
out floats the tugs ara again brought
into use 10 tow the wreck, pontoons and
all, to a dry dock.
Nowadays wrecking is a science, and
the Trecking tugs used by companies in
different parts of the world are examples
of engineering skill. A modern wrecker
has the most powerful engines adapted
rather for heavy, steady strains than for
speed. Every contrivance that can lend
il power or efficiency IS in use. There are
powerful searchlights, capable of throw
ing beam of light deep into the water
or to illuminate the scene Of a wreck for
night work Every one Of these boats as
matter of course, carries its own cleo
trio lighting plant. High over all tower
the enormous derricks from which de-
pend chains. hawsers and ropes of al
Kinds The whole ship is nothing but a
vast floating workshop thoroughly
equipped fOrr the work IN hand. One of
these wreching steamships can. and often
does, carry big screw. besides provisions
sGfncfent 10 last for three months or more
Ihe crew Of these, vessels are invari-
ably picked men. Most OF them are not
only divers. but are also skilled naval
engineers. The captain of the shin is
himself able TO go under water and ex-
anime wreck. or direct the work of the
men who are operating under water.
Sometimes diving bells are used. but as
a rule the men prefer to work in the in
dividual diving suits, which allow them
more liberty.
There used to be two big wrecking firms
IN the country, both having Headquarters
IN New York. Between these two-the
Merritt and the Chapman companies
there We're some exceedingly lively races
when the telephone or telegraph brought
to New York the news that some big
steamship was in trouble, for it was an
unwritten law that the hUst wrrcker 10
get a hawser over the boat got the sal
wage. The wreck. or rather Stranding, of
the st. Paul. at Long Branch, put a
stop to the competition between these
firms. however When the news was tel
ephoned in from the Hook that the big
liner was in trouble there was one of the
hottest races down the bay that ever
came Off The tug of the Chapman Com
pany got away first. and easily won the
race, but the job was too big for one firm
to handle and il was obliged 10 call in
the help of the rival organization This
enforced partnership led 70 closer rela-
tions. and now the erStwhile rivals are
partners.
Most of the work of the modern wreck
ers is done either in harbors or in sight
of land but if there are reasons for at
tempting the raising of a ship anywhere
in the ocean the U-eckers stand ready to
try it. Already negotiations ar e under
way for the raising of La Bourgogne. The
ship sank eighty miles off Sable Island in
water that has usually been considered
beyond soundings, but the wreckers say
they can grapple for the wreck, and per
haps get it. They have met with success
in deep waters before, but the raising of
an ocean liner from five hundred fathOms
of water will be quite the boldest thing
the wreckers have ever attempted.
Harmonious Illinois Democrats,
From the Chicago Nsws.)
So far as the platiOrr1 adOpted may be NJ, iudi.