The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-11-04

ocean steamship and replacing II with O
new one without disturbing the engines
boilers and other machinery weighing
many tons. The work. begun about six
weeks age. has now reached that stage
where success ls assured. That the task
was difficult one win be readily appre-
ciated by people having even a little
knowledge of how steamships are con-
siructed
Last spring the tramp steamer sonxa.
with a gross tonnage OF more than 1900.
and owned by Norway firm and COM
manded by Capt. II. Nejlaender, was
stranded In Southern waters. Her back
bone was broken. and for time II was
supposed that she would prove total
loss wreckers were set at work ana
something like three months later the
ship was noatec.
Rocks caused great damage 20 the
songa's bottom The ships value be-
fore strandlnx was estimated AZ syzS,oa.
To place her In good repair would cost
between tl25.co0 and 10000 and require
great skill on the part OF those who
undertook the task. The ships owners
began looking around for some one 20 DO
the work and finally contracted with -.
A. q. Mcneil proprictors OF the Columbia
Engine Works which plant is located al
William and Inlay streets Brooklyn.
The Songa vas patched up and started
for port whore she arrived about Sep
TENDER ]. She was placed In the sec
tional dry dock AT Erie Basin and work
on her was begun Two weeks moro and
she will be as good as a new ship.
After an inspection by experts Il was
deemed necessary to remove the bottom
from stem 10 stern. This meant, of
course. the cutting away OF not only the
big she'll plates but all the supporting
material. such as tn. keel, floors and
keeisons. Ordinarily IN work % similar
character but Of less magnitude and "a
much smaller ships everything II re-
moved from she hull. Including, Of course.
ali machinery. The McNeiiK decided that
they would not so to all that trouble in
this instance. as they wished 20 proceed
rapidly Now, 20 cut away the bottom
OF any iroD vessel In a big undertaking.
Come idea az what this meant In ths
case OK the songa can be imagined when
8; r. stated that she measures 10 feet
on her keel. is 70 feet beam and q feet
IN depth.
A large force OF men vas placed at
work on the steamer under Supsrinteud-
snt Williamson. 8 mos; capable man for
the work. The big ship nas shrred up
with many wooden upgights. and thou
sands cs bolts which held the great steel
work az the bottom ia place wers re-
moved ny the use Of pneumatic drills.
AZ section after section was removed 81
became necessary 10 place crib xhorins
under fbe big engines ana boilers until
the bottom was entirely separated from
the ship.
Many wooden upriRhtE or posts sap-
ported the great steel Sides. About { go
tons, Il Is estimated, were kept IN DO
sition In this manner. while the workmea
huilt a new bottom IN tho ship. While
thus supported. IN steel plates or shells
70 by q feat. fvs-sighths os an inch
thick and averaging ons ton in weight
each were removed. ESxhty top tanks.
OF about the same size and weight. we're
taken from the inside. The eighty floors
the parts 10 which the plates are boited
over 600 intercos1ays. which act as
braces for this same; the keessons AMI
the margin plates on the port side were
removed