The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-02-04
SEARCHING FOR THE WHEEL.
over SPENT THE DAY LOOKING
SON THE DUCHESS PROPELLER.

,,oR THE DUCHESS PROPELLER.
81. Relieved 1t Was Located at Dusk
INST Night-The Workers VIII Try
90 Fish 1t Up TO-day-NOt known
where the Repairs Upon the YES
$50, VIII Be Made-President Erwin
Hyil Know Tomorrow Where She
1,iII GO-Was Waiting on the I'm
cr,Vrfters-TeIegram Sent to the
secretary of the Treasury for Per-
.ission to Use the Port Royal
roci.-Mr. ROurI<e Wants the job.
ra steamship Grand Duchesse is still
the ocean Steamship Companys
.r,r,.es and it is not known what will
dane with her. 1t was expected that
che would be sent to Newport News in
t,r of a tug, but not until tomorrow
..u # be known just what will be done
PRESIDENT R. G. Erwin of the Plant
S.s.sn,. to which the steamship belongs,
u,os seen last night and asked about the
ssI He said he could not say what
,.o,,,5 he done with her. Tomorrow, he
s.t5 he will be able to say, as by that
tff1a
writer's
If ID understood the consent of the I'M
asrvriters is desired for the ship to
make her own way to Newport News One
If her engines is effective and in fair
weather there could be no question of
h.r making the trip in safety. One tug
i+b tbe assistance of the Duchess one
a.bee1 would. it is said, suffice for the
trip
President Erwin, it is understood, wired
,ba Secretary of the Treasury yesterday
for permission to enter the vessel a the
s,,-srument dry dock at Port Royal
Igh1t answer. if any, was received is not
Known 1t is desirable to get the snip 10
,bot port if possible, as the officials 10
rnt ike the idea of making the expensive
"trip up the coast.
Mr. Iohn Rourke made application yes
tsr3av for the work of repairing the YES
s She has one of her wheels gone and
,5a shaft shattered. 1t is believed the
wheel can be found and fished up from
he watery bed TO which it sank when
knocked off day before Yesterday just as
the ship was being docked but shaft VIII
have to be forged by one of the big foun-
dries. ,-
and very expensive To replace the
s,rev if il cannot be found, and the brok-
en- shaft will cost $1,000. Mr.. Rourke says
he work can be readily done here if the
wheel can be found and the shaft secured
If taken 10 Newport News, he says, the
bufllers can do nothing more than wait
for the arrival of a new shaft and new
wheel provided the lost one is not rec)V-
.rad from the depth of the Savannah
river
Mr. Erwin was at the wherves yester-
ia, watching the efforts that We're beng
made to locate the lost wheel. Mr.
R,Hrke had his diver, Hansen, at, work
bvt no success was reported until al dusk
rs+ nieht when a discovery of some OBJ
ieot in the bed of the river that was
taken 10 be the wheel was made Ii
was found just about where the vessel
suffered the loss A boat was anchored
a, the spot and a buoy also thrown out
in order that the place might be marked.
The fishing will be continued to-day, and
if the object discovered be the wheel II
Will be drawn up.
A enag was discovered during the course
Of the search that Mr.. Rourke believes
may have had something to do with the
loss OF the wheel. The finding of the snag
was reported to Capt Gillette, govern
ment engineer. who will doubtless have
ID removed Immediately. Down in the
bed Of the river the diver also found what
seemd TO be a mass of iron grating. 1t
was in a depression and was at first be
leved TO be the missing wheel A closer
Inspection by the diver proved that sup
position an error.
When the Duchess has been repaired it
Is probable she will go back to the Ocean
Steamship Company. President Erwin
was asked about the report that the ship
would be put on a trans Atlantic line 20
ply between New York and Havre dur
ing the French exposition, and answered
that be knew of no such intention.