Washington sentinel., 1901-02-23
fQotes
RAILING THE MAINE.

Raj ING THE MAINE
Just three years ago last week the
battle ship Maine sunk in the harbor Of
Havana. Last week the Government
awarded the contract to raise the wreck
of the Maines Wo will begin at once
end an effort will be made 10 patch up
the shattered bottom OF the ship with
the hope Of floating her into drydock
to refit her once more to take her place
IN the navy.
II this proves impossible the wreck
will be broken up and sold for old metal
and for historic souvenirs. Whether the
ship IS preserved or not the damaged
bronzeand brass fittings must be replaced
with new Our readers will be interested
10 know that by the terms ofthe contract
sufficient quantity OF the old bronze
will be set aside to mould the statue
for the Maine Monument.
The raising OF the Maine WILL in many
respects, be unique. The largest Golfer
dam in the world will be built around
the wreck Two rows of piles will be
driven around the wreck and water
tight crib or fence constructed. Then
the water will be pumped out, the mud
dug away and the ship will be hoated
with pontoons, possible. AS old metal
the ship is probably worth $500, 900; sold
as souvenirs the contractors think it
will bring $1,000, ,ooo The Government
is to get three per cent OF any profit.
One Of the most thrilling stories ofits |
kind ever TOLD is that of Captain z. o. |
Conrad. He was one ofthe divers who |
recently went down for the contractors
and reported her condition and what
was to be got out OF her. Among other
interesting objects which he brought to
the surface was a forty foot length of the
insulated electric copper cable that
discharged the mine that blew up the
Maine.
The Chamberlain Company has also
contracted to raise the Spanish cruiser
Alfonso XII, which is beached
on the shore near the Maine,
The plans of raising the Alfonso XII. |
are radically different The cruiser, one
OF the best Spain had. is beached with
its prov sticking out ofthe water against
a large table of rock. With The rigging
once set il is expected that within
two hours it will be hauled upon the
rock, where it can be overhauled.
The operation of raising both ships
will cost about SIS, 900. the contractors
say, while the salvage in the Maine is
expected to be enormous. In its hold,
according to the Gov rnment sche Guile,
here Is now $500 600 worth of ammuni-
ion and 100 tons OF copper and brass.
hundred engines are stored away in
he hulk of the vessel, while the arma-
nent and fittings are figured to be worth
considerable money even if the vessel
annot be repaired. {
But this is a contingency not autici- 1
ated by the contractors. The explosion {
n the Maine was amidships and Ia the <
ow, and only 10 that part OF the vessel ST
as 1t wrecked The construction of a u
ulkhead will, the contractors believe, u
nut off the DOW and the warshD will u
Dat, d
Three offers were made by the com u'
any to raise The Maine. One was
lbmitted on January 9, 1899, 10 the ir
Tar Department and a price Of 81, ,5oo,-
10 asked. 1t was referred to the Naval TT
oard and rejected On January last,
hen bids for the project were asked
r, the company offered to raise boih de
.ssels for nothing, the restored vessels kl
ID their fittings to belong to the con- q
actors. This bid, along with six others, We
as rejected by General Leonard Wood da
ID Captain Young, and on January az, WI
e company su omitted its third otter, co
loving the Government 3 per cent. of SI'
e money received for the property
the bid was a bond tor Mr.
s. ooU, providing for the faithful per say
nance Of the contract. This was CIR
cepted. tn'