The Washington herald., 1909-05-07

One Of the most unusual cases ot
successful salvage with compressed air
happened IN the case Of the Gladiator.
which was sunk in a collision with the
American steamer ST. Paul. The Glad
iator is a rather antiQuated British
cruiser. but Il was desirable TO raise
her. She had sunk In way that made
her lay on her side. The first problem
was 20 right her. Heavy apparatus IN
the shape Of steam winches and other
equipment was set up in concrete beds
on the shore. and after many hawser
had been parted they were finally sue
cessful in getting her on an even keel
Then came the work OF the divers. the
sandhOgs. and the air pumps. II was
not long before the tale was told. and
the Gladiator. sadly disfgured. but still
il the game. rose 10 the surface and
was successfully towed into port
The St Paul. which ran down the
Gladiator. has not always gone scot
free Some thirteen years ago she was
on the beach herself Of the New Jer-
sey coast The task OF getting her
afioat again was placed in the hands OF
Capt Israel Merritt. of the great Mer-
TlJt-Chapman f1rm-- II IS said that this
was the last piece OF work OF which
Capt Merritt ever took personal charge
He has been one OF the most success
ful salvOrs the world has ever pro-
cuceO. and his ships sail many seas in
their work Of rescuing shipping.
OfteRimes wreckers are put to their
wits end 10 solve the unexpected prob
lens that arise. Some years ago the
NFffr--1rrf-oo
English coast. II was soon found that
TO get the vessel of intact was out Of
the question. The forward part was
so damaged as to be practically worth
less. so they built heavy bulkheads
across the beam amidships. dynamited
the forward part away and towed the
after part safe TO port. where a new
forward portion was built onto it The
same thing. almost. happened with the
Seuvic another large vessel In fits
case both the stem and stern parts
were saved, and It was towed into port
In halves. and there made over INFO as
perfect looking ship as II Il had
never met with at accident
One OF the most-aJiiar accidents that
ever befeH q ship happened to the Aus
treL in sydney Harbor. some years ago.
She was coaling. and the officers had
neglected 20 close the lower port holes.
During the night she listed to starboard
and sank in ten fathoms OF water A
Golfer dam was erected around her super
structure. divers closed the port holes
which were left open, and big pumps,
throwing a ton Of water a second were
set TO pumping the water out of the hold
The ship soon rose to the surface as an
empty bottle tightly corked will come
20 the top OF the water. She was little
worse for abe experience.
Perhaps one Of the most remarkable
examples of a ship commander making
the best OF the resources at hand was
when the Esk colided with an iceberg
Seeing that unless he was able TO Iigbten
his ship all hands would go 10 the bot
tom. he tied up 20 the berg, unloaded his
cargo on il, and repaired the damaged
null Then he transshipped his cargo
back into the Esk and continued his
journey
What constitutes the brightest chapter
in all wrecking history was the success
OF the japanese in raising the Russian
ships that had been sunk at Port Arthur.
Where the United States has not been able
TO raise the one lone Maine In Havana
HsrbeT. the japanese raised nearly every
thing al Port Arthur. Over 10000 tons
Of war engines were brought I'D from
Dsvy Jones' locker and added to the
effective lighting strength Of the japanese
army II the United States had raised
the Maine, and al Of the ships sunk 81