The Cairo bulletin., 1911-05-08
RIDES THE WATER AFTER THlR-
TEEN HOURS PUMPING BY
six BOATS.
GO ON MOUND CITY WAYS
Great Piece Of Work by Divers and
Mechanics--Thousan OF People
on Scene--capt. Fandee Lead
ing Spirit.

The Halliday & Phillips wharfboai
| No. 2, the largest on the Ohio and
Mississippi rivers, is again atioat l,
| seemed to many an impossible task,
owing to the twisted condition of the
4 craft and the big hole in the bottom
| and with many leaks. but brains.
| muscle, steam and money did the,
work.
For days divers had been busy bulk.
heading the big hole caused by the
tree trunk and bulkheading the entire
outer side and end of the upper works
that were under water. All the work
was done under water.
Drove Nails Under Water.
Nail holes were bored in the plank
ing before they were placed and with
heavy hammers the faithful divers
worked in darkness. Driving nails
under water is qui tdeifferent from
open air work. After the bulkhead-
ing had been placed, heavy canvas
was tackled over all the planking un-
der the water to prevent the water
from pouring in between the cracks.
The big stump that caused the sink
ing of the boat was fastened to the
bottom of the boat so It could not do
further damage.
AT 2 O'Clock Yesterday afternoon
the fight against the water was begun
and millions of gallons OF water pass
ed out OF the boat and millions rushed
back again A sand digger and two
tugs put all their steam energy into
the battle for supremacy. An hour
passed-the gain was scarcely percep-
tible--the water flowed in almost as
fast as 1t was pumped out Another
hour passed and then good results
were plainly in evidence-the power
full pumps had gained the mastery.
From then on up to midnight the
pumps were kept continuously going
and the deed was done, the old boat
was saved and will yet serve, 1t Is 4
hoped, for many years to come.
Capt Thos. Faudree. OF the Com
bine, was the leading spirit in the
fight. He was supremely confident
that the Job would be done. He stat
ed at the beginning that he would
have the old boat on the ways at
Mound City at 7 o'clock this morn
ing.
Six river crafts were employed to
pump out the wharfboat--three tow.
boats, the Mariner with FIVE siphons,
Wash Hunshell with one eight-inch
suction pump and five siphons, John
A, Wood with ten sphons, RI. H. Hal
lidays sand digger with its big eight
inch sand pump, the big tug Frances
with two siphons and the Coal Co.'S
tug Theseus with one siphon.
In all there were twenty-five pumps
going at once, the volume of water
expelled being from 5, 6 and 4 inch
openings, the Halliday sand digger be-
ing the most effective as single
pump.
During the afternoon thousands Of
people visited the scene and enjoyed
the spectacle and expressed the wish
that the attempt to float the boat
would be successful, The scene was
9 very unusual one, the belchng of
dense smoke from half dozen boats.
the Kissing of steam from the con
nection Of the pipes and the roar OF
the water as It splashed from the
quarter of hundred outlets.
It is quite probable that this piece
Of work was the most difficult evr
attempted and greatest OF Its kind
ever accomplished In the big river.
Sam Halliday owner of the boat,
says she will be taken to the ways at
Mound City for a general overhauling
as soon as room can be made for her
thara