Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-24
WORK ABOUT THE maine
SURPRISES ENGINEERS
Experts In All L lands Interested
in the Success of Hercu-
lean Undertaking.

HAVANA, July 24.-The second step
In the great task of uncovering the
Maine was completed yesterday with
the pumping of the last few feet of
water surrounding the dsmembered
hull. The bottom of the cofferdam is
now nothing but thin mud, which hides
whatever there may be of the secret
of the disaster of 1898.
The cofferdam, the first of such mag
nltude ever attempted. apparently
stands as a gigantic monument to the
skill of the United States army engi-
neers From the top of the piling to
the floor inside it measures twenty-five
feet and is an impressive sight One
may stand below it's edge and watch
the sails and tunnels of ships NOV
ing outside the dam far above the
head of the spectator. Though sew
eral of the caissons lean inward at a.
rather sharp angle, each is braced
against another in a sort of cantelever
idea. No weak spots have developed,
although the caissons are now bearing
ninetenths of the total pressure re-
Quired.
Praise Maj. Ferguson.
ue WoTh Oh driving the piles, which
several local engineers declare was one
OF the greatest achievements of modern
engineering, commenced last October, and
on account Of two accidents was not fin
1shed until June Z. when the pumping be-
gan. 1t was a herculean task to con-
struct twenty cylinders so as to exactly
surround the wreck Each is composed
of 200 steel piles seventy-five feet long,
driven into the thin mud TO the bottom
In thirty feet of water This was accom-
plished by Maj. Ferguson with only two
accidents
The engineers are enthusiastic in their
praise of the work, and it is suggested
that this style of construction be known
in the future as the Ferguson cofferdam,
although Maj. Ferguson modeStly insists
that the design is that of Maj. Patrick
and suggests that it be named the Maine
cofferdam.
Mud Above Berth Deck.
The vessel now lies in mud which is
higher than the berth deck on the port
side, and so thin that the first ten feet
probably will be easily pumped with an
ordinary suction dredge. The rest can be
taken out with a large dredge, with the
assistance of an agitator, which stirs up
and mixes the mud.
1t is about thirty feet from the surface
OF the muQ TO the keel of the stern, but
1T is impossible to say how far down the
keel is forward. The havoc is so great
forward of the engines that the mud
hides the most interesting part of the
wreck, but it is easy to see that the
damage is such that none expects that
any part Of the vessel ever will be
fioated.
AS the thin mud is pumped out a
force of men will be sent to work dig
ging out the thick mud, which fills the
entire interior of the wreck. This
work begins today, and the very first
effort will be directed toward finding
the body of Darwin Merritt, naval en-
gineer, known to have persisted on the
berth deck. His parents have spent
thousands of dollars in the last twelve
years in the hope of recovering his
body. This work is in charge of Capt.
Dean Tilford of the quartermasters
department
Eleven Bodies Found.
The bodies taken out of the wreck are
being placed in metal collins and taken
on board the collier Leonidas. Eleven
bodies have now been found out of a
total of lightweight missing. Identi-
fication. of course, is impossible, as all
of these were underneath the wreck of
the coming tower and apparently were
enjoying the evening breeze in the pas
sageway on the Starboard side of the
engine room. Those in a similar posi-
ton on the port side apparently had
better chance for their lives. Many