The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1913-04-15
How a North CaroIinian's In
genuity Solved the Problem
Sick in Bed With Fever He,Work
ed 1t Out With Linen Cuffs.
Scissors, Needle and Thread
(BY H. r. c. BRYANT.)

0SsiO VI thN iOu1 tti'
offices Of the Navy departments was
much interested when he anne to the
model of the wrecked battleship
Maine. This model had a special in
terest for him in that it was the work
Of a North Carolinian, Nava Construc-
tor William b. Ferguson. L. S. II, now
on duty at the Boston navy yard.
The model shows in detail the con-
dition in which the Maine was found
when exposed on the bottom OF Ha-
vana harbor in the fall and winter OF
1911. This exposure was effected
largely through the efforts Of another
North Carolinian, Major Harley B..
Ferguson, u. S. A., a native Of Wayne
Vile. who was the Representative al
Havana Of the Board OF Army Engi-
peers charged with the execution Of
the work.
It will be remembered hat by an
Act Of Congress approved May 9. 1910,
provision was made for the removal
of the wreck of the Maine from the
harbor Of Havana, Cuba. and for the
proper ~internent of the bodies found
therein in Arlington cemetery. A
board of army engineers was appoint
I'd and charged with the work of rails
ing and removing this wreck from Ha-
vana harbor. Tn order to lay bare the
wreck so as to permit a careful ex-
animation to be made before disturb
ing any parts which might indicate
the cause OF the disaster. this board Of
army engineers proceeded to build a
coferdam around the wreck and then
to pump out the contained water.
To assist in the collection of data
and the Identification of exposed
! wreckage as the water was pumped
down in the cofferdam. Naval Con-
| strtIctor w. Is. Ferguson was ordered
fn Havana and TnryainAd enntinlIn.rS-
1y on duty with the wreck until the
board OF investigation appointed by
the Navy department made it's final
report.
Because Of the difficulties attendant
upon a clear understanding of any
description Of the confused ~wreckage,
Naval Constructor Ferguson %conceiv-
ed the idea OF explaining conditions by
means OF a model. The first attempt
was made by Nav Constructor Fer
gusOn while in bed in Havana under
the doctors orders, suffering from an
attack Of fever. He insisted that his
wife furnish him with several pairs of
linen cuffs. scissors. and needle and
thread, and while on his back in bed,
suffering from fever, he made the first
model of linen This model is at the
present time in the office Of the chief
constructor Of the Navy, in the Navy
department. >and by it's use a clear I'M
Outstanding Of conditions found at the
wreck was exposed, was SO apparen!
that Naval Constructor Ferguson pro
ceeded to develop more elaborate and
!, permanent models.
The first models were constructed
: by Naval Constructor Ferguson with
, materials purchased out OF his owr
funds. After spending such money a.
he felt hat he could afford, he re
: quested the Navy department to allo
: funds for the preparation Of a large
q scale model. mi ~large-scale mode
was made Of sheet brass and was yer,
: ~cleverly equipped with cams, springs
, and weights. Naval Constructor Fer
guson was thus able to start with
model of the ship IN the condition 3
she fioated before the explosion, ant
by operating on lever after anothe
. he was able to duplicate a possible Sc
Quence of events ending with a cor
rect model Of the wreck in the condi
h ton in which it was found by the in
vestigating board after the water wa
pumped from the coferdam. Tn
board appointed to investigate tn
cause Of the wreck of the Maine wa
SO Impressed with the ingenuity O
this model, and Of the remarkable ali
it furnished to an understanding of tn
: situation. that it was included as on
:, Of the exhibits in the exhaustive r.
ports OF this board.
laval ConstructCr Ferguson person
ally accompanied this model to Wash
ington, set it up, and by direction G
the Navy department exhibited tn
same TO many of the senior office,
of the Navy. He also had the pleas
ure of taking the model to a cabinf
meeting, operating it. and explafnin
TO President Taft and the members :
his cabinet the conditions as foun
ly when he eonerdam surrounding III
On Maine was completely uEWatered.
c. The model at the present time = -
4. posed TO public inspection in tho 90,
ridor Of the bureau Of constr,.tin
and repair OF the Navy deparfne,
rs and n I tribute TO the wcaderfnI !,
senuits ana skill displayed ~ X