Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-03-30
flashed from the California to
the Alert and Navajo, telling
of the situation and there was
a general hull in activities.
CONFERENCE HELD.

II
Constructor ]. A. Furer, technical ex.
pert Of the job, and H. g. Plummer of
the Hawaiian Dredging Company
came ashore and met Rear-Admiral
C. B. T. Moore at the Honolulu naval
! station. They were joined by j. E.
Sheedy of the Inter-Island Steam Nav.
cation Company and a long confer
ence as to ways and means OF salvage
ensued. The meeting was executive
but it is understood that technical
methods of salvage were discussed.
AS the raising Of the F-4 now involves
materiel and not personnel, the navy
officials are anxious to handle 1t with
the best chance Of success consistent
with ordinary economy. Whether the
work win be given to one Of the local
concerns or to coast concern or
whether the navy officials here will
tackle it with hired gear and equip
ment will probably depend on adyices
from Washington.
MAY USE BELL.
There is a good chance that the
cast iron diving bell, constructed as
a rush Job by the Honolulu Iron Works
under the supervision of Civil Engin-
eer C. w. Parks, will be used to locate
the exact lay of the sunken F4. The
massive cylinder was practically COM
pleted this morning, only the connec-
lions for air hose and telephone re-
naming to be made. However, wealth
er. conditions are not very favorable
for lowerinl the bell over the sub
marine and with the dredger crew
ashore and work suspended for the
day, there is little chance that an at
tempt win be made to take actual OBJ
seryations. The bell may be tested,
however later In the day.
Last hight Jack Agraz, the diver
who wen. down 215 feet Sunday morn
ing, wit merely a diving helmet to-
combat the enormous pressure, made
a careful study Of the diving bell, and
tested its capacity. Taking on his
coat and cap. Agraz easily slipped
through the oval manhole In the COW
err of the cylinder to the considerable
surprise Of several interested specta-
tors. Owing to the radiating ribs
within the cover Of the tube, an oval
instead of a round manhole had to be
cut, and the aperture looked small for
the entrance and egress. In fact the
diving bell is larger In all dimensions
than was at first planned, owing to the
fact that an 8-foot instead Of a 7-foot
length of cylinder was sent up from
tile naval station at Pearl Harbor.
The air capacity is so large that man
could probably go down and remain
an hour without Inconvenience, even
without the pumping Of air from the
surface.
FAST TO SUBMARINE.
We've got the F4, or else we've
got two cables round q chunk of coral
that spoqts al and oil at the same
time"
SO remarked one naval officer yes
terday afternoon when q second drag
line caught and held on the obstacle
hat the tugs Navajo and Intrepid had
snagged earlier In the day, With bub-
bles rising where the cables held,
here was no doubt but that the miss |
ng submarine had been finally hook
I'd, and on this superstition g vast
amount of heavy work was success
,ully accomplished during the after
loon and throughout the night.
Shortly after noon the drag Of |
leavy wire cable between the two big
Jugs which had been sweeping across |
he spot where the F4 was supposed |
10 lie, caught the strain and held
irmly. The Intrepid's line was then
passed to the Navajo, which then
leld the submarine In bride, the /
,ug's nose pointing in shore. Anoth-
n drag was then rugged between the
intrepid and the Makaala, and this /
vas swept under the Navajo from
)Ow to stern, the hope being that it /
would hook up the sunken boat from I
he opposite end than that held by |
he Navajo. On, the first drag the /
lavajo's cable bride seemed to be i
ouled, but on q second attempt made /
bout 4 o'clock, the drag held fast 4
Without showing any strain on the
Jayaio's tow. 1t was then apparent /
hat the submarine was caught in two |
lifferent places by two different ca
les.
The operation Of passing both ends |
# the line to one boat was repeated. i
be Makaala this time making fast Il
While the Intrepid took the dredge i
california in tow and maneuvered her
nto position alongside Of the Maka-
la, where both lines were transferr-
d over the stern of the dredge and L
assed to the big winches.
It was s o'clock last night when i
be two drags were finally in posi-
lon, the handling of this heavy gear
eQuiring nice calculation beforehand
nd quick action at the moment of
However, everything
rent OF according to schedule, and
hose in charge Of the salvage work
oted it the most successful day since
be quest for the lost F4 had been
tarted.
With q full nights sleep behind
hem, navy men and DIRE ger and tug
rews felt ready to tackle another
light shift. and there was no talk