The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-12-22
NO ANSWER TO
MESSAGES IS.
FORTHCOMING
Mine Sweeper Falcon Contin.
ues to Send Air Into Sunken
Boats Torpedo Room
NAY BE UNCONSCIOU Us
Divers Tell OF Damage Done to
Boat When Struck BY Coast
Guard Destroyer
MAY BE UNCONSCIOUS

Provincetown, Mess, Dec. 22.-tR
Diving operations ut the sunken
submarine 81 were resumed at S:15
this morning, tho divers being In
structed TO survey the position Of
the wreck preparatory to an At
tempt to raise It to the surface.
No sounds had been heard from
the torpedo room Of The 81, in
which six men have been imprisoned
since Saturday, at that hour. The
oscillator Of the mine sweeper Fall
con, flagship Of the salvage fleet,
sent messages to the 81 1t 15.min-
ute intervals an night.
When work was resumed today
after Z five-hour suspension, the
air compressor Of the Falcon had
been forcing air into the torpedo
room Of the Sd for more than 10
hours.
Faint Hope Still Remains
Simon Lake, an expert in SUBJ
marine construction, sent q radio
message to the Falcon from his
home at Bridgeport, Conn.,, during
the night, stating that there should
have been enough cir in the torpedo
room Of the Sd to last one man 700
hours. He computed that there
should have been sufficient to keep
six men alive 116 2-3 hours. The
men might be unconscious for many
hours before they died, the message
said. At 8 o'clock this morning,
they had been approximately 113
hours in their steel prison.
The first diver to descend this
morning was William Wickwire,
who was also the first to be lowered
YESTERDAY He was instructed by
Commander Edward Ellsber9, in
charge Of diving operations, to land
on the bow Of the submarine 81
md disentanglo, m air line and
descending line which had become
fouled. He was then 10 drop over
the starboard side Of the vessel to
the bottom.
Diver Gets Orders
The diver was to make his way to
the stern Of the S-4 to estimate
how deep she was inbedded in the
mud. He was then to 60 forward
on the starboard side to inspect the
damage there and to see how the
keel was resting.
Wickwire was warned to avoid
the diving ruddsrs Of the submarine
which are opened because she was
aubmerge when. struck by the
coast guard destroyed Paulding on
Saturday. He also was told to give
the hole in her hull on the star
board side forward Of the coming
tower q wide berth.
A second diver was to 60 down
when Wickwire had carried out his
assignment. He was to carry out
the same orders on the port side Of
the vessel. Commander Ellsberg,
who made several trips down to the
submarine S-51 when he had charge
Of salvaging that vessel off Block
island two years ago. planned to put
on Divers suit later in the day and
make personal inspection Of the
So.
Divers Reach Wreckage
Commander Ellsberg said this
morning THAT divers had reached
much wreckage from the Paulding
on the forward deck OF the submar-
ine. This included several frames,
two ribs, plating and part OF the
keel. The bottom Of the Pauldiny's
hull cut q hole In the deck Of the
submarine from point just aft u
the forward gun to . point ack OF
the coming tower.
The commander said th the mud
where the 81 lies was no more Sc
rious handicap than he had encoull-
tered In many other salvaging op-
erations.
The Falcon is Nkeeping about 10
pounds pressure through the air
line leading to the torpedo room Of
the S-l. The plan is to blow air
down to the submarine for half m
hour and then allow It to vent for
half m hour.
The air lines are attached to the
sc tube, or listening device, which
(Contipue IN -sgo two)