She
was in a dangerous position for all vessels navigating the
entrance to the port, and it was necessary that she should be
removed, either by dynamite, gunpowder, or some other process.
Divers were sent down to examine the ship, and the injury done to
her being found to be slight, the owners conferred with us as to
the possibility of lifting her and bringing her into port.
Though such a process had never before been accomplished, yet
knowing her structure well, and finding that we might rely upon
smooth water for about a week or two in summer, we determined to
do what we could to lift the sunken vessel to the surface.
We calculated the probable weight of the vessel, and had a number
of air-tanks expressly built for her floatation. These were
secured to the ship with chains and hooks, the latter being
inserted through the side lights in her sheer strake. Early in
the following summer everything was ready. The air-tanks were
prepared and rafted together. Powerful screws were attached to
each chain, with hand-pumps for emptying the tanks, together with
a steam tender fitted with cooking appliances, berths and stores,
for all hands engaged in the enterprise. We succeeded in
attaching the hooks and chains by means of divers; the chains
being ready coiled on deck. But the weather, which before seemed
to be settled, now gave way. No sooner had we got the pair of
big tanks secured to the after body, than a fierce
north-north-easterly gale set in, and we had to run for it,
leaving the tanks partly filled, in order to lessen the strain on
everything.
Pages:
384
385
386
387
388
389
390
391
392
393
394
395
396
397
398
399
400
401
402
403
404
405
406
407
408