SALVING THE WALKURE.

Clutha Leader, Volume XLII, Issue 90, 19 May 1916, Page 1

SALVING THE WALKURE.

VESSEL AT SAX FHANCISCO. "A million dollar steamer i-, moored alongside Pier 22 to-day (>avs the 'San Francisco Call' of March 25). To the of the enterprise of a combine of San Francisco shipping men be it said that she cost nothing. I t is the American steamer Republic, formerly the German merchantman Walkure, sunk on September 14, 1914, in the harbor of Papeete. Tahiti, during the bombardment of that port by the German fleet. Captain 'Leb' Curtis headed the expedition, which last November left lure aboard the steamer Chehalis, to salvo the big vessel. Last night, just at sundown, ho brought her in through the Golden Gate under her own steam, and delivered her to her owners alter one of tho most remarkable salvage jobs on record. "The Walkure was capturod earlv in the war by tho French gunboat Zelio and taken into Papeete a prisoner. When the Germans bombarded the city three misdirected shots pierced the hull'. But they did not sink her. A Frenchman, fearing she would again fall into German hands, opened her seac; cks and she sank in 11 fathoms of water. List fall the French Government >okl th ■ Walkure to a San Francisco company, of which John A. Hooper and Sudden and Christensen are the principals. The price was 29,000 dollars. Tho ship was raised successfully by the construction of a giant coffer "dam and found virtually unharmed by a year under water. "The expense of 'salvago work will run the total cost of the steamer up to about- 130,000 dollars. But this amount is offset by the fact that 2(XK) tons of phosphate in .the vessel's hold was* found unharmed, and has been sold at enough to almost pay for the salvage work. So the local owners stand to clear nearly 1.000,000 dollars on the enterprise. That amount has already bi\n offered for tho steamer. The "Walkure, after undergoing repairs, will be put on the Oriental-San Francisco run."