OCEAN WRECKS MADE TO THE THEIR HIDING PLACES.

Cromwell Argus, Volume XXXV, Issue 1942, 19 June 1905, Page 2

OCEAN WRECKS MADE TO THE THEIR HIDING PLACES.

Some astounding claims are mad* for a patent wreck-saving device that has been invented by Mr. Adam W. Johnson, of Alaska. The vessel will go below like any other of her kind ; but before shehas travelled many fathoms down two great buoys will burst from her hold and shoot out oi the ends of two tubes running from the keel to the deck. As they rush for the surface each carries with it a thin manilia rope. Down in the hold of the sinking ship the line is uncoiling as fast as she sinks. When the wreck finds the bottom the unwinding stops, and the two buoys bob on the water's surface. The ship's name is marked on the buoys, thus solving the problem of identification and location of the wreck. The wrecking ships will consist of several barges, with steam windlasses large or small according to the tdze of the sunken vessel. These barges will pick up the buoys and haul in the rope. The coil in the bottom of the ship will unwind again until it comes to an end. Then a chain capable of greater lifting power will follow. At the end of this is a loop of chain formed of huge links, each end being firmly fastened to the keel of the ship itself. The small chain is only strong enough to raise this loop to the top of the tube, but not strong enough to lift the ship. For this purpose a chain as heavy as the loops is lowered along the small! chain. When the big chain has .reached the loop below, an automatic device, called a clutcher connects the loop and the descending chain. In this manner two powerful chains reach from the surface to four points in the very keel of the ship The next step-is to start the windlasses and hoist the wreck to the surface and, tow her into safety.