RAISING THE. SOVEREIGN OF THE SEAS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVI, Issue 1673, 4 October 1861, Page 2

RAISING THE. SOVEREIGN OF THE SEAS.

DuniNa Saturday afternoon and yesterday, some hundreds of persons visited the scene of the disaster for the purpose of witnessing the application of Captain McKay's novel principle for raising the hull, and which has proved such a signal success. The ease with which it was apparently effected is really wonderful, when compared with the tedious and expensive process commonly used; and indeed it ia a matter of doubt if it could have been accomplished at all in the ordinary manner. On Thursday afternoon, the 10th instant, the vessel lay in some 25 feet water, her port side down to the covering board completely burnt away, and some distance under water, with scuttle holes in her bottom, and about 12,000 tons on board. During Friday, men were employed in making the canvas bag to be placed round her, which was not finished until Saturday morning. In the interim Mr. M'Nab, the diver, had been down, and temporarily stopped the scuttled por-. tions of the hull, no easy task, particularly under the counter, where a large portion of the planking had been cut. About noon, on Saturday, the canvas was placed round the vessel, and clrawn under the bilge ; eleven surface pumps placed along the port side , and the double pumps belonging to the ship manned. All being ready, Captain M'Kay, who had waited until ,low water, gave orders to commence pumping, and now came the anxious moment, which would demonstrate the practicability of the means used. In about half an hour the water began to perceptibly decrease in the hold, and the canvas skin had adhered closely to her sides. Gangs of men relieved each other at the pumps, working with all' the energy and will that the excilement of the moment naturally called forth, and in about four hours the Sovereign of the Seas was off the ground. She ia now out of all danger, the scuttle holes being above the surface. Captain M 'Kay, ably seconded by Captain Cruikshank and Mr. M'Nab, remained by the vessel all the night, directing and cheering the men at their work, or attending- to the many minor details that \fould facilitate the clearing of the hull of water. By midnight the water was balow the lower deck beams ; this was principally effected by the ship's pumps — the temporary surfac6 pumps working badly on getting choked with cinders. Upon inspection, the cargo in the lower hold does not appear to have tuflerod in the least from the action of fire, and will turn out in good order under the circumstances. Captain M'Kay speaks in the highest terms of the conduct of the diver. Mr. M'Nab, whose assistance has been so material in raising the ship, never delaying his energies for one minute, but contributing by his advice and personal exertions to the proper carrying out of Captain M'Kay's instructions during the whole of Saturday night and yesterday. We must again congratulate Captain M'Nab on the successful issue of his simple, but at the same time thoroughly practical, plan. A most useful lesson has been learnt through his instrumentality, which will doubtless not be lost sight of should a , necessity unfortunately occur for putting it in practice i As he leaves for Newcastle in a day or two with i his vessel, the discharging of the cargo will be left to the stevedore 'whom he will appoint, and ( which will bo commenced to-day. — S. Herald.