SAVING THE SUEVIC.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 59, 23 May 1907, Page 4

SAVING THE SUEVIC.

London, March 5. The saving of tiie wrecked While Sun' liner Suevie has been a splendid objectlesson in liriti-h skill, endurance, and phiuk. Maritime men describe the undertaking as one of the linesl pieces ot wreck salvage On record. What was done was to cut the vessel in twain as she lay on the rocks at tile Lizard, and thus rave about two-thirds of the vessel's hull, together with all the machinery. The culling was done by means of dynamite, and for a week or more the Liverpool Salvage Association was engaged in the work. All through tin; night on .Monday last the blasting operations were continued in the face of huge waves driven on the Lizard rocks by a still' so'-wester. By daybreak on the following morning the blasting had been completed right throuph tile keel, and only the main steel deck remained to be cut iu two. The heavy swell from the Atlantic increased, and it was obvios that the waves would r.ssisi the parting of the vessel. This proved to ibe the ea>e, for with loud sounds of grinding and snapping the aftT pari of lire Suevie commenced to rise and fall Imoyam-'ly in the swell, showing unmistakably that the disunion of the vessel which had been laboriously attempted for the past fortnight had at last hem achieved despite the heavy seas. Three tugs were brought into po-itiou. and with wonderful skill, hut at tremendous risks, hawsers were attached and the rescued portion of the Suevie wjh towed clear of the rocks. Then the extraordinary character o.f the work of the salvers excited one's admiration, for the cleavage was so smooth that it might have been accomplished by a, giant guillotine.

So admirable wore Iko preparations (if the salvers for tin*, balancing of the Suevic that when the vessel parted she floated almost exactly on an even keel. The actual length of the ve-sel remaining on the rocks is 184 ft. and at one p.m. this part remained rigid on the rocks. The portion salved is approximately 400 ft. When clear of the rocks the tugs Hanger and Hercuhincinn took ii]i the work of towing, with the tugs Lizard has a vessel ever come oil' again history of the oldest inhabitant at the Blazer and Linnet astern to steer the saved hulk. The Suevic is the only vessel which has been partly saved after striking the Stag Rocks. Never in the iifter once grounding on this dreaded reef. It is stated that tile divers engaged in the. blasting operations on the Sncvic could sec the sunken remains of many vessels, ami in one case a steamer's deck was plainly discernible, will) the winches intact. The Suevic is iiic second vessel which has been cut in two at the Lizard within i', few months. In the ease of th I .' Nelson liner Highland Fiing, the forward part went t'l pieces soon a;t ■ r the salvage of the after portion, and it seems probable that this will be the ease in respect of the Suevic. The saving of the Highland Fling w >.s considered the biggest achievement in the history of Knglish salvage pcrfonuanc-, but the culling in two of the Suevic was of a far more exleii-ive and hazardous character. It was a piece of great good fortune that from the time of her str.-.nding until she got clear of the rocks remarkable weather has prevailed. Bui, curiously enough, immediately the vessel was got off a strong breath of wind sprang up from the southward, with a rough sea, so that had she remained on the rocks any longer it is questioiiiible if the results would have been so satisfactory. The salved portion of the Suevic is to be taken to Southampton for overhauling. A new bow will be built at Belfast by llarland and Wold', ami towed to' Southampton and lifted, making the vessel practically as good as ever. Ten guineas per cent, against ''tola] or constructive total loss only"' being paid on the Suevic after the news reached (he underwriters' room at Lloyd's that the after-part of the vessel 'had

-'OSTTV siiav .mpjA joy] Tapioii,).! no.iq; 0(H), so that there is a big margin fir salvage expenses and repairs.