HALF A SHIP IN PORT.
HOW 11EUOJC DIVEKS lUSKKD TllEilt LIVES. The greatest salvage achievement In maritime history has been crowned by the safe arrival at Southampton of twolliirds ofthe White Star Liner Suevic. The severed steamer was a pathetic picture as she toiled stern first into port, towed and steadied by half a dozen squnt and powerful tugs. Protruding behind her was a tangled mass of iron plating, girders, and refrigerating pipes, with the bunker bulkhead, which had been buttressed for the voyage, forming her extremity.
It is only 170 miles from the Liard to Southampton, but the Suevic was iiftyone hours covering it.
Captain MeClcllan, chief of the Liver]>o«l Salvage Company, told nn Express representative, after the Suevie had been berthed Hint it wns the biggest jcib ever performed. As the ship was loaded, the divers had to break her up from the outside, and the task was attended with great difficulty and considerable risk. The two divers, ,1. Citrine and 0. Fabian, both of Liverpool, arc regarded ns heroes. When holes were blown in the bottom of the Kuevic, eareases of sheep kept lulling on to)) of them, while at the time the heavy swell repeatedly forced llieni against the jagged edges of the : iron plates, and sometimes into boles.
"These two men," remarked the captain of one of the salvage digs, "carried th'ir lives in their hands, for there wns al .-ays the danger of their pipes being cut."
The divers saw a fantastic sight in the. bed of the sea. Rabbits and ducks fell out of the meat hold of the liner, and became entangled in the kelp, giving it the appearance of an enormous decorated Christmas tree. While Citrine and Fabian were working they stood on the remains of two other wrecks.
An interesting event during salvage operations was the appearance of the Milwaukee, which struck near the same spot some years ago. and was blown apart, and raised by the very men engaged on the Suevie. They cheered when the Milwaukee's number was hoisted, regarding it as a good omen. Xothing has been decided yet about Hi" reconstruction of the Suevic. Lord Virie, the head of Messrs Ilarlaud and Wolff, visited her f 0 u j„,, USH (llfl mnU(%f with the local officials, but no decision will be made until (he 1700 tons of cargo remaining on board have been discharged and ship has becu surveyed.
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Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 59, 1 June 1907, Page 4
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403HALF A SHIP IN PORT. Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 59, 1 June 1907, Page 4
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