BLOWING UP A WRECKED SHIP.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXIV, Issue 2806, 6 March 1869, Page 4

BLOWING UP A WRECKED SHIP.

THE sappers and miners of the Royal Engineers, in addition to removing the wreck of the iron screw-steamer Foyle, sunk some time since in the Thames, near Woolwich, have also just completed the more difficult operation of blowing up the wreck of the ship .Iredes, sunk about twelve months since between two and three miles below the Nore, in the vicinity of the Cant Sands. The operation of removing the wreck of the Iredes, from the great depth at which the divers had to carry on their work, was in many respects the most difficult since the blowing up of the Royal George, by the Royal Engineers at Spithead. The whole of the operations were carried out under the direction of Colonel W. O. Lennox, C.8., V.0., assisted by Lieutenant H. Jekyll, by means of theimp-oved diving apparatus, the invention of Mr A. Sicbe, which is now in general use by the Royal Engineers at Chatham for carrying on their diving operations. The charges used in destroying the wreck of the Iredea were prepared at the torpedo department of the Royal Engineer establishment, each charge containing 60 lbs. of the new description of campressed gun cotton, the explosive force of which is equal to 300 lbs. of ordinary gunpowder. Owing to the high winds and heavy sea the diverß worked under the greatest disadvantage during the whole time the undertaking was being carried out. Sergeant Baker, the principal diver

after Borne difficulty succeeded in placing the necessary charges under the vessel, and afc the same time spliced the electric cable to a rope passing under tho ship. The charge was then fired by means of the frictional machine, when a great qnantity of wreck came up. After some further operations the divers succeeded in driving large iron staples in the vessel's port and Btarboard quarters, to which were attached charges of gun cotton. It was on this occasion that an accident occurred which nearly proved fatal to one of the divers, Sergeant Baker, who foil into a deep hole caused by the former explosion ; but the well-arranged signals of Mr Siebe's apparatus enabled him to be almost instantly drawn to the surface, without the slighest injury having bepn sustained by the diving dress. The whole of the charges placed under the vessel were fired simultaneously in continuous circuit with the most satisfactory results, a vast column of water being thrown into the air to the height of between 80 and 100 feet, followed by a mass of black mud, which came rolling up, bringing with it the ship's frames, timbers, planking, cordage, &c., •which covered the water for some distance. During the operation the great advantage possessed by Mr Siebe'a apparatus over all others was shown in a second diver being sent down to assist or relieve the first by means of the same pump — a most important consideration in the case of a diver not being able to clear himself from any obstruction. Arrangements are now being made for blowing up the wreck of the large emigrant ship Leichhardt, which was sunk some short time since near the Wasp Sands by the screw steamer North Star, and it is intended to employ the Royal Engineers in removing wrecks on various parts of the coast.