Submarine Appliances And Their Uses
Deep Sea Diving, &c., &c.

into its place water was forced into the hose so as to fill up all the irregularities between the shield and the skin of the vessel, and to form a watertight joint. Wire cables were then stretched along the vessel’s keel, and fastened with chains at the bow and stern. The stays from her ports on either side were brought across the fore and aft wire cables every loft, along the length of the ship, and were securely fastened where they crossed. It was then proposed to apply 1,000 tons of lifting power on these cables by attaching sunken flexible pontoons to them, and then pumping the pontoons full of air. This was in- tended only as a steadying power to prevent the vessel from turning over when lifted. These preparations being completed, the vessel herself was to have been pumped full of air, thereby getting her full displacement, and plans for towing her to a safe place and there turning' her upright had been prepared. The plan, however, was never completed. The shield was fixed and a number of lines placed in position to guide the descent of the pontoons, and one of the pontoons had been actually attached to the ship ; but the Company had to cease opera- tions for want of funds. Thus a very interesting salvage case, which gave promise of being entirely successful, had to be abandoned just when the most difficult part of the work had been practically completed. f!, H.M.S. Eurydice, sunk off the Isle of Wight, was raised by having oak toggles placed diCe"y' insFe each porthole, and to which were attached wire hawsers carried up to two lifting frigates which were moored over the wreck. Siebe, Gorman and Co. had eight divers working in conjunction with the Admiralty divers at the wreck, which lay in 15 fathoms = 90ft. of water, and the entire operations were carried out without a single accident, although the vessel was lying in a very exposed position. (See photo, page 145.) Lightship The Puffin was a composite lightship stationed at Daunt’s Rock, off Cork Harbour Puffm." During a severe gale on 8th October, 1896, she disappeared with all hands, being found a few days later sunk at her moorings in 15 fathoms, low water. After some months, the Irish Lights Commissioners contracted with Messrs. T. Ensor and Son, Queenstown, for her recovery. Phis, owing to the very exposed position and . strong tides, was a difficult work ; even in summer very few davs could be worked, and these only during slack tide. Copyright. THE “PUFFIN” BEACHED. When the slinging was complete, the lifting hulk was moored over the wreck, and her six wire purchases were lowered down and shackled on by the Divers to the slings already attached to the ship. I he wreck was then hove up and towed towards the harbour. The first lift got the Puffin into eight fathoms = 48ft., and the second took her right into the har- bour, nearly six miles from where she first lay. 146