Engineering Wonders of the World
Volume I

THE SALVING OF THE “GLADIATOR." 47 justify an attempt to tow the cruiser into Portsmouth Harbour. The two bow camels on the starboard side having The Ship been removed, the Enterprise, . s*arts took their place, while the in Tow for Portsmouth Rangw was made fast to the port bow. On the morning of October 2, 1908, the cruiser, assisted by the The Gladiator ” safely docked. By this time night had fallen, and rendered extremely difficult the task of piloting five vessels abreast through a chan- nel which even in the daytime is dangerous on an ebb-tide to a single large ship. But the Gladiator, once afloat, had to be got home. The pilot, steering his strange THE “ GLADIATOR ” IN DOCK, WITH SALVAGE VESSELS MADE FAST ON EACH SIDE. Photo, S. Cribb, Southsea. rising tide, and emitting foaming cataracts from the nozzles of the powerful centrifugal pumps, began to move slowly down the Solent. A guard of torpedo boats was in attendance to stop all traffic, the wash from which might have been dangerous. When the tide turned, two tugboats fastened on to the salvage steamers to help to fight the strong currents. flotilla with the utmost skill, brought it into harbour, where the Gladiator was allowed to ground until the next tide made it possible to tow her into the approach to the grav- ing dock that had been prepared for her. At the entrance to the dock it was discovered that she drew too much water to pass on to the keel blocks. She had therefore to be light- ened by the removal of her cabin fittings and