Jasper County Democrat, Volume 4, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 May 1901 — THE MAINE WILL FLOAT. [ARTICLE]

THE MAINE WILL FLOAT.

Udlque Method to Be Employed In Raisins the Battleship. Newton F. Chamberlain, who Is‘engaged In raising the wreck of the battleship Maine in Havana harbor, eaya that the vessel whose destruction precipitated the war with Spain is not as badly damaged as has been generally supposed, and that she will be afloat and ready for business again some time next fall. The proposed manner of raising the ship is unique. In order to float her It will be necessary to first build a dam around the battleship and pump out tba water. When the water has all been removed from the wreck, tlie hole in her bow will be repaired. Tl*n when the water Is turned in again she will rise to the surface and will be towed Into the Havana docks for complete overhauling. The machinery in the Maine does not seem to have been damaged at all. Steel does not rust until exposed to the air. A a fast as the water Is removed the machinery will be covered with oil to provent corrosion. When the ship sunk she had on board about SOOO,OOO worth of ammunition, and as this le hermetically sealed In the vaults, Mr. Charnberla’in does not apprehend that it will be at all damaged. It will take the beat part of the summer to complcto the dam, but within two months after It is finished the wreck will be afloat. Aril tho machinery necessary for the work is on the ground. The parents of Gen. Funston were much annoyed a few days ago on receiving from a New York paper n request for a signed etatement regarding the life of their eon, with anecdotes of hie baby and boyhood days. They apeak of the request as impertinent. , Steel trust, It le said, has adopted tbfc policy of dismantling smaller plants and removing machinery to more Important works. Dutch troops, on west coast of Achla, routed 600 natives, killing fifty.