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RAISING WRECKS BY GAS

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Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Sep 25, 1893

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 19, No. 46.

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RAISING WRECKS BY GAS.

THE latest method of raising submerged ships is by placing in them a number of rubber bags and then inflating them with gas. The idea of this invention was suggested in a singular way. A barge with a number of cattle on board was sunk in a collision. No steps were taken towards raising the barge, but about two weeks after the accident it was seen floating down the stream with deck out of water.
One of those who saw the singular occurrence made up his mind that he would find out the reason of it, and after investigation he discovered that the gases of decomposition had bloated the cattle to such an extent that they acted as so many air cylinders and had raised the boat. After possessing himself of this valuable secret he quietly cut holes in the cattle, and as the air escaped, the barge sank out of sight again. He then engaged a lawyer and soon patented the method of raising ships by air chambers.—Selected.