256 THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA. 



The vessels thus sunk had been treated in such 

 a manner as to resist as much as possible the dele- 

 terious action of the sea ; any part likely to be de- 

 teriorated, such as the engines and all metallic 

 fittings, being covered with tar or tallow. Peace 

 being concluded, tlie struggle was commenced be- 

 tween man and the sea. Gowan equipped himself 

 as a diver, visited and examined the half-buried 

 hulks of the ships, and determined that the sea 

 should yield the sunken vessels; some, he was of 

 opinion, might be recovered entire, others piece by 

 piece. 



An enormous pump, raising nearly 1000 tons per 

 minute, was used to withdraw the water from the in- 

 terior of the vessels, the portholes and other openings 

 of which had been previously imperfectly closerl. 

 This powerful machine emptied the hulk of a sub- 

 merged vessel in a very short space of time. The 

 lightening was so sudden, that the vessel rose to the 

 surface before the water had time to re-enter by the 

 various openings left. An enormous chain, 1000 

 feet in length, each link in which weighed 150 kilo- 

 grammes, served as an auxiliar}- to this pump, or when 

 necessary replaced it entirely. To conclude, a deta(;h- 

 ment of divers was occupied in seeking for detached 

 portions of wreck, much of which was already half- 

 buried in mud. 



