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and sank； and there she lay in about seven fathoms of water； the
top of her funnel and masts being only visible at low tide。 She
was in a dangerous position for all vessels navigating the
entrance to the port； and it was necessary that she should be
removed； either by dynamite； gunpowder； or some other process。
Divers were sent down to examine the ship； and the injury done to
her being found to be slight； the owners conferred with us as to
the possibility of lifting her and bringing her into port。
Though such a process had never before been accomplished； yet
knowing her structure well； and finding that we might rely upon
smooth water for about a week or two in summer； we determined to
do what we could to lift the sunken vessel to the surface。
We calculated the probable weight of the vessel； and had a number
of air…tanks expressly built for her floatation。 These were
secured to the ship with chains and hooks； the latter being
inserted through the side lights in her sheer strake。 Early in
the following summer everything was ready。 The air…tanks were
prepared and rafted together。 Powerful screws were attached to
each chain； with hand…pumps for emptying the tanks； together with
a steam tender fitted with cooking appliances； berths and stores；
for all hands engaged in the enterprise。 We succeeded in
attaching the hooks and chains by means of divers； the chains
being ready coiled on deck。 But the weather； which before seemed
to be settled； now gave way。 No sooner had we got the pair of
big tanks secured to the after body； than a fierce
north…north…easterly gale set in； and we had to run for it；
leaving the tanks partly filled； in order to lessen the strain on
everything。
When the gale had settled； we returned again； and found that no
harm had been done。 The remainder of the hooks were properly
attached to the rest of the tanks； the chains were screwed
tightly up； and the tanks were pumped clear。 Then the tide rose；
and before high water we had the great satisfaction of getting
the body of the vessel under weigh； and towing her about a
cable's length from her old bed。 At each tide's work she was
lifted higher and higher； and towed into shallower water towards
Belfast； until at length we had her； after eight days； safely in
the harbour； ready to enter the graving dock；not more ready；
however； than we all were for our beds； for we had neither
undressed nor shaved during that anxious time。 Indeed； our
friends scarcely recognised us on our return home。
The result of the enterprise was this。 The clean cut made into
the bow of the ship by the collision was soon repaired。 The crop
of oysters with which she was incrusted gave place to the scraper
and the paintbrush。 The Wolf came out of the dock to the
satisfaction both of the owners and underwriters； and she was
soon 〃ready for the road；〃 nothing the worse for her ten months'
immersion。＇2＇
Meanwhile the building of new iron ships went on in the Queen's
Island。 We were employed by another Liverpool Companythe
British Shipowners' Company； Limitedto supply some large
steamers。 The British Empire； of 3361 gross tonnage； was the
same class of vessel as those of the White Star line； but fuller；
being intended for cargo。 Though originally intended for the
Eastern trade； this vessel was eventually placed on the Liverpool
and Philadelphia line； and her working proved so satisfactory
that five more vessels were ordered like her； which were
chartered to the American Company。
The Liverpool agents； Messrs。 Richardson； Spence； and Co。； having
purchased the Cunard steamer Russia； sent her over to us to be
lengthened 70 feet； and entirely refittedanother proof of the
rapid change which owners of merchant ships now found it
necessary to adopt in view of the requirements of modern traffic。
Another Liverpool firm； the Messrs。 T。 and J。 Brocklebank； of
world…wide repute for their fine East Indiamen； having given up
building for themselves at their yard at Whitehaven； commissioned
us to build for them the Alexandria； and Baroda； which were
shortly followed by the Candahar and Tenasserim。 And continuing
to have a faith in the future of big iron sailing ships； they
further employed us to build for them two of yet greater tonnage；
the Belfast and the Majestic。
Indeed； there is a future for sailing ships； notwithstanding the
recent development of steam power。 Sailing ships can still hold
their own； especially in the transport of heavy merchandise for
great distances。 They can be built more cheaply than steamers；
they can be worked more economically； because they require no
expenditure on coal； nor on wages of engineers； besides； the
space occupied in steamers by machinery is entirely occupied by
merchandise； all of which pays its quota of freight。 Another
thing may be mentioned： the telegraph enables the fact of the
sailing of a vessel； with its cargo on board； to be communicated
from Calcutta or San Francisco to Liverpool； and from that moment
the cargo becomes as marketable as if it were on the spot。 There
are cases； indeed； where the freight by sailing ship is even
greater than by steamer； as the charge for warehousing at home is
saved； and in the meantime the cargo while at sea is negotiable。
We have accordingly； during the last few years； built some of the
largest iron and steel sailing ships that have ever gone to sea。
The aim has been to give them great carrying capacity and fair
speed； with economy of working； and the use of steel； both in the
hull and the rigging； facilitates the attainment of these
objects。 In 1882 and 1883； we built and launched four of these
steel and iron sailing shipsthe Waiter H。 Wilson； the W。 J。
Pirrie； the Fingal； and the Lord Wolseleyeach of nearly 3000
tons register； with four masts；the owners being Mr。 Lawther； of
Belfast； Mr。 Martin； of Dublin； and the Irish Shipowners Company。
Besides these and other sailing ships； we have built for Messrs。
Ismay； Imrie and Co。 the Garfield； of 2347 registered tonnage；
for Messrs。 Thomas Dixon and Son； the Lord Downshire （2322）； and
for Messrs。 Bullock's Bay Line； the Bay of Panama （2365）。
In 1880 we took in another piece of the land reclaimed by the
Belfast Harbour Trust； and there； in close proximity to the
ship…yard； we manufacture all the machinery required for the
service of the steamers constructed by our firm。 In this way we
are able to do everything 〃within ourselves〃； and the whole land
now occupied by the works comprises about forty acres； with ten
building slips suitable for the largest vessels。
It remains for me to mention a Belfast firm； which has done so
much for the town。 I mean the Messrs。 J。P。 Corry and Co。； who
have always been amongst our best friends。 We built for them
their first iron sailing vessel； the Jane Porter； in 1860； and
since then they have never failed us。 They successfully
established their 〃Star〃 line of sai