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VOL. XXXIII. CLEVELAND, JUNE 28, 1906. NOW Ge WRECKING THE GEORGE W. ELDER. The successful raising of the steamer George W. Elder by Capt. Harris W. Baker, of Detroit, Mich., will proba- bly be remembered for many years on the Pacific coast as a most extraordinary exploit. The Elder, which was owned by the O. R. & N. Steam Navigation Co., the marine end of the Oregon Short Line, sank on Jan. 21, and was purchased by J. H. Petersen, of Portland, Ore., for $10,400, a man who has made millions in bold com- mercial ventures. Petersen started to wreck her himself. .He built large pontoons, 20 ft. by 4o ft. in size, complet- ing two of them and partially completing two more. Af- ter losing one of his pontoons which was later discovered THE STEAMER GEORGE W. ELDER ON THE ROCKS. : 1905, in the Columbia river, securely imprisoning herself on jagged rocks in 16 ft. of water. Her owners took off the cargo between decks and undertook to wreck her, but failing in the effort abandoned her to the underwrit- ers. The undetwriters then sent a wrecking master from New York who worked on'her for about seven months, trying different methods of raising her but failing in all of them. When he started on her he found that he could pump the after compartments out but in settling later she tore herself and the after compartments. filled again. It was then discovered that her after compartments could could not again be pumped out and after expending"$51,- ooo upon her the underwriters abandoued her altogether. The steamer was auctioned off to the highest bidder sunk under the bow of the boat, he gave up the job of at- tempting to raisé her and concluded to blow her up after getting the machinery out of her. It was at this time that Mr. J. W. Snyder, of Bay City; Mich., who was vis- iting Portland, became interested in the wreck and told Petersen that he knew a man who could raise her. Petersen doubted the statement very much when Snyder mentioned a lake man. He finally authorized Snyder, however, to talk the 'subject over with Capt. Baker. Capt. Baker went to Portland with one of his divers and made an examination of the vessel and cargo. This examination was attended with great difficulty because the cargo was completely sub- merged and the water was as black as mud. It was con- ducted entirely by feeling. Capt. Baker was satisfied --