The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

SALVAGING THE STEAMER GEORGE M. HUMPHREY (Continued) When the HUMPHREY was brought into water too shallow for the MAITLAND to be used over her, the lifting method was altered. The MAITLAND and the HILDA, another large barge, then were put on both sides of the still submerged carrier. The ballast tanks were separated on the barges by a lengthwise bulkhead. By filling these ballast tanks with water the barges could keep the HUMPHREY stable. Air was then pumped into the HUMPHREY allowing the ship to rise. Three lifts of this type and tows brought the ship within one-half mile from the beach. Her deck was then above water. During the final stages disaster again stalked. (See cover) Gauges regulated the air in the HUMPHREY's tanks and had to be kept carefully trimmed. As the bo worked ashore the careful trim of the ship went hay-wire and she began to roll over. A quick-thinking crane operator fired a shot gun at one of the air lines piercing the hose below the gauge. This trimmed the ship. Divers closed the 18' x 24' hole the CLEMSON had rammed in the HUMPHREY's starboard side with huge timbers and tarpaulins. (See below) With her deck above water, her hold was then pumped. The GEORGE M. HUMPHREY was again trim and afloat. The ship, that such a short time ago had no takers, except Captain Roen at a price of one dollar, was now worth well over one million dollars and its earning power unlimited. Perhaps of equal importance with the mercenary value of the ship was the many great tributes paid to Captain Roen for a job well done and so adequately put by the United States Corps. of Engineers who said: "The raising of the HUMPHREY is a feat unparalleled in American marine history." The HUMPHREY required a huge patch for the trip to Sturgeon Bay kK Editor's Note: The Lake Carriers' Association Annual Report of 1944 carried an ex- cellent summary of the salvage operation, and it is reprinted in its entirety here: RECOVERY OF THE STEAMER GEORGE M. HUMPHREY In an unexampled demonstration of courage and ingenuity the 600-foot bulk freight steamer GEORGE M. HUMPHREY was brought to the surface on September 10, 1944 from a depth of 78 feet of water in the Straits of Mackinac. ‘ (Continued on Page 3) ~