Another Attempt to Raise the Sunken Andelana
The Neptune Salvage Company is employing a new invention—a 'diving cage'—in a high-stakes effort to recover a ship that sank near the Puyallup River in 1899.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
Work began today on another attempt to raise the ship Andelana, which sank near the mouth of the Puyallup River in 1899. While anchored after discharging her ballast, a squall struck, and the ship, along with her crew of 17, disappeared. It is believed she 'turned turtle' due to the lack of ballast. Previous salvage attempts were failures, and one resulted in the death of diver William Baldwin. The current attempt utilizes an invention by Worden O. Smith of Milwaukee: a steel 'diving cage' designed to withstand the pressure of 180 feet of water. The cage allows divers to work from within and is equipped with safety mechanisms that allow for controlled ascent.
“The ship lies in about 180 feet of water and the ordinary apparatus will not stand the pressure that exists at that depth.”
The Andelana remains a piece of Tacoma maritime lore. Salvage attempts in the early 20th century were often as dangerous as the shipwrecks themselves, highlighting the deadly industrial risks laborers faced in the pursuit of wealth.
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