Photo Catalog Record
Images
Metadata
Title |
Diver W. E. "Winkie" Walker and tenders, April 14, 1954 |
Image # |
2003.2.63.529 |
Object Name |
Negative, Film |
Date |
1954, April 14 |
Photographer |
Saari, Paulu T. |
Location |
Ketchikan, Alaska |
Description |
Diver W. E. "Winkie" Walker and tenders, April 14, 1954 They were attempting to salvage the cargo of a 315-foot barge that sank in Tongass Narrows in December 1953. Among the items salvaged were a brand-new Ford, somewhat the worse for wear after five months under water. Loaded with cement, the barge has resisted several salvage efforts, including one by the U.S. Army just a few years ago. It still lies on the bottom of the narrows, just offshore from the Plaza mall and Safeway store. Ketchikan Daily News article, 4/19/1954 "Sunken Barge Raised, First of Cargo Off. First of the deck cargo of the sunken barge was raised and brought ashore at Northern Machine Works Monday night. The brand new Ford (above) had its top smashed in and most of the fixtures corroded away by salt water. Salvage of the remainder of the cargo is continuing as weather permits. Inspecting the auto are Casey Moran and Ed Jewell and son. A portion of the barge which sunk several months ago is shown above as it appeared last week. The patch covering the hole which sunk the barge is shown by the arrow. This was the eighth time the sunken vessel has been raised with the salvage crew getting control and able to lower and raise it whenever the weather becomes too rough to work on the salvage operation. The crew consists of Casey Moran in charge, W. E. (Winkle) Walker, diver; Bob Erling, tender; and Bob Erling Sr., cook." Ketchikan Daily News article, 2/17/1954 "Barge Raising Delayed by Bad Weather Salvage operations on the barge which sank in Tongass Narrows early in December have been held up by freezing weather, but Casey Moran, who is directing the operation, said today that he expects to start raising it in a few days. Moran said preliminary surveys of .the job have been completed and just one more "patch" has to be applied before they start raising the barge. Plans now are to raise the one low end of the 315-foot barge with an air pump. Moran said a coffer dam would be installed after it was leveled off and the remaining water pumped out be-fore the entire length is lifted. WORKS ON PERCENTAGE Moran, who was salvage officer with the coast guard during the war, is undertaking the salvage operation for a percentage of the gross sales on the merchantable cargo and barge. The barge is owned by Rudolph Johansen who purchased it for salvage from the Puget Sound Tug and Barge company's insurance agents, after the vessel sank December 5. The vessel was en route to Seward with a cargo of cement and a reported six cars and trucks when it hit a rock south of Pennock island and sank near Bar point." |
Provenance |
Donated to the Museum by the Photographer |
Film Size |
4" x 5" |
People |
Saari, Paulu Toivo Walker, W. E. (Winkie) |
Search Terms |
Transportation Transportation, Water Diving |
Credit line |
Ketchikan Museums: Paulu T. Saari Collection, KM 2003.2.63.529 |