Bewley, Webb and Co
of Dublin
1869 Thomas Walpole left Walpole, Webb and Bewley which then became known as Bewley and Webb.
1870 'A NEW USE FOR BALLOONS.
All our notions in connection with balloons relate to their employment for traversing the air. The idea of turning them to account for the purposes of practical locomotion has long been a will-o’-the-wisp to men of sanguine temperament, but nothing has come of the attempts in this direction except derision from the multitude and disappointment to the projectors. It has been reserved for these times to witness the application of balloons to a purpose for which they would seem very little adapted — that of raising sunken vessels. Some operations which are now being conducted in the Mersey, will enable us shortly to judge the practical value of balloons employed as a lifting power under such novel circumstances. It will remembered that the steam-tug, Brother Jonathan, after she had been in collision, foundered just off the southern extremity of the Prince’s stage. Some efforts were made to raise her, but without success, and finally Messrs. Bowley [sic] and Webb, of Dublin, who have secured the patent for using balloons in work of this description, were applied to. They have undertaken the task of raising the Brother Jonathan, and operations under the direction of Mr. Maquay, the original patentee, were commenced some days since. To raise the Brother Jonathan there will be employed four balloons calculated to have lifting power of 40 tons, twenty of 20 tons, and twelve of ten tons, making total of 680 tons, The sunken tug does not itself probably weigh more than 400 tons, but then she is full of mud aft, and there is seven feet of mud forward, so that her weight will be largely increased. With plenty of balloon power, Mr. Maquay is sanguine enough to think that, when all is ready, a vessel could be floated in 20 minutes. In the present instance he is rather deficient in apparatus, and calculates that it will take three or four hours before sufficient lifting power is obtained to raise the Brother Jonathan. '[1]
1870 'LIFTING OF A STEAM-TUG.
The operations for lifting the steam-tug Brother Jonathan, (sunk off the George's Basin, Liverpool) by submarine balloons is progressing favourably. The first balloon was submerged on the 7th inst., placed under the deck, fastened by means of a firm gripper, to the kelson, and successfully inflated - a result which was recorded by three hearty cheers. There are several other balloons to be fixed, some inside and some outside the vessel. The day when the attempt will be made to lift the vessel will be publicly announced. The balloons are made of airproof and waterproof rubber cloth, shaped like balloons and covered with a strong rope network, to which the lifting attachments are made. The mode of inflation is very ingenious. Metal cylinders, fitted with pipes and valves communicating with the mouths of the balloons, are charged with zinc filings and sulphuric acid. They are then lowered into the water, the opening of the valves allows the zinc particles to fall into the acid, hydrogen gas — so much lighter than common air — is rapidly evolved and conducted to the interior of the balloon. When inflation is complete a stop-cock shuts the gas securely in the balloons, aided by the pressure of the surrounding water. The services of a diver are required in the process of inflation.' [2]
The plan may have failed, as we find this two years later:-
1872 'The Raising of the Tug Brother Jonathan — The tug Brother Jonathan, which has for the past two years been sunk near the south end of the Prince's landing stage, Liverpool, was yesterday raised by means of two large iron "camels" or wreck lifters. About 11.50, just as the tide commenced to ebb, the word was given to "let go," when the tugs and lifters slipped their moorings, and moved off with the wreck towards Egremont, where it was beached. The wreck was raised by passing large chains round it, and attaching them to the "camels" and tug boats.'[3]