Archaeologists still think there were nine sailors on submarine
Saturday, May 5, 2001
BY SCHUYLER KROPF
Of The Post and Courier staff
The manpower that drove the Hunley apparently was not
as strong as originally thought.
Instead of eight cranking Confederates, there were
seven.
Archaeologists still believe nine sailors were on
board the sub, but there appear to be only seven hand positions for the
Hunley's hand-turned propeller shaft.
And in another design enlightenment, the propeller
shaft doesn't run the length of the crew compartment, as previously thought.
The shaft stops at an area near the forward hatch.
The remaining space is taken up by an air
bellows, a leather and wood bag that, when pumped, circulated
breathable air through the sub via two snorkel pipes protruding from the top
deck.
The eighth man was apparently assigned to the air
pump full time.
"We were greatly surprised that the crank ended
at Grid Two (near the
front hatch)," project manager Bob Neyland said at a press conference
Friday.
The shaft is connected to the starboard (right) wall
of the sub's interior by a series of brackets. The crew, meanwhile, apparently
all sat on the left side while they cranked the sub.
The shaft apparently is connected to cranking gears
at the rear of the sub that bring the momentum back to center and to the
propeller.
The sub's speed probably didn't suffer as a result of
having only seven men to power it, Neyland said, adding that historical
records show the sub made a speed of 4-5 knots.
Hunley Commission Chairman Glenn McConnell said the
bellows could play a key role in determining how the sub sank, which still
remains a mystery.
About three-quarters of the sub has been excavated so
far, but not the area forward of the front hatch where sub commander Lt.
George Dixon would have been stationed.
More insight about life aboard the sub was also
disclosed Friday. Archaeologists have found another canteen inside, the bottom
base of a wax candle and a second pencil.
The excavation is still weeks from completion. The
excavation team now is looking for ways to remove the bellows so they can get
to the forward section where Dixon's remains are believed to be. The team
spent Friday afternoon X-raying the area.
The remains of eight
Hunley sailors have been discovered so far.
