Long levers were passed under her keel, with the fulcrum so
fixed as to give them an elevation of about forty-five degrees. The ends
of these were then fastened together with several cross-beams, upon which
a quantity of stones were placed; the weight of which gradually elevated
one end of the vessel, until the levers reached the ground. Propping up
the bow thus raised, we shifted our levers to the stern, which was in
like manner elevated; and, by repeating this process three or four times,
we lifted her in one day entirely out of the hole (which she had worked
for herself, and which was about four feet deep). The bog that lay
between her and the sea was then filled up with stones, logs of wood were
laid across it, rollers were placed under the vessel, the chain cable
passed round her; and, by the united strength of about 2000 people, she
was compelled to take a short voyage upon the land, before she floated in
her pride on the sea."
In some cases, the body of a cart may be taken down, and deep ruts having
been dug on each side of the mass, the vehicle can be backed, till the
axletree comes across it; then, after lashing and making fast, the sand
can be shovelled from below the mass, which will hang suspended from the
axletree, and may be carted away. Or a sledge may be built beneath the
mass by burrowing below it and thrusting the poles beneath it.
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