A serious accident occurred in the autumn of 1867 to the mail paddle-steamer the Wolf, belonging to the Messrs.

Burns, of Glasgow.
When passing out of the Lough, about eight miles from Belfast, she was run into by another steamer.

She was cut down and sank, and there she lay in about seven fathoms of water; the top of her funnel and masts being only visible at low tide.

She was in a dangerous position for all vessels navigating the entrance to the port, and it was necessary that she should be removed, either by dynamite, gunpowder, or some other process.

Divers were sent down to examine the ship, and the injury done to her being found to be slight, the owners conferred with us as to the possibility of lifting her and bringing her into port.
Though such a process had never before been accomplished, yet knowing her structure well, and finding that we might rely upon smooth water for about a week or two in summer, we determined to do what we could to lift the sunken vessel to the surface.
We calculated the probable weight of the vessel, and had a number of air-tanks expressly built for her floatation.