The New York herald., 1874-12-16
a STEAMERS WONDERFUL ESCAPE.
Statement OF Captain Greve, OF tho
Steamship Auguste Andre-Blown ON


Statement OF Captain Greve, OF tho
Steamship Auguste Andre-Blown on
the ShoaI.
During the gale OF Sunday n'gst the ocean
steamship Augnste Andre was stranded on the
Romer Snoal In the Lower Bay. She was blown
OF tae SAID s..oal BY the combined erort OF the
wind and tide Monday night and yesterday, and
arrived at her wharf a. Harbeck's stores, In
BROOKLYN. HERALD reporter conversed with her
commander Captain Greve, last evening, and the
following 10 his version OF the AFFAIR. The CAPT ain
Is Holiander, whose reputation as sailor stands
hien. He formerly commanded the ship Free
Trade which sailed out OF this port:-
CAPTAIN GREvE's sTArEMENr.
am commander OF the ocean steamship Au-
guste Anore, mailing rom Antwerp and be longing
TO the White Cross line. The following Is a MS
tory OF our strauding on the Komer Shoal I'll
was on the bridge OF my steamer NJ past
eleven on Sunday night, with my second oflcer.
Mr.. Maliaisant and the SANDY Hook pilot, Mr..
Isaac Gaylord. whom we had taken on board
about diteen miles TO the east OF Fire Island, We
had just passed Sandy Hook and were heading
up the Lower Bay. The weather was cloudy and
thick with ram; the wind was from soutb-south-
west. The first thing tnat noticed which caused
me to tnlnI that we were going cut
OF bur course was q buoy the port
side. l sang out to the pilot, informing
him OF 1t. The helm was put hard Q starboard,
bat 1t was too late, and we stranded on the Romer
SHOALS. SAID :-"fIot we are ashore;'' out he
replied that ne could not believe II. There are
two lgh s on staten Island TO steer by through
the Swash ChanneL One light the lower one,
was considerably to the south when we struck.
They oughf, believe. to be a very little open
while ling up the said channel. Although Imake
hfu rk .ln
pilot grounds. Tue ship channel. nearly always
as dangerous as the Swash Channel, up which the
pilot was taking US. The Swash Is, however, q
shorter cut. We drew about seventeen leet.
EFFORTS USED TO GET OFF THE sH0AL.
Directly alter We struck we tried 10 back at full
speed then tried to go ahead and made nnal
efforts to back; but were hard and fast, and at
q quarter TO one on Sunday morning we ceased
making further attempts In this direction. then
called my officers and several OF the crew Into my
cabin and we held q consultation as TO hat was
the best thing to be done under the circumstances
and the unanimous decision was that we should
commence lighteLing the vessel by throwing cargo
overheard. We then opened the middle hatcn, aud
all the officers and crew, likewise fremen,
stewards and others, lent willing hand in
throwing overheard beetrOot sugar, OF which
we threw about 700 bags-say seventy tons-which
kept us busy till daylight. During the dark hours
threw up rockets as signal OF distress, to
which the tugboat Meyers responded, and en-
gagged her captain to stand by me till daylight.
subsequently engaged the steamer Craw ord to
take up the thirteen st. Franciscan nuns and the
two otner passengers to Brooklyn, SO that what
ever happened to the steamer, they might bs out
Of aanger. Inc nuns behaved molly. They are
nearly all from Aix-la-ChapelIe. We went on the
snoal at nlgn water, ana Wien the tide mad fallen,
about SIX iee I.tnlnk. the vessel keeed over con-
slderablY 10 tle port side.
TUGS HAULING AT THE STEAMSHIP.
At flood toe on Monday morning. at nine
engine astern at iul speed. At nal-past ten A. M.
saw that no progress was being made and engaged
lhird tug 10 combine with the other two; out,
alter breaking our hawsers several times and the
tide falling. resolved to abandon lurtier attempts
for the time being. About this time the Coast
Wrecking UompAny's steamer came alongside aud
Oilered assistance; but as the water lad ia en
was unable 70 avail myself oi the company's SER
wees.
81. In the afternoon the wlnd blew fearful gale
and we lost nothing. At two O'CLOCK lighters to
receive cargo came. alongside, sent down by
Mes>rs. Funch. Edge Co.. the steamers AGENTS.
They were under the charge OF the firms steve
dore, Mr.: Howard. VINO nad brought large lorce
the gale and the heavy sea running, could rot
stay Alongside. The wind Increased in violence
hOur Dy hOur, stu coming rom the northwest
The GALE BLOWS THE STEAMER OFF THE SHOALS
Night came upon US, win q heavy sea ana very
and surprise, our steamship began to aoat. and we
felt glad that had helped the snip Dy tightening
her, winch had made acr lew lncleS liglter
draugnt. The engines were backed, and after
going astern for about hall a mile we anchored In
SIX lath0ms o. water IN the swash Channel aud
awaited daylight
LEAK DISCOVERED IN THE AFTER HOLD.
While we were stranded we repeatedly tried the
pumps, but we only discovered a leak Of an lncOn-
slderable extent In the after hold, and which DO
not think viii damage the cargo to any extent
Tor the iower part Of the cargo there consists OF
glass.
PROCEEDS UP THE BAY.
At nine O'Clock TINS morning (ruesday) we
raised our ancuors and steamed to New York and
10 our dock at Haroeck's stores. IN Brooklyn, con-
graduating ourselves upon the snip's wonderful
escie. our voyage was very rough one at the
commencemenf aud our COOK was struck Dy a sea
winch Caused the breaking OF ms leg. Another
sea struck a steward anl threw him down, caus-
ing IA bad scalp wound. IT the Auguste Andre mad
hot been sol,diy built craft, with q good strong
BOTTOM she would nave dumped herself to pieces
In lOu on Bay, In the Mediterranean, under the
lnspectlon OF the French Bureau verias. Size is or
ABOUT 1000 tons burden, !. 2io feet long, 80 leet
cIpally owned by MeS3rs. Sielnmann IL Ludwig, OF
Antwerp. Belgium.
WHAT PILOT COMMISSIONER BLUNT SAYS
Up to five O'CLOCK LAST nignt the piivt OF the
Auguste Andre, MIR. Isaac GAYLORD. had failed to
make any report to fhe Plot commissioners OF
his accident III running the vessel asho e. Pilot
Commissioner Blum expressed himsell as aston.
nlsned this omission OF duty ol said pilot, aud
SAID, lurher that Nj. GAYLORD ranks one Oh
their very best pilots. Mr.. Gaylord WILL doubt
less, make his statement to-day, alter ca the
matter Will officially examined into Dy the
Commissioners
1t is reported that the beetroot sugar thrown
overheard came consigned TO Messrs. Fuller
Aidama ana Havemeyer Elders sugar re-
nueries.