The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-10-10
STILL ON THE ROCKS.
How the Massachusetts, stood Monday Nights
Storm What the Divers Say.

GREEvPoRr, Oct "a storm very similar
to the one that prevailed when the paaco
steamer Massach usetts foundcred on the rocks
off Marion. began on Monday at midnight. and
continued with increasing severity until after
noon. Tho helpless steamer pinioncd to the
shore by rocks that pierce her hull and rocks
that press her sides. lay quietly In tho foamng
water. for the course Of the gale was such that
tho bluffs OF Long Island sheltered her. Far
out in the Sound. and further yet beyond Orient
Point. where the sea md tho Sound come to-
gother. the waves were mountainous. and
bank Of mist rested on them. but nearer at hand
these biilows were nattcnqd out and chopped
into rugged white caps, seldom large enough 70
break over the guard Of the wreck, The people
along shore. who make study OF the weather
part of their regular occupation, say that after
the rain the storm will alter its character. and
will end in u severe gale from the northeast or
north. II this should come to pass the Massa-
chusetts would he torn apart and dashed TO
pieces. and nothing could be done TO save her.,
Blindly and without hope OF success tho OH
ccrs OF the Providence and StoningtOn Company
have endeavored to conceal the worst that has
been discovered about tho condition OF tho
wreck. From the morning after the accident en-,
slightly injured, and all that needed to be done
was TO pump her out and float her, on" The
facts are even worse than the wreckers mag
ined. Tho diyers-thcre arc nyc on board now
-nnishcd their inspection Of the battered hull
plain whit they discovered and to Locate tho
many fractures and punctures they found
would serve Tor picture OF 2 sunken. riddled
Fore and att underneath. and on the sides. the
rocks upon which she thumped all the morning
Of the accident. have made breaches in her.
The largest thus far found is just aft the wheel.
on the starboard Side. diver. after he had ex-
umined It, told a bontman on the wreck that he
could row mis- boat through it.
1t IS not yet positively known whether the
engine and boilers and soc,ncd every timber
amidships Is n big rock or ridge OF stone ana
earth across which the vessel lies. II has been
decided. however. that II will not do to try To
pump her out and float her oil until an in
genious and difli ult operation has been per
/ formcd-thnt of building inside the null num-
Der Of watrr-tight bulkheads. which, being
cmpticd Of the water in them, will be buoynnt
enough 10 float the gront vessel when the tide
shall be favorable. These bulkhcads will con;
them n the watcr-il'ed space below decks. II
may he weeks before the Massachusetts Is
/ foaird or. New pumps are being set up In tho
/ great dining saloon. IN the grand saloon en-
/ tran g. and In the forward part Of the vessel
whore the freight Is usually stored. The boile r.
! that furnish power TO the pumps protrude
/ from the gangways upon the outer deck so that
/ their smoke tunnels are in the open air, There
/ are i've OF these pumps, and when all are NJ
! work nearly 400 barrels of water can be raise
! from ,he hold IN an hour.
/ The barge loaded with freight and the wrork-
/ Ing company schooner that came with hawsers
/ and t1pis were fastened To- the wreck throughout
/ the storm Of last night ana to-day, ana wrr9
and sea. The Frances. which is steamboat oi
| about the size Of one Of the Harlem or Astoria
bouts. managed yesterday to pass complet"iy
| around the Massachusetts, meeting with no OBJ
| stucly until she grounded for a moment or two
upon a rock or ledge near tho bow OF IN,
wreck. But few who know the beach whereon
| the wrc'k Is lying would have believed TINS
! possible. had it not been done. II shows that
The wr"cker- will find plenty Of water after they
| once ioa. the great steamer.