Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-03-16
HIGH And DRY
U. 5. Steamship Gileni Lies
on Sands Of Glyhead.
Wrecked BY Strsns Current In 4 Dansa
foS.
After Seven Hours 0trugglo with
sWavss Hen eavsd.

NEw BEDFORD, March l5.-Never since
the memorable wreck aud total destruction
Of the Savannah line steamer City Of
Columbus has this old whaling hamlet been
| 90 thoroughly excited ~ ii has become dur
| ing the late hours Of this afternoon and
evening. since the receipt here Of meagre
dispatch announcing that the United SsAies
steamers Galena and Nina had foundered
last night OF the south aide Of Gay HeAi,
near the scene Of that former wreck. bv
striking on . sunken ledge during thick
fog.
The drst intimstion Of the affair was re-
! ceived here shortly before 4 o'clock, and
the news spread like wildfre.
The first report vas contained in the fol-
lowing dispatch. which Was received by
James Taylor, collector Of this port:
VIsErARD HAVEN, March IA, 1891.
JAMES TAYLOR, collector port Of New Bed
ford:
U. S steamships Nina and Gslena ashore
on the hesch. one mile south of GAY Head
light. request revenue cutter with one
weeks rstions for II men Immediately at
Gay Head landing. All hands safe.
GEORGE A. BIcKNELL.
Lieutenant. Commander.
The ststen,ents contained in this dispatch
we're highly msgnifed, and the rumors Of
| Q terrible collision, with the loss Of hun
dreds Of human lives. filed the air and
furnished excitement for the multitude.
The officers ard crew. II in number.
were taken off by the Galens's boats and
the b,eeches buoy. sent from the shore by
| the Massachusetts Humaoe Society's sta
tion located at Gay Head.
| At late hour this evening there is n re-
! port current to the effect tina. the crews of
the two boats have been transported in
wagons from GAY Head to Vineyard Haven.
ard by boats from the lstteS plscs to
Woods Hoil, whence they have been sent
by special train to Boston. The report
comes in roundabout way from Woods
Holl. and its suthentcy has not yet been
estsblished.
The locality where the vessels struck and
fonndered are described by seafariuR men
here ss one Of the most dangerous along
the Atlantic coast. II 10 on the opposite
side Of the Island frsm the City Of Colum-
bus disaster, sbou. a mile from the
| sOutheriy end of Gay Head. The bay At
this point is veritable net work of sunken
| lodges. sand bars and reef, making naviea-
ton extremely difficult and attended with
| considerable danger, even in the best of
weather. In stormy weather the breaking
Of the sea over these sunken distractions
is Tremendous, and makes navigation prsc-
ticSlly impossible.
Added to these dangers there was hanging
over the coast last night a fog SO dense that
| observation was possible only q few rods
distant between sunset and sunrise.
Why the officers of the Geiena aud
Nina should have s.tempted to continue
on their course under the circumstances
| is question 60 which none of the local
mariners seem to wish 10 venture an ans
wer, as 1t is the almos. unanimous opinion
Of those most familiar with the navigation
of BuzzNd's bay and Vineyard sound that
under no conditions, or at least, only under
the most imperative ones, would they have
dared 10 attempt to pilot vessel through
the channels on such a night.
The chances are that, in whatever loca-
tion the vessels mas have struck, they will
undoubtedly go to pieces, as the sea Is still
very light in the bsy, and is always much
more boistefous in the vicinity Of the Head
during storm. and the locality lie such
that no assistance will be able to reach
them until the sea subsi1es.
Coupled with these unfavorable condi-
| tions is the fact thai both of the stranded
craft are Old and probably wholly unable
| to Withstand the terrible humping on the
| rocks which they must be receiving at the
| fury of the waves. The officers aud crews
| OF both vessels are being cared for at the
| residence cf natives at Gay Head. They
saved nothing from the wreck, having left
| the vessels hastily bringing with them no
| personal effects other than what they wore.
| The Galens is an old-time modern screw
vessel (thifd rste) of 1900 tons displace
ment, and was built at Norfolk. Va, in
| 1871, and rebuilt in 1878 She is ZIG feet
long, 81 feet wide and brig rigged. and for
n long time bss been laid up in ordinary at
the navy yard, New York She WAS being
| towed 10 the Portsmouth navy yard TO
undergo repairs. preparatory to gong into
commission, and had three Few boilers on
bosrd.
q ovsrp m ,nt Tug Wreck d While Com.
ing to Rescue.
New BEDFORD, Mass, March l5.--The
government tug Trians went ashore on
Schooner ledge, Cuttyhuuk, at this
morning. She now lies brosdsije On with
the tide ebbing and flowing in her.
| The vessel was g,ing to Galena, mis-.
taking Csnnipitsett for Tsupaulin Cove,
headed in. The life savers found her
coming in. and not having red FIRE, burned
A ash lights. The vessel did not see them
and went ashore. The tug has two holes
in her bottom.