New-York tribune., 1896-01-26

immediate exigency could arise requiring haste
lying. the ship was. within three hundred feee
OF the shore and on a Swallowing beach. The
next thing was the mail. OF which the steamer
had on board something like two hundred bags
So the crews Of the lifeboats, clad in life belts
and rubber boots and coats. stood by and
waited as patiently as they might for whatever
was to turn up. These men OF the life-saving
service are stolid philosophers every one. They
know nothing but the business they have in
hand They obey orders with the precision OF
clock-work machinery. Each man is tooth
in the cog fitting the Jaw Of his neighbor with
a nicely that is admirable. Thus 1t was that
when daylight came and the big hull lying 30
close TO the sandy shore was for the first time
visible. everything was in readiness for work
Of whatever character might be demanded.
While there had been some uneasiness among
the passengers many Of whom were aroused
by the first stroke Of the bow upon the sand,
there was no sign Of panic. The breeches buoy
was rugged to the mast forward and well up
toward the trees so as to give Q sweep
for the bending cable clear Of the surf In case
II should have to be brought into use. and the
passengers In consequence were unaware OF Its
presence until the fact had been made known
to them by the officers. AS soon as all was
ready the fact OF its connection made
the option Of going ashore or of remaining on
board. The fact, too, was emphasized that
they would incur no danger by staying where
they were and even Of going to bed and getting
their beauty sleep before breakfast.
Owing to the lghtness OF the blow the offi-
GERS and those within the immediate vicinage
OF the vessel thought that 1t would be a matter
OF no great difficulty t. dslodge her with the
coming OF daylight. The engines. of course. had
been reversed soon the contact was felt,
but pull they would. the propellers could
make impression That the st. Paul was
hard and fast ignobly tied to a sand bar. had
to be recognized however humiliating such .
confession must Of necessity be. and with the
wind blowing and the tide rolling at its flood.
as II was when she first struck. 1t was plain
To be that the task would not become
easier time went on. She struck bow on. and
it was stated that at first her bow was pointing
almost due NORTH but she swung around Under
the influence of the current. and by noon her
nose was to the south. and little inshore.
This. however. due to the fact that she had
gone hard aground in the sand and mud almost
amidships. leaving bow and stern swinging free.
IN NINE FEET OF WATER.
AS the day advanced the stern settled moro
and more. due possibly to the hammering which
which pounded that feature upward until at
3 o'clock it bore a decidedly retrousse appear
ance. and wagged backward and forward under
the impetus of the arriving and departing swells
which firted with it and threw foam over It
as the wind blew IL and caught the spray up In
giant handfuls and cast 1t high up In the air
and washed the black sides OF the helpless
monster till they glistened In the half-sunsiine
of the afternoon. Ii did not seem possible 50
plant was the forward end. that there could
be any great difficulty ahead of the wrecking
tugs which were hustng about at safe dis
tance. but II took the experts to reveal that
there would be only nineteen feet or water amid
ships at high tide. or o'clock and that at 10"
tide she lying in only nine feet or water.
the rest. according TO native oeihs san"
and mud OF very uncertain texture and misnV
slippery variety.
1t is notorious Of this part Of the Long Branen
coast that II Is exceedingly changeabl~ ana
where there is a channel to-day there IL likely
to be a shallow tomorrow. This was possibly
the reason why Mr. Merritt looked 30 serious
when he was asked as to the possible limit OK
time required to release the vessel Contrary
currents prevail here. They wash hther ana
Won with absolute irresponsibility, and II 10
urged that the captain Of the 81. Paul should
have known from these In what danger ne was
running his vessel These are matters. however.
for expert minds and lave nothing to do with
the news record. He would not have gone there
IL he had known: that much Is apparent and
how could he-kp9w it with fog mantlins the
face OF the low-brsged coast of Jersey like
blanket. Whether he coh,d, have seen the High.
land Light is conundrum Impossible Of answer
at this time.
The fact that the Campania was only saved
Att Il
of The coast patrol. who happened to be near her
danger point just In the nick Of time. gives food
for thought in any analysis Of causes which led
to disastrous and deplorable an effect as the
stranding OF the noble steamer. Her patron