The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-03-01
THE NEW YORK ASHORE.
Run Into q Sand and Mud Dank Dur
ing a Fog.

Run Into a Sand and Mud Dank Dur
ing a Fog.
NEW YORK, Feb 29.-Once more the
International Navigation Company has had
a streak of bad luck with one Of its steam
ers. Early this morning, during thick
fog, the fast ocean racer New York ran
aground on the tail of the west bank,
mile to the south Of Swinburne island and
about a thousand yards west of the ship
channel Up TO 5sse O'Clock this evening
the fog had not lifted. and at that time it
looked as IL the weather would be thicker
during the night. The first and second
cabin passengers, with their baggage, as
well as the mails, were transferred by
steamer from the ship to this city. The
steerage passengers may be taken off later
tonight, but it is more than likely that
they will remain on board until tomorrow.
The Associated Press dispatched a repre-
sentative on a special tug, with instructions
to locate the New York. task which was
no easy one, considering that one could
scarcely see two boat-lengths ahead through
the drifting rain and thick fog. Navigation
in the upper bay was dangerous under
taking such weather. Shorty after o'clock
the lines Of the big steamer, with her three
smokestacks, loomed UP dead ahead Of the
tug and 1t was easily seen that the Amer
lean liner was hard and fast in the sand
and mud. There she lay, perfectly helpless
and headed northeast. She drew seventeen
feet aft and fifteen feet forward, leaving
space OF nearly eight feet below her
water line visible. One of the blades of
the propeller on the port side was half
exposed above water, and from her draught
1t would seem that she is imbedded about
five feet in the muddy and sandy bank.
The quickstep bell buoy bears east by north
east Of the stranded steamer, and is is lust
possible that the pilot may have mistaken
this bell for the one which is placed at
the junction of the swash and ship chan
ne,s.
When the tug drew up alongside the vessel
the passengers crowded to the rails and said
they felt no uneasiness and that there was
no excitement on board. None of the off,
GERS nor the captain Of the ship could be
induced to make any statement in refer
ence to the accident. The name of the pilot
who had charge OF the vessel at the time
she grounded was also kept a profound
secret. One of the passengers, Mr.. Robert
Wcodhouse, Of Grahamstown, South Africa,
said that he was on deck at half past 8
o'clock this morning when the pilot was
taken aboard. About an hour later the ship
came to a sudden stop while he was in his
berth. When he went on deck again he was
informed that she was aground. 1t was
raining heavily at the time and the ship
was enveloped in a thick fog, which was
SO dense that objects on deck could not be
seen more than twenty feet away Mr.
Woodhouse said that the passengers had
taken the matter phiosophically and were
thankful that nothing worse had happened.
OF course. there was a good deal of grum-
bling on account of the uncertainty of many
OF them reaching their destinations in good
time. but on the whole they were a rather
cheerful lot.
The Merritt Wrecking Company's boat
d. s. Arnott, Immediately dispatched one of
its officers on the Arnott to quarantine to
make arrangements for the transfer OF the
passengers and mGds to this city. A number
OF boats were hurriedly dispatched to the
New York. The work OF transferring the
baggage and mails was begun at o'clock
by about sixty men, Who had been sent
down from this city by the company AS
soon the mails and baggage OF the cabin
passengers had been lowered over the side
the first and second-class passengers were
transferred to the George Starr. The main
gangway was lowered for their convenience,
| and they left the ship quietly without the
slightest exhibition OF haste or anxiety
When they were all safely aboard. the Starr
got under way. AS she left the side OF the
New York the passengers cheered Justify
for the company. the captain and the crew.
The Starr then headed for quarantine, where
DR.. Doty was In readiness. The Starr then
came on to this city and reached the COM
-
hours later than IL the accident had not
occurred. The steamer John T.. Moore ar
rived at the same hour with the baggage.
After the steamers had left the New York
the wreckng company's derrick was placed
alongside for the purpose Of lightering the
vessel and At the same time four OF the