The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-03-01
THE STEAMER NEW YORK ASHORE
struck I'm Fog While Coming Up the
Channel to New York.


New York, Feb Ze-Oncs more the IN
ternational Navigation Company has had
a streak Of bad luck with one OF its steam
ers. Early this morning. during a thick
fog. the fast ocean racer. New York. ran
aground on the tail OF the west bank. a
mile 10 the south q Swinourne island ana
about 1899 yards west OF the ship chan
mel. Tfp 70 80 this evening the fog had
not lifted. and az that time IL looked as
II the weather would get thicker during
the night The first and second cabin
passengers. with their baggage. as Well
the mails. were transferred by steam
er from the ship 10 this city. The Storage
passengers may be taken on later tonight,
but II Is more than likely they Will remain
on board until tomorrow The AsScclaied
Press dispatched a representative on spe-
cdai tug with instructions 10 locate ne
New YORK a task which was no easy
one considering that one could scarcely
see two boat lengths ahead through the
drifting rain and thick fog.
Shortly after l o'clock the lines Of the big
steamer doomed up dead ahead. and IL was
easily seen that the American liner was
hard and fast in the sand and mud She
lay perfectly helpless. headed northeast
She drew seventeen feet aft and fifteen feet
forward, leaving a 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 ii would seem that she is inn
bedded about FIVE feet I'm the muddy and
sandy bank. The Quickstep bell buoy bears
east-northeast Of the stranded steamer. and
IL Is just possible that the pilot may have
mistaken this bell for the one which Is
placed at the Junction of the swash and
ship channels.
When the tug drew UP alongside the yes
sci the passengers crowded to the rails and
- foIf astr nd
no excitement on board. None of the Off
GERS or the captain Of the ship could be In
duced TO make any statement IN reference
10 the accident. The name Of the pilot Who
had charge Of the vessel when she
grounded was also kept a secret. One
OF the passengers. Robert Woodhonse.
Of Grahamstown, South Africa. said that
he was on deck at $50 this morning when
the pilot was taken aboard. About an hour
later the ship came 10 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 az the
time, and the ship was enveloped In thick
fog. which was so dense that objects on
deck could not be seen more than twenty
feet away.
The Merritt wrecking Company's boat
n <. Arnott, was the first 10 reach the
steamer this forenoon. and Capt {. II.
Grant. who Is In command OF the New
York Immediately dispatched one OF his
officers on the Arnott 70 quarantine 10
make arrangements for the transfer OF The
passengers and mails 10 this city. A num-
Der OF boats were hurriedly dispatched 10
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 as the mails and baggage or the
cabin passengers had been lowered over
he f4ref aud gaeGn4-rfass mas
sengers were transferred 10 the George 5.
Starr The main gangway was lowered
for their convenience and they left the ship
quickly without the slightest exhibition
OF haste or anxiety
The Starr proceeded 20 quarantine.
where Dr. Doty was in readiness. and then
came on 10 this city. reaching the COM
pany's dock at o'clock. just about twelve
hours later than If the accident had not
occurred. The steamer John +. Moore ar
rived al the same hour with the baggage.
After the steamers had left the New York
the wrecking company's derrick was
rIscsf alongside. for the purpose Of light
ering the vessel. and az the same time four
OF the company's tugs had lines 10 the
New York's port and starboard bows. The
wind changed at - from south 10 north
east. and there was a heavy swell on at
that time.
The wrecking tugs are all in sadness
20 attempt 20 haul the steamer Of at
foodtide tonight. Capt. Hank Williams
az the j. n. Jones. said this evening that
ne was doubtful II the ship could be got
OF without having her cargo removed en-
tlreIy. n the attempt tonight Is unsuecess-
M. u IS understood the work Of liga.en-
ing viii be pushed SIS fast as possible. tu
order 20 try and have the New York of
in time 20 sail or her return for SouJhsmp-
ton on her regular sailing dav next
"Wednesday. This IS not the first time
this steamer ha4 been aground IN the low
81 hav. as she vas stuck in the mud OF
Roner shoals about SIX years ago and re-
manned there three DAYS. A. that time
she was owned by The Innlan line. and
was known as the City Of New York
when darkness came tonight the vessel
was lying OF an even keel. and stood rcr-
fectiy upright. without the slightest list