The herald., 1896-01-27
Despite the Efforts of a Fleet
of Tugs
GOTHAMITES FLOCK TO SEE
Heroic Efforts to Relieve the Stranded
st. Paul
The Vessel Is Not Injured, and 1t Is Believed
She viii Be Floated Without
r1uch Damage.
Associated Press Special Wire

dent G. A. Griscom and all the otner repre-
sentatives of the Internationl Navigation
company, popularly known as the Amerl-
can line, have taken decidedly more
hopeful view of the situation OF the
stranded steamer st. Paul. They place
great reliance on the Merritt & Chapman
company, who have charge of the pulling
off of the big steamer, and they hope to
have the St. Paul at her berth at the foot
of Vesey street, New York, before the end
of this week. The vessel is now about
100 feet further toward the northeast than
efforts of the wrecking tugs, which were
hard at work to relieve her about 4
O'Clock this morning, and it is thought
she will be further eased before
daylight tomorrow. The crowds of
siphtseers which were in evidence yester-
day we're more than doubled today. Ve-
hicles of all descriptions were pressed into
service, and when they were all jumbled
together near the end of Ocean avenue,
East Long Branch, they presented very
lively sight. 1t is safe to say there is
scarcely person who resides within
twenty miles of this place who has not
come to see the big ocean racer lying in
her helpless state within u stones throw of
the Grand View hotel veranda.
today they brought host of Gothamites,
who were anxious to see how the big liner
looked.
The weather today was most enjoyable
and the sea was very calm. The breakers
were not nearly so heavy as on yesterday,
and the surfboats easily put out through
them and brought hundreds OF passengers
around the ship.
The report that the ship Foyle of London,
bound to New York from Calcutta, had
sunk late last night, and one of her life
boats coming ashore off West End this
morning, added considerably to the inter-
est manifested by the visitors as to the
safety of the st. Paul today.
This morning about o'clock, when the
tide was full, there was a heroic attempt
made to pull the steamer out of her dill
Guilty by use of kedge anchors, aided
by her own machinery and the COM
bined power of the tugs Merritt,
The hawsers were strained to their
utmost and the huge bulk creaked and
shivered for fully half an hour under the
lies were finally 'ie' rewarded by seeirg the
hawsers relax, and @ rousing cheer an
uounced to the anxious watchers, who
fit,ed about the beach in the darkness,
tn l, The steamer had been moved a little.
Slowly but surely the st. Paul moved stern
ward in a northeasterly direction, but
ing slid through her sandy bed some fifty
yalds. The tugs kept up their putting and
pulling until o'clock without being able
to maze the vessel bulge an inch further,
and then they left her evidently as deeply
embedded as ever.
throughout the day and was visited by
some representatives of the insurance COM
panies and underwriters who were inter-
ested in the safety of the ship. Two Of
these gentlemen, who refused to give the
names of the companies to which they be.
long. told the reporters they believed the
accident was due to the mistake of the
man who was making the soundings, hav-
ing mistaken the mark seven fathoEns and
announcing it as seventeen fathoms.
The press representatives were not al
lowed on board the boat. but one of their
number managed to elude tire watchful
officers at the gangway and succeeded in
making his way TO the captains cabin.
Captain Jameson, he said, locked rather
blue when he spoke to him. In respons o
to the reporters inquiries the captain said !:
''It is not true that any plates are sprung,
and the vessel is all right. There is no
sign of leaking. The Chapman & Merritt
people, who are in charge of bringing off
the ship, are sangIine of success, and feel
confident that she will move Off very soon,
perhaps after couple of high tides.''
President Griscom sent word to the re-
rorters that he was too busily engaged to
see them, but said that Captain Jameson
had made statement as to how the acci-
dent occurred and he (Griscom) expected
that it would thoroughly vindicate the ST
Paul's commander. The ship was lying
comfortably and in no way injured. The
work of the wreckng company was pro-
g essing satisfactorily and he was sure the
chip would soon he gotten off. This was
all tn president would say.
bao -
between the Merritt company and the
Chapman Wrecking company of Boston as
to who should have the management of the
work. Captain eeeley of the tug Chapman
was the first to make fast hawser to the
disabled steamer, and he claimed a prior
right to the contract. The representatives
of the two companies have come to nu-
tual agreement, however, and are working
in concert.
Captain Walcott of the tug /. j. Merritt.
when seen today, said that there was a
good chance of getting the St. Paul afioat
in very short time. The wind, which is
from the northwest today, is, he said. not
favorable to the work Of floating her. Ac.
cording to the captain, good easterly or
southerly breezs of about twenty knots.
would be more conducive TO swinging her
free and clear than an off shore wind.
CAPTAIN Seeley of the W. L. Chapman
concided with this opinion, and he hopes
10 Seo tIe FOrk accomplished within n
week. About / 0 o'clock this morning two
large LIGHTERS steamed up alongside the St.
Paul and were made fast to her starboafd
quarter and bow. Then their derricks were
put to work and large quantity of bag
gage and perishable freight, such al
oranges, grapes, etc, were taken from the
steamers hod and sent up to New York.
Captain Mulligan of life saving station No.
4 went on the ST. Paul today and after he
came ashore he said the condition of the
ship was improving each succeeding tide
and that she would be off the beach within
a few days. He said Captain Jameson was
not feeling downcast but on the contrary
he was very hopeful.
AT high tide this evening the tug North
Are ica had Eawser attached to the ship,
b ii after half an hours putting and strain
yg he gave up the job, as she made no
ps ceptiole change in the position of the
st. Paul. Between and o'clock tomor-
row an effort will be made with four or five
tnes and the kedge anchors, when it is
hoped The steamer will be pulled farther off
shore.
:. b. a. Jeffery. a wrecking master, who
lives at Eiberon. said today that no matter
what the people say to the contrary. he ia