The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-10-03
ROMAN ASHORE.
Big Steamer on the Rocks
in Boston Bay.
Caused by, VeSSel's Failure
to Respond to Helm.
II Is Believed She Will Come Off
When She Is Lightened.

Boston, Oct. s.-Ths Warren lins
steamer Roman. Captain Robert Rob
erts, while on her way down the harboi
late yesterday afternoon, ran ashore on
Georges island (Fort Warren), and Is
now hard and fast, with but little pros
pect Of being pulled off for two or three
days The Roman. which is an iron
steamer, of 2Si7 tons burden net, and
1853 gross. was heavily laden with o
miscellaneous cargo, and left her wharf
about o'clock, or three hours before
high water.
She was In charge of Frank Fowler
one of the most experienced pilots ir
the harbor. As usualS a the Vessel pro-
cceded at half speed, reaching the upper
end of the Narrows shortly before {
o'clock The weather, though some.
what misty, did not prevent a range OF
vision, so that as the steamer rounded
the Nix's Mate gas buoy Bug light, al
the lower end of the channel. could be
easily distinguished. The channel, how
ever, for nearly a mile. In only 700 feet
wide, and between Bug light and Fort
Warren makes a turn 60 the northeast
and thence leads straight out to sea by
Boston light. AT the turn on the port
side, near Bug light, a big dredger has
been at work ell summer, and vessels
coming up and down have had to be
extremely careful in passing through
the narrow gut, The shore of Georges
island. opposite Bug light, is composed
Of huge boulders,- and makes an ugly
resting place for any ship.
The Roman, at this point, met small
vessel coming up before light easterly
wind. and the pilot swung the big
steamer to starboard, on the Georges
island side. From some unexplained
reason, the vessel refused to answer her
helm when II was thrown over. and
drove, head first, in the Georges island
shore
At the time the tug Triton was COM
Ing up the lighthouse channel with three
barges, but Immediately dropped them
and proceeded to the assistance OF the
Roman. \ b.s y'"' 20 q was gotten
overheard TO the tug, ai'a with the as
eistance OF the Kate Jones' another tug.
the two. with the steamers propeller
churnng hard back, tried for two hours
20 pull the Roman of, but she would not
bulge an inch, and with the receding
tide the officers reluctantly gave up
hope Of getting her off for the present.
The Leyland liner Lancastrlan went
ashore almost In the same place three
years ago, and nearly oil her entire cargo
had TO be removed before she came ON
Shipping men do not anticipate that Tho
Roman will meet the fate of the vene.
tian and prove a total wreck. but they
all admit it will take some time to tighten
her SO that she Will come off The
steamer is in a perfectly safe place 80
far as a heavy storm Is concerned.
The Roman is 405 feet long, and was
built I'm Birkenhead. Eng. in 1854. by
Laird Bros she IL owned by the Brit
ish and North Atlantic Steamship com
pany Richard Mills & Co. of Liverpool
being her agents. She IL chartered by
Warren & Co, and has been plying be-
tween Boston and Liverpool for 10 years.
Another unfortunate fact connected
with the grounding OF the Roman is
that as her stern is well out into the
channel II nearly blocks thewaterway az
this point. and as a large number Of large
steamers sail from this port today. in
ending the Cunarder Catalonia. nearly
eli will have great difficulty In getting
past. The Roman carried no passen-
sers, being used exclusiyS- for freight.