The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-02-01
ST. PAUL FAST IN THE SAND.
THE EFFORTS TO FLOAT HER
STILL UNSUCCEssFUL.


The Wreckers Fearful OF StraininE
the ship II They Allow Too many
Tugs 10 Haul on IIer-FOur Now
Pulling ON Her without Moving
Her From Her POsitIon-She VIII
Have To he Moved GOO Feet.
New York. Jan. Sl.-Four tugs OF the
Merritt Wrecklng Company were at work
this morning in another vain endeavor
to pull the big American steamship ST.
Paul out OF the sand of Long Branch.
Despite the efforts of the tug boats, the
St Paul refused to bulge. and there is
little likelihood OF getting her off the
beach into deep water until the wind blows
from the east.
Since the st. Paul has been stranded high
tides have come and gone. and with each
unsuccessful effort to float the ship. the
wreckers have hoped that the next high
tide would see her in deep water. But the
weather conditions have been against
them. 1t was the same this morning. The
water did not rise any higher than It did
yesterday. This is the last day that the
wreckers can hope for spring tide.
Preparations to haul on the st. Paul were
begun at the usual hour this morning
-
have been used In hauling on the st. Paul,
and most of the time only two. The
Wreckers might have used innumerable
tug boats in the work, but they have been
afraid of straining the ship. For this
reason the work has been done carefully.
II was deemed advisable by Capt. Mer-
rift to-day, however to press another tug
into the service. The four boats We're
placed directly astern Of the ship, two
Indian fashion, and when the 81 gnal at 5
o'clock an hour before the time
for high tide, they they began haul haul
ing from the stern of the ship 10 the tug
boats, a half mile away. soon pulled taut,
and then began TO stretch, showing that
little progress was being made In moving
the ship. From the shore she did not APP
pear to have moved much in the hour IL
was evidently the same story-the st.
Paul sticks fast
Pulling away at her stern had the ef-
feet only of moving that end little OF
shore The Wreckers have now abandon
ed all idea OF getting the ST. Paufs stern
directly of shore in the hope OF getting
her propellors into deep water They tried
that plan with one tug and the big kedge
| anchors buried IN the sand Oft shore The
| plan was originally adopted because by
! sounding toward the sea off the port side
/ of the ship as she points to the south, II
| was found that she could be hoated lOl
! feet at right angles from the spot where
| she is now Graded in the sand. The at
| tempt to haul the ships stern out TO sea
| threatened to strain the huh and was al
| so responsible for her heavy list to port
| The tugs to-day We're hauling the ship or
/ line with her keel IN the sand, that Is
| to say without trying to twist her sterr
| seaward. Before abandoning the first plant
| the wreckers took soundings In the direc
tion which they contemplated hauling tht
ship. They found that IL will be neces
| sary TO haul the St Paul her entire
| length, or nearly six hundred feet, TO ge
| the ship into deep water This gives ths
| work OF getting the ship off the beach Q
more difficult aspect. The wind this
| morning was northwest, blowing lightly
when the tugs began to work BY O'Clock
| Il hauled around to the northeast and the
sea began to get choppy. The wind was
! not strong enough, however, to make any
| great difference in the rise of the tide.
| While spring tides are now practically
| over so far as the present Is concerned
| the wreckers still hope for an easterly
| wind to help the St Paul off.
Life saving station No reports that ar
| attempt was made to pull the St. Pau
| off tonight, but without success.
Long Branch, N. j., Jan. H.-The posi-
| ton of the ST. Paul remains unchanged
tonight Bulletins are displayed predict
ing a northeast storm before Sunday. II
| II is too severe, the tugs will be compelled
| to abandon work on the steamer and make
! for a harbor. Tonight It looks as II the
| predictions would be verified. The wind
| comes from the northeast and Is getting
| stronger every hour.