The San Francisco call., 1896-02-05
During a Binding Snowstorm
and a Stiff Worcester the
Rescue Is Made.
GRADUALLY MOVED FROM SHORE
Expert Examiners Will Inspect the
Vessel to Ascertain the Amount
Of Damage Done.

NEW YORK, n. Y, Feb. 4.-The St.
Paul shook the sands of Long Branch
from her keel at 10 o'clock this morning
and steamed away for New York. Four
of the Merritt and Chapman tugs assisted
the pride of the American line to free her.
self from the unwelcome position in which
she found herself about As A. NJ. of Sat-
urday, January %, 1896.
Tugs have tried their st rength to get the
ship afioat and have failed day after day
as signaIly as though they were ordinary
rowboats tied to an iron pier and manned
by small boys. Even the high tides at the
full of the moon have lacked sufficiently
potent influence on the mass of water to
work the big vessel out on the bosom of
the ocean. But yesterday came the prayed
for nor'easter. In the high water of a
nor easter, yanked and pulled and strained
at by four of the most powerful wrecking
tugs of which the metropolis can boast,
slowly and with much effort the st. Paul
was gradually worked seaward. During
the period between sunset and sunrise and
yards. the ST. Paul gradually came to her.
self and to position of usefulness.
Early this morning the st. Paul found
that she could use her steam. She as
sisted to the full of her bent the efforts of
her wouId-be rescuers. Her salvation was
worked out in the midst of driving snow
storm to the tune OF the corking north
easter. The northeaster brought high
= 49,
csnditions that prevailed when the ST.
Paul slid her nose into the yielding sands
of Long Branch and made her grounding
so near the shore possibility. Like con-
ditions gave her the opportunity TO get
away. When even hope was almost dead
the change came. When the finest ocean
greyhound ever built in the United States
and flying the fag.of this Republic finally
slid over the second bar and into thirty
nine feet of water the life-savers, boatmen
and laymen on shore and the men on the
St. Paul joined in one good, glad cry of
victory.
Telephone connections with the big liner
were off, it was hoped, forever. So far as
the eye could distinguish she was not any
the worse for the protracted visit to the
shores of New ersey. The st. Paul passed
in at Sandy Hook at IL so o'clock, bound
for her dock in New York, carrying as bal
last about 500 tons of water. She sailed UP
to the American line pier at l 80 P. NJ. and
after half an hours work three tugs sue
ceeded in pushing her into berth at the
new dock adjoining the regular pier of the
American Line Company. As she ap-
preached the dock she was saluteG by the
different craft in the river, which salute
she acknowledged by blowing her big
whistle.
Expert examiners began this afternoon
to make thorough inspection of the ship.
This will require at least two days. Then
the United States steamship inspectors
will look over the ship and make sure she
Is all right and fit for service. Everybody
connected with the st. Paul, however, ex-
presses the conviction that the ship is in
no way injured.
It was announced that the American
line officials will hold an inv estigation
into the grounding of the ST. Paul in few
days. Manager Griscom says, however,
that from inquiries already made he feels
positive that Captain Jamison will fully
clear himself of all blame in the matter.
Regarding the cost of floating the St.
Paul, Manager Griscom said that it was a
salvage case and he thought it would
in some way be compromised. Stories
about paying the wrecking companies
S1Oo, 900 to float the ship were unfounded,
as no stipulation had been made. The
matter might be settled in a few months
and might drag along for year. It's