Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-01-27
STILL IN THE MUD
No Change in the Position Of the
st. Paul.
VAIN EFFORTS TO FLOAT THE VESSEL
Work Of Tightening the Ship
Goes On Steadily.
PRES. GRIsCoM CONFIDENT

LONG BRANCH. January 27-There is
absolutely no change in the condition of the
big ocean steamship st. Paul, which ran
aground Off here early Saturday morning.
The American liner Is lying exactly in the
same position as yesterday, fast imbedded
in the sandy beach opposite the Grand View
Hotel Early this morning, at high tide, the
wrecking tugs 1. ]. Merritt, w. E. Chap
man, North American and Hustler made a
long and arduous effort to pull the steamer
out of the Jersey sand. The kedge anchors
were also used, but all to no purpose. The
wind was from the west this morning, and
was therefore, unfavorable for successful
effort. There was not enough water for the
big ship to churn in, as the off-shore breeze
had the effect of keeping it away. There
will probably be very little headway made
by the wreckers until the wind changes.
Captains Wardelf and Mull,gan of the
Monmouth Beach and Tallahassee Lake life
saving stations both agree In saying that 1t
will require the aid of an easterly or south
easterly breeze of some twenty knots We
lo city, together with a strong sea, combined
with the efforts of the tugs and the help of
the kedge anchors, to get the steamer off.
The wind is stronger than 1t was yesterday,
but the water Is almost as smooth, and no
difficulty is experienced by the boatmen in
launching their surf boats and getting out
to the ship.
The work of tightening the ship has been
going steadily on since yesterday morn
Ing. The lighters were busy at the steam
er's starboard side all through the night,
transferring the boxes and bales Of goods
from the steamers hold to tugs, which
We're in waiting to bring the cargo to New
York
President GriscOm's Confidence.
President C. A. Griscom of the Interna-
tional Navigation Company and his son re-
mained aboard the steamer St. Paul all
night. They came ashore today accompa-
MED by Port Capt. Shackford and General
Freight Agent Bittel.
President Griscom said that he had made
careful inquiries regarding the accident and
reiterated the statement he made yester-
day, as to his confidence in Capt. Jamison.
Capt. Jamison," said he, has made a
statsment. which 1 am not at liberty to
make public, but 1t satisfies me that he is
not to be blamed His defense may be
made public In few days, but at present
l do not care to say any more about it. l
am perfectly satisfied that the ship will be
brought off all right, as 1 have the utmost
confidence in the ability of the wrecking
companies"
Rumors are, rife among the beach comb
ers that the ship is lying among submerged
locks.
When Mr.. Griscom was asked about this
he replied: well, 1 have always found
that some people know more than othe,s
AS far as know, there are no rocks there
and as L have already said, / have no fears
for the safety of the vessel
Mr.. Griscom went to New York in his pri-
vate car.
The lighters are busily at work taking off
the cargo, and about 100 longShoremeu who
were sent down from New York ire busy
as beavers tightening the steamer. A tug
was moored at the port-side of the ST
Paul, and unstrfpped all the port davits.
The lifeboats on the starboari side were
lowered this morning and towed over to one
OF the tugs, where they were slowed away
During the forenoon the westerly wind in
creased to an eighteen-mile breeze, and the
sea became q trifle heavier The brea kers
however. did not interfere with the boat,
men, and the passengers did not suffer any
urusuai inconvenience on their trips of in
spection.
The Captain Reticent.
A representative of the Associated Press
called up Capt. Jamison on the phone this
morning. In reply to number of uues-
tions, Capt. Jamison said that the work of
discharging the cargo would De completed
by tonight or early tomorrow.
How about the gold YOU have on board
captain? Has it been taken off,
ut has not" replied the captain, and
then he added: Il wish it was in New York
as it has caused me more trouble and un-
easiness than anything else.'
1t is said that YOU have made state
ment as to how the lnishap occurred. To
whom do you attach the Dlame:"
Il cannot answer that question:" were
the words which came across the telephone
nor can tell you when I will file my off,
cial report. Everything Is going on nicely
on board. Good bye"
At noon the wind was blowing about
twenty-five knots and 1t had the effect of
increasing the steamers list TO port, not
withstanding the fact that a good deal of
the cargo had been taken off 1t tran
spired about noon that several members of
the st. Paufs crew had been relieved from
duty today.
Departure of the st. Louis
The American line steamship st. Louis
left Cramps shipyard, Philadelphia, at S
O'Clock this morning for New York, to take
up the schedule Of her disabled sister ship,
the st. Paul. She will arrive in New York
at 10 o'clock tonight. Since arriving at the
ship yard the st. Louis mad been dismantled
to some extent, and 1t was necessary for a
large force of men to work until nearly mid
night last night to get her ready to sail
today. It Is proposed when the St. Louis
again goes to Cramps 10 make improve
ments in the smokestacks and steam pipes
and to alter the damper-shutters in the
fire room.
Sailors Blunder.
Captain Jamison of the st. Paul says that
the blame for the disaster lies upon the
sailor who was casting the lead, and who
reported seventeen fathoms of water when
there was only seven fathoms showing on
the sounding line. No excuse is given for
the mistake The man, it is asserted, had
been calling of good depths for some time,
and his call Of seventeen fathoms was about
the depth expected by Captain Jamison at
the time.
PRAISE FOR JAPAN.