Birmingham state herald., 1896-02-05
THE ST. PAUL |S AFL0AT At 9:50 a. m. She Was Pulled Into Deep Water AMID GENERAL REJOICING She Doesn't Appear to Be Injured or Strained
 a Particle.
 THE WREckERS MADE A RICH HAUL They Are Entitled to Salvage, Which May Amoant to $2oo. .ooo-The Grounding
 of the Vessel Will Be Fully
 Investigated. a
HE WREcKERS MADE A RICH HAUL


 CT St. Paul fioated this morning at ex- actly 9:50 and is now on her way to New York in tow of several tugs. When the boat slid off the bar into deep water there was a screaming and footing of whistles that startled the people and sent them down to the beach in large. numbers. The steamer bid goodbye to Long Branch with several loud blasts and run up her flags in honor of the occasion. The people on shore waved their hand kerchiefs and shouted goodbye when they saw the famous steamer slide grace fully into deep water. The high sea last night caused the vessel to rock consider ably and she was loosened from the sticky clay which was below the bed If the boat. Captain Jamison will not soon forget his stay on the Jersey sand dunes.
 The St. Paul sailed up to the American line pier at 1:30 D. m. and after half an hours work three tugs succeeded in pushing her into a berth at the new dock, adjoining the regular pier of the Ameri- can line company. As she approached the dock she was sauted by the different crafts in the river, which salute she ac- knowledged by blowing her big whistle. On the dock were gathered number Of agents of the International Navigation company. President Wright welcomed the St. Paul, greeting Captain Jamison with a hearty hello" The captain stood upon the bridge and smiled pleas- antly. Outwardly the boat looked as if she was in splendid shape. Barring little scraping of paint from the side be- low the water line, there seemed abso- lutely nothing wrong with the steamer. When the St. Paul was tied up in her berth the first person to come ashore from her was Captain Merritt of the wrecking company He was heartily congratulated by everybody present.
 "We are glad to have gotten her off," he said, flor we worked hard for her; we also worked for the. dollars, too" .i
 The captain explained that the floating of the ship this morning was expected by them. The wreckers had been working at her for some time when she suddenly began to move easily and later she slid off the sand as if, passing over waxen ways. When she struck deep water she sank into the water and listed very per ceptiblys to port. There was a very bad sea running at the time. The wrecking tugs stood close by ready to render fur ther assistance if necessary.
 The St. Paul, however, set we'll in the water in few minutes, and Captain Jamison assured that everything was in good order, ordered the engines started and the ship proceeded to New York. On the way up she passed the North Ger man Lloyd l1dlii WHICH SIcct- ed, signalling, the word, "congratula- tions," while. the Lahn's band played Hail Columbias''
 After the St. Paul was secured in her berth Manager Griscom invited the news paper men on board to inspect the steam CT. Mr. Griscom had boarded the St. Paul at Quarantine and had heard the reports of his men. who had been watch ing the hold of the ship.
 q believe" said he. that the St. Paul has not even a rivet loose. We worked the engines pretty well on the way up from Long Branch and if the ship was in any way damaged this was a test that would make the injury manifest at once am glad to say that honestly believe the St. Paul is in no way injured"
 The newspaper men were shown through the steamer, and, so far as could be judged from d superficial examination, the St. Paul certainly was in excellent condition Expert examiners began this afternoon to make thorough inspec- ton 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, expressed the conviction that the ship is in no way injured. It was an nounced that the American Line officials would hold an investigation into the BTOuHuluS Ol lDc Ot. uui III d leW udyS Manager Griscom says, however, that from inquiries already made he feels pos itive Captain Jamison will fully clear himself of all blame in the matter.
 Officers of the company express the be- lief that the steamer will be ready for her next regular trip on February 19.
 Regarding the cost of floating the St. Paul, which it is believed will be very large sum, Manager Griscom said:
 ."It is impossible to say at present what the expense of floating the St. Paul amounts to. It is a salvage case, but I think it will in some way be compro- missed. Stories about paying the wreck ing companies $100,000 to float the ship are unfounded. Wei have absolutely made no stipulations. We have no idea what the amount of the bill will be that the companies will present. The matter may be settled in few months, and perhaps may drag along for "a year. However we are very glad to get our ship in deep water again, and certainly will pay any reasonable amount of money to those who are responsible for the floating of the ship
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