The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-02-16
ADMIRAL DEWEY ON ROCKS.
Big Boston Fruit steamer Likely 60 he
Total Loss.

Boston. February l5-Ihs Boston Fruit
compapy's new steamer Admiral Dewey,
Captain MoGrath, bound from Port An.
tonic. Jamaica TO this port, ran on the
rocks Mt Cuttyhu at A20 o'clock this
morning and is In great danger OF being
a total wreck The eighteen passengers
on board were safely transferred to the
steamer John ). Hin which came up this
afternoon and with their baggage and. the
mail were taken to Newport, X. l., from
which point they were brought to this
city this evening by "A special train over
the n. y. n. IL. ~ ii. X. X.
Captain McGrath, and the officers and
crew OF the vessel still remain on board
and every effort will be made to save the
vess,l, but as she lies in q very exposed
position, and with large hole In her
bottom, any severe blow from the south
east will undoubtedly cause her to go to
pieces
The cause of the wreck has not as yet
been fully determined although all the
passengers agree that there was mist on
the water at the time the vessel struck.
The entrance to Vineyard Sound Ia
about six miles wide, from Gay Head on
the South to Cuttyhunk on the north.
Three miles west OF Cuttyhung is the
Vineyard Sound lightship equipped with
a steam fog whistle, but for some reason.
probably because the mist was so light.
the whistle was not sounding when the
Dewey went by, For some unknown rea-
son the lightship was missed entirely or
disregarded, for, instead of shaping her
course after passing IL, u little north of
east, the Dewey was headed considerably
north of northeast and after running In
that direction few minutes brought mp
sharp on the lodges on the south side of
Cuttyhunk island. The weather at the
time was calm and with only an ordinary
sea breaking on the rocks, 80 that there
was no immediate danger of the vessel
goi ng to pieces.
Two boats were despatched at day break
up Vineyard Sound with directions to
land at Woods Hole and wire the COM
pany g Office In this city for assistance.
A few hours after they had left the ship,
the United States cruiser Topeka was
sighted coming from the western and
signals of distress were at once set to at
tract here attention. The Topeka, after
rounding the Vineyard Sound lightship.
| not three miles of, at ten O'Clock In the
morning. with the air perfectly clear. In
stead of answering the Dewey's signals
steamed rapidly by and soon disappeared
up the sound. On the way up, when of
1arpaulin Cove the Topeka overlook the
Dewey's lifeboats and taking the crew on
board dropped than within mile of
Woods Hole. where they rowsd ashore
and wired this city for help. At this tinss
there were two tugs at Woods Hole. che
| Dudley Pray and the Herald, and both
| Immediately started down ths sound for
| the wreck. Before they arrived. however.
| thu collier John j. Hill, bound up from
Norfolk, was sighted, but unlike toe To-
peka she Immediately answered the
Dewey's signals for help The work of
| transferring the Passengers occupied
about two hours an all were given the
privilege of taking With they their per-
sonal luggage ana the mail was also cent
| over TO the Hill.
At four O'Clock the Hill started for
Newport and arrived there without inoi
dent, shortly before seven o'clock this
evening.
The present position OF the steamer il
extremely pei ilous but with few days OF
soft weather there is an even chance OF
her being saved. Three tugs are al
present near her and one has been de-
spatched from this city to assist in get
| ting her of the rocks.