The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-03-29

Marblehead. Mass. March 29.-The
| Warren Line steamer Norseman. Capt.
| Reese. bound from Liverpool, for Bos-
ton, went ashore at $40 a. m. today,
on Tom Moore's ledge, about 200 yards
off Marblehead neck. A dense fog and
heavy sea prevailed and those on board
the steamer did not know where they
were. In answer TO signal guns the
life saving crew from Marblehead
! reached the vicinity of the vessel at
about daylight. but was unable to get
| alongside. They made known the fact
that the vessel was off Marblehead and
being told that she was not in imme-
diate danger, returned to the town,
transported the life saving apparatus
TO the nearest available position, threw
a line to the steamer and began the
work of taking off those on board in
the breeches buoy with every prospect
of success.
The vessel is n cattle steamer and
she carries about 1000 tons OF general
merchandise on this trip. There were
102 persons on board. including crew
OF SIS and ~ cattlemen who were re-
| turning from England. The steamer
struck at about half tide. There is a
big hole i'm her hull and seven feet of
water i'm her hold. IL is the opinion OF
| the sailors from this port who gather
ed TO watch the work of rescue that she
| can never be floated.
The Norseman left Liverpool on
March Is for Boston. She had pleas
ant passage all the way across till early
! this morning, when she encountered the
thick tog and heavy seas which pre-
vailed Off the coast. The fog was so
dense that IL was impossible to get a
bearing and there was no indication OF
danger until she struck the ledge. Capt.
Reese at once ordered the whistle 10
be sounded and three guns were fired
also as signal of distress. For long
time apparently there was no hope of
rescue. The fog still hung over the sea
81 dense that il was impossible to see
20 feet from the vessel and the cap
tain could not tell where the steamer
lay Just al daylight, however. life
boat and crew was seen approaching.
owing TO the heavy sea he boat could
not come within several rods of the
steamer. Holding his position there
the captain of the crew informed those
on board that they were the Marble
head life savers. and that the steamer
was on the ledge inside of Tom Moore's
rock. Capt. Reese requested that those
on board be taken off.
Capt. Giles of the life savers stated
that he did not dare come any nearer.
but that he would return TO shore and
attempt the rescue from there. AS there
seemed To be no immediate danger of
further disaster 10 the steamer Capt.
Reese assented and the life saving crew
returned TO their station. As soon as
possible the men were on their way 20
Marblehead Neck with the life saving
apparatus. They took up their position
on the rocks off the Nanepashemet ho-
tel and IL was decided TO try the
breeches buoy. The first shot from the
/ q ,,
er, and at S o'ciock, Alfred Adams, one
Of the cattlcmen. was brought ashore.
Adams could give but very little i'm
formation as 10 the accident. He stated
that he was asleep when the vessel
struck but the shock awakened him.
He hurried on deck and was told that
the steamer was ashore. but that there
was no immediate danger. Tie states
that everything was orderly. All the
men were used to sea travel and seemed
to take the accident much as n mat
ter OF course. As soon as the vessel
struck as thorough an examination as
possible was made and it was found
that a great hole had been made i'm
her hull and that the water had reached
the heighth OF seven feet i'm her hold.
She seemed TO be fast and the seas
were pounding her heavily.
Between $ and O'Clock the single line
between the vessel and the shore was
in constant use. capt. 'rllcS ndu SollP
hopes that he might be able TO get
near the steamer i'm a boat, but there
was no apparent abatement I'm the
heavy sea and the captain thought u
advisable TO send another line aboard
and rig a second breeches buoy. This
was done anu the work OF rescue was
continued.
Hundreds of old sea captains. resi-
dents Of AIarblehead gathered on shore
TO watch the life savers. When they
saw the beating OF the waves upon the
vessels hull they were of the unani-
nous opinion that she could not live
long I'm such a sea and that Il was not
likely she ever could be noated.
As the tide began to rise during the
forenoon capt. Giles once more launch
ed the life boat and succeeded i'm reach
ing the steamer. Meanwhile the pilot
boat Minerva 1No. - had put I'm near
tho vessel and Capt. Giles began taxi
ing of those on board the Norseman
! aud landing them on the pilot boat.
! This assisted greatly and by noon time
nearly all of those on board had been
removed In safety. During the fore
noon 10 was noticed that the steamer
was fast settling forward and II WAS
feared that she Is I'm danger OF breaking
| I'm two. Several tugs arrived from Bos-
| ton including the Herald and Ariel. but
owing TO the dangerous position OF the
| steamer they were unable to get near