New-York tribune., 1902-07-02
VESSELS TOWED IN SECTIONS.
AFTERPART OF THE MINNEWAskA HAS
BEEN PULLED OFF ROCKS IN THE
ST LAWRENCE.

Rochester. July CSpeciaD-Westbound lake cap
tains, who have just come from the ST. Lawrence
and put into Charlotte for coang, report tnat the
aft section of the big ocean liner Minnewaska
has been warped off the rocks in the ST. Lawrence
River, where it struck two weeks ago The other
section reached Quebec in safety. it is understood
AS for the stranded half, some doubt was eX-
pressed as to whether or not it could be towed
into port in condition for use. The two halves
of a sister ship, the Minnetonka. were conduct
ed through the perilous waters of lower Lake
Ontario and the st. Lawrence In safety, and
reached Quebec without serious mishap-
This news marks the practical completion of
one of the most remarkable feats OF ship building
ever known on the Great Lakes. These two huge
ocean going freighters built at Cleveland
Each of them is 800 feet in length and deep in
proportion. They were to be delivered about the
middle of July in Quebec for the Transatlantic
freight trade. Close calculation showed that the
length of the completed vessels would not admit
of their passing the locks in the Welland and
st. Lawrence canals by several feet. Consequently,
1t decided to tow them down the lakes in
sections. two TO each ship. The Minnetonka was
the first TO make the unprecedented trip and lake
captains We're treated to a sight such they
never before in their lives and probably never
will again, unless the ship building boom on the
upper lakes continues active it is now. The
sections made amidships, and the two halves
were towed side by side. each by struggling tug.
They looked like ghosts of dismembered ships,
and shippers who met them at night must have
"OHuSASU IL tue riSIIS OulCHiHdn Hdu 6Ol past
the St Lawrence rapids.
The Minnewaska set out in halves the same way
as her big sister. but she had harder luck The
locks OF the Welland Canal passed all right.
and the trip down Lake Ontario and through part
OF the st. Lawrence River made in safety.
Two tugs towing the aft section OFF Sparrow
hawk Point. two miles from Cardinal and three
and one5half miles from the head Of the Galoupe
canal They were 100 light for the work. and the
SWIFT current OF the st. Lawrence swung the un-
w1eldy art section on a rocky island. where, high
gale coming up, IL was jammed hard and high.
The other section was more successful, and made
the entrance to the canal in safety The two little
tugs made every effort in their power 10 haul the
clumsy mass off the reef but they could not bulge
IT, and one Of them was tipped over in the mxup-
As soon as the gale eased up heavy cables were
run from the American and Canadian sides and
by the aid of powerful wincheS the huge section
was warped of the rocks: The shippers who
brought the word to Charlotte said that when
they passed the point on Saturday the section was
half filled with water and the sides and bottom
were badly damaged by the sharp Lodges. They
seemed in considerable doubt TO the possibility
OF the section ever reaching Quebec No one Was
OF the huge bulk. but there were many narrow es-
caPes.
The forward half which got through in safety,
was towed by the tugs Myra and Seymour. The
sections OF the MinnetOnka. which made the trip
first. were escorted by the tugs Mary P Hall. Cap
tain Richards. and the Proctor. Captain Russell