Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-22
TUG LEYDEN WRECKED
q. S. STEAMER STRIKES ON BLOCK
ISLAND COAST.
Crew Rescued by the Men of the New
Shoreham Life-Saving
Station.

A dispatch from Block Island, R. l.. yes
terday says: The United States tug Ley
den. bound from San Juan. P. R., for New
port. ran ashore on the south side of this
island today, and is a total wreck. She Is
fast going to pieces.
Six of her crew left the wrecked tug in a
small boat. which was dashed to pieces on
the rocks a short distance from the shore.
They were rescued by the life savers. The
remaining twenty-eight men and Lieut..
Chester Wells. the commander. were taken
off in the breeches buoy with great difficult
ty by the new Shoreham life-saying crew.
Seaman Leylamb. who was in the small
boat when 1t was demolished, swan until
he was rescued, but he is not expected to
live as a result of the injuries he received
in the heavy sea.
The call for help reached Captain Little
field at the life-saving station at 1 o'clock.
and he Immediately set out with his crew
and apparatus A persistent effort was
made to cast line aboard the tug, and 1t
was finally successful, the end of hawser
1, 100 feet long being made fast to the fore
mast and the breeches buoy was put into
operation. One by one the sailors were
drawn through the surf, and shortly after
8 o'clock the last man was hauled safely
upon the shore.
Lieutenant Wells reports that during the
night he picked up Shinnecock light and
ld1O OIL uutli QdylISuIs WUen ne SOI 11OH-
tauk light. In a very short time the fog
shut in very thick He had intended to go
two miles south Of the light, and. as his
patent log indicated that his position was
correct. ne proceeded. He shaped his
course for Point Judith whistling buoy all
the while, expecting to hear the fog whistle
at the south light. He was running at the
rate of six knots an hour when with
crash the Leyden brought up on the rocks.
The life savers sighted the vessel In dis
tress very soon after the accident, and to
their prompt assistance the crew owe their
lives. A heavy southeast swell was run
ming. and the surf dashed high over the
wrecked craft. She began to go to pieces
in less than half an hour after she struck.
The crew will be taken care Of tonight at
the nfe-saving station. and in the morning
they will be sent to the mainland.
Navy Department Notified.
The Navy Department yesterday after
moon received the following dispatch from
Observer Day Of the weather bureau:
1.-The United States naval tug Layden.
from Porto Rico to Newport, Lieutenant
Chester Wells commanding. with thirty
three men. went ashore on a rock off Block
Island at 1890 pm. today. High water.
ashore in boats; stove to pieces; the men
landing safely: others. twenty-four officers
and men, being taken of with breeches
buoys. Probable all will be saved. Tug
absolutely total loss.'
A telegram has been received at the Navy
Department from Lieutenant Chester Wells,
commanding the naval tug Leyden, which
went on the rocks off Block Island yester-
day. The telegram was dated Block Island,
January q, and was as follows:
"Leyden struck during thick fog about
three-quarters mile west Of the southeast
light, Block Island, at about IL o'clock
this afternoon. All crew saved. thanks to
efficient lfe-saving service. Tug may pos
sfbly be foated when sea goes down."
In accordance with the naval reEulat lions
applicable to such cases an Investigation
will be made at once to determine the
cause of and responsibility for the acct
dent. The vessel will be saved II possible
and the officers and crew will remain on the
scene until that is accomplished or until
the vessel goes to pieces.
The Leyden was of the largest type OF
naval tug, schooner-rigged and Of 45O tons
displacement. She was built in Boston in
1885, Of iron. at a cost of about 500 600
She was LIT feet long by 20 feet beam and
drew 9h feet OF water. She had no double
bottom and made a speed Of ten knots an
hour. Her commanding officer Is Lieuten-
ant Charles Wells. Gunner James Dom
nell was her executive off GER The Leyden
was kept at the training station at New
port r. l., before the maneuvers