New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-06-06
DEUTSCHLAND GETS AWAY
BUT Ran ON SAND TWICE.
Passengers Cheerful During Delay
-CaDtnin Would Not Talk.

After getting free and then running
aground second time, the steamer Deutsch-
land succeeded in leaving her sandy berth at
4:3-j p. m. yesterday exactly twenty-four hours
after she grounded the first time. She proceeded
her voyage. Her departure assisted by
six tugs and the steam piIotboat New-Jersey-
The seven hundred and fifty passengers. well
as the banking firms which had shipped more
than 100000 in gold on the steamer, were
glad she was off. although. to their credit be it
said all had taken the mishap philosophtcally
and borne it good naturedly-
The mishap more tantalizing than dan
gerOus The steamer was absolutely in no dan
ger. The smooth as the Upper Bay
One passenger when asked through the mega
phone from the press tug if he had been sea-
sick, replied: NO; wish I were
The bottom at the point where the steamer
came in contact with it was sand, and in no
wise likely TO damage the hull OF the vessel.
There was no doubt that she would proceed on
her voyage when once she off There was
no element of heroism in the incident to break
the monotony of it for passengers and officers.
To the latter, who doubtless were chagrined, it
furnished plenty of worry.
The steamer grounded at the bending of the
Gedney Channel. where il passes north OF the
extreme point Of Sandy Hook At this point
the channel turns from east by north to east
southeast. The turn. which is only about mile
from the bar is marked by red spar buoy and
a red gas buoy numbered g. on the port side,
and a black spar and gas buOys on the star
board side. The spar buoys are at the extreme
edge Of the channel, the gas buoys Icing few
rods outside of the line of spar buoys- The
channel is only three hundred feet wide at this
point and therefore difficult for long steamer,
such as the Deutschland. to round. Especially
difficult is it when the tide and the atmosphere
conflict with the best laid schemes. The
Deutschland got into trouble by not swinging
quickly enough. Whether it was due TO the tide
or was case of misjudging the psychological
moment to make the turn could not be learned
Yesterday as the pilot and the officers of the
ship were chary about making statements
CLIMBS UP ON THE SAND.
The Deutschland. instead of rounding the
bend plunged head first into the north side OF
the channel inside the red spar buoy and be-
tween it and the red gas buoy She climbed
up on the sand. until the big boat. which had
been drawing 81 feet. drew only BOZ feet AS
the tide was falling. il evident that she
would remain fast until the next high tide,
which was due at 3:41 o'clock yesterday morn
ing. She lay with her head east by south. only
point off her course.
BY means of a wireless telegraph message
sent from tne snip 10 the rIeuCA STEAMER Ia
Savoie, which had sailed three hours before the
Deutschland. and by that steamer. in turn. sent
10 the Marconi land station at Babylon. the
news of the DeutschIand's grounding was con-
veyed to the officials of the neutrality-suspicious.
Line. Preparations were Immediately made for
freeing the steamer. The Vrecktng tug l. j.
Merritt and two three other tugs were sent
down the bay. but. owing to the haze, they
with the exception of the MerritO did not reach
the steamer until too late to be of service in
moving her on the early tide The I. J. Merritt
got alongside about midnight, and a ten ton
anchor was buried in the sand astern of the
Deutschland 1O-inch cable two hundred
fathoms long was run from the anchor TO the
steamer where it was attached a steam
winch.
Full preparation having been made at p m.
the Merritt the steam pilot boat New-Jersey
and the tugs L. J. Berwind. John X. Gilkinson,
Guiding Star and Cogan began to pull and push
on the big steamer with all their might. Gables
strained and the was Churned into a foam
nv the propeIers of the Deutschland and the
minor steam craft. She soon began TO move. and
at 80 O'Clock the hull. half of which had been
living on the sand slid off into the channel
For the moment it seemed as il nothing could
noV- prevant her from getting TO in a few
minutes. 1t was not TO be so soon. Apparently
owing to the incoming tide her head swung
around inward and when the propeIlers
started there was not room enough for her to
manceuvre She again rammed her bow into the
sand of the tail of Romer Shoal. and again was
tightly wedged This time she headed east
northeast. having swung around several points.
PRESS BOAT HELPS TO RELEASE HER.
The tugs resumed their pulling and pushing
The New-Jersey took line from the port bow
while the GilkinsOn and the Cogan tandem
fashion pulled a hawser from the starboard
bow. on the port bow the remaining three tugs
pushed with their stout snouts For two hours
they pushed and pulled At the stern the Mer-
ritt hung to The 10-inch hawser to prevent il
from becoming entangled in the propellers. Had
Continued ninth page.