New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-03

Ships That Escape Picturesque Death by Wreck Go There to Rot
o Be Broken Up
or BE Broken Up.

A noble ship that ploughs the stormy sea
ufnging the opposing waves scornfu!ly from her
bows is 4 Joyous sight The same ship wrecked
upon the rocks Of an unfriendly shore. with the
wild waves rushing over her in triumph, is
painful sight But at least shpwreck rs
picturesque doom. Sorrowful but not pictur-
esque is the fate Of those ships which. after
Drawing wreck a thousand times, are at last
towed into the marine graveyard" TO rot or
70 be broken up for prosaic uses.
Perth Arnboy. y ]. doesn't feel particularly
enthusiastic over her marine graveyard
But then" the people say, you've got to do
something with them. haven't YOU BY them
ships that have outlived their usefulness are
meant And so the people Of Perth Amboy and
vicinity have come to regard the graveyard
as a kind Of necessary evil Whatever other
people may think Of the place. John II. Gregory,
It's owner. has become thoroughly convinced
that all poetry aside the graveyard is a
money making institution. The fact that it has
been doing business for something like a quarter
OF q century IS also considered by many evil
dence that Mr.. Gregory is right
The chief reason why ships that have gayly
sailed the blue waters Cor years find their way
to this gloomy abode OF skeletons is the fact
that the tinlbers and planks taken from old
ships make good building material The small
contractors found this out long ago. and at
olnes the capacity OF the graveyard" has been
taxed 10 keep them supplied
The statement may have a grcwsome sound.
out it is true that 'corDses' received at the
marine graveyard" do not get what the public
would term "a decent burial" Stretched out
upon the beach IN the fun blaze OF the sun. or
soaking in the waters at the mouth Of the Rari-
1an River. the huIks Go not await burial, but are
broken into bits. which is usually brought about
through the medium OF a gang Of lusty Italian
@oorers armed with axes and crowbars. In
some cases. however, even this Formally is dis
pehsed with and marine corpse" stays above
eiouha In this graveyard" until it literally rots
away
Spose II does seem sorter rough 20 a stran-
ee'' SAID one Of the men in charge Of the work
. me marine graveyard" as he looked over the
-lne boats then IN progress OF disintegratiOn-
Guy We fellers get used to it," he added
lose at hand gang OF men were busy az
NOFA on boat OF good capacity. She had been
stripped 70 the level CT the deck and presented
oiry appearance. There is almost as much
H required 20 disnantle a big boat properly
p" put one together. IL IL were TO be knocked
hifoltng wood the task would be a com
,.'au'eiy easy one: but where every beam and
must be carefully preserved the Job Is
~, uncut " IL is p sailing vessel the
@io rigging are 20 be reckoned with; IL
4'er' the boilers ard engines rnust be re-
e.. 60 and whether sailing vessel or steamer.
o'lt rivet and nail must be carefully ex-
-. 70 preserve the timber In which they
w. !" he set But try as the workmen
so,.. not possible 10 save for building pur-
sJn. very BIT Of timber taken from the old
much Of the flooring has to be ripped
tu,x 0hen Tor GrewOod One man is kept
SSinr Il up most of the time and ,aYsr,