New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-25
STEAMER AGROUND
joy Liner, rcith 600 Passengers, on
Bar Near NeJcport.

Newport, r. l., Jan. 24.-The steamer Larch-
mont Of the JOY Line. bound from New-York
to Providence, with two hundred passengers.
went ashore IN unusually thick fog on
sandbar off Dyer Island, Newport. at Gao
a. m to-day. After the tugs Solicitor and Roger
Williams had worked several hours trying TO
float her they succeeded in pulling her off about
i 2. The Larchmont proceeded to Provi-
dence, apparently not damaged. During the
mishap to the steamer there was not the slight
est indication of panic among the passengers
Those who were awake believed at first that the
Larchmont had arrived at the pier at Provi-
dence.
The Larchmont. a side wheel steamer. cleared
from New York City shortly after 6 p. m. yester-
day. In Long Island Sound the weather was
found to be thick and hazy. There were. too.
quantities Of ice drifting along with the tide. and
Captain Wilcox directed his boat at slow speed
and with the utmost caution. on entering the
harbor off Newport he decided. on account OF the
ice. 10 follow the east instead Of the usual west
passage The steamer had proceeded far as
the southeast end Of Prudence Island. just OF
Sandy Point Light when thick and impen-
etrable fog swept in from the ocean. Fifteen min
utes later the Larchmont grounded. The
steamer was advancing slowly at the time. and
the TAR as the boat struck the bottom was
scarcely more than II she had bumped INTO a
pier when docking The signal to reverse was
given at once but the steamer held fast 20 her
position. It was found that the water six
feet deep at the bow and thirteen feet at the
stern.
BY this time the passengers he'd appeared on
deck and the thought that the steamer had ar
rived at Providence was soon dispelled. Cap
tain Wilcox quietly explained the situation. lie
said that the steamer had grounded on a sand
bar. but that probably she would float. He de-
clared that there was no danger whatsoever.
Several Of the men passengers agreed later that
the attitude OF everybody on board. under the
circumstances. was remarkably calm and self
possessed.
About an hour after the steamer had struck
the bar the fog lifted and Captain Wilcox
found that the steamer was lying across
sandbag which runs out from Dyer Island. be-
tween Prudence Island and Portsmouth. AS
time went on, the boat, under the action of the
incoming tide, pitched and rolled heavily. All
the passengers remained on deck prepared for
any emergency.
Soon after 10 o'clock the tug Solicitor bound
from Wexford to Newport. sighted the Larch-
mont and bore down on her. stout hawser
was at made fast 10 the stern Of the
steamer, and for two hours the Solicitor tried
unSuccessfuily To pull the steamer from the
sand. Meantime six of the passengers mad been
taken Off by private launch and landed here.
Later the tug Roger Williams arrived from
Providence. The two tugs together succeeded
in pulling the LarchmOnt of the bar and into
deeper water hasty examination showed
that the boat apparently not damaged and
she proceeded to Providence.
The Iarchnont formerly was the steamer
Cumberland, Of the International Steamship
Company. sailing between Boston and st, John,
n p. TWO years ago she was purchased
by the JOY Line repaired, and renamed the
LarchmOnt. She built in Bath In 1885.
1.lss.