Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-12-11
ACALL FOR HELP
Nantucket Shoals Lightship in Dis. tress - Ask Help by Wireless,
 From Anywhere.

Newport, R. l., Dec 11.-A half m ished message, sent Jusr before tht batteries are supposed to have become exhausted, came here by wireless from the Nantucket lightship early to-day asking for "help from anywhere" The message was timed ? a. m. and was as follows:
 Nantucket shoals lightship in dis tress. Send help from anywhere" Here the message broke off. TIC United States gunboat Hist left here for the lightship at 6 a. m. to-day.
 The wind is west northwest and moderate. The sea is subsiding.
 As the lightship's design includes watertight compartments intended to save her in just such stress as she IS now in, the lighthouse officials declare that there will be little difficulty on the part of her crew in keeping her afioat until aid can reach her. The lighthouse tender Azalea, which left New Bedford at 7:30 o'clock last night should reach the vicinity of the light ship during this forenoon.
 When wireless messages were re- ceived at the naval torpedo station here yesterday from the lightship stat ing that she had sprung q leak and that the water was steadily gaining, the officials prepared to send help. In the fierce gale which was raging yesterday afternoon the only vessel in this port believed capable of putting to sea under such conditions was the gunboat Hist. She was at once or dered to proceed to the scene but as she was about to start, defect in her steering gear was discovered which made 1t necessary for her to have re pairs made immediately. Word then was sent to New Bedford where the lighthouse tender AZalea was lying, and that vessel was dispatched to the lightship, leaving at T:30 last evening. It was estimated that she would cover the 75 miles between New Bedford and the lightship station in the pre- vailing weather in about 15 hours.
 Early to-day the steering gear of the Hist again was in proper shape, ant: at 6 a, m. she left the naval training station under orders to make the best possible speed to the lightship. The istance ahe will have to cover is about ninety-seven miles.
 The leak in the lightship's hull, while nos definitely located according to the latest message, was apparently just above the fire room plates. So rapidly did the water come in. although the pumps were kept constantly at work, that late yesterday afternoon the fire room was flooded and the fires had been extlnguished. Wireless communi- cation then ceased and 1t was SUD- posed that nothing further would be heard directly from the vessel, as the dynamos probably had given out Early to-day. however. came the brief. apparently unfinished message. again asking for aid. This time 1t is thought the wireless must have become com. pletely crippled.
 The wind shifted to northwest late yesterday and this had the effect of causing the great seas to moderate sensibly, so that less anxiety was felt here thIs forenoon for the lightship's safety.
 On board the lightship are Captain JOrgenson of Dennis, Mass, commando ing, two engineers, three naval elec- tricians operating the wireless appra- rus, and eight seameI
 It is believed that either the Azalea or the Hist will tow the lightship to some port along the southern Massa- chu.etts coast.