Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-12-11
CREW AND VESSEL ARE HELPLESS,
to Survive and u. S. YES
sci Leaves for Scene to Tow
the Vessel to Safety.

| Newport, r. l., Dec. 1O.-While the
IS, chained to a spot far out in the
North Atlantic, was plunging about,
| today, in the severest storm for far,
this season. leak was discovered in
the firerOOm compartments which let
IN the water SO steadily that when
wireless communication ceased, at $3.50
o'clock, this afternoon, the fires had
been eXtinguished and the vessel was
| helpless.
| AS the lightShp, which is relief YES
| sci and which went on the station only
five days ago. is equipped with five
water-tisht compartments, it was be-
lieved. tonight, by the lighthouse offi-
| Gals that she would survive the gale,
which at that time was backing into
the northwest.
Nevertheless. every effort was made
to go to her assistance. AS the sea was
very heavy off shore and none but the
stoutest vessels could be used, it was
found that the gunboat Hist was the
! only one available in this port. Just as
she was about to leave, this afternoon,
her steering gear gave out. 1t was
learned, however, that the lighthouse
olticia,S i'll Boston had arranged to dis
patch the lighthouse tender AZalea
from New Bedford and it was expected
she would reach the vicinity of the
lghtship before morning.
Lighthouse officials. while admitting
that they were somewhat anxious re-
Sarding the lishtship. pointed out that
her compartments should be able to
keep the vessel afloat even with one of
them filled for a cOnsidera BILE length
of time.
The Nantucket lightship is anchored
A. miles a little east of south from
Tom Nevers Head on Nantucket is
land. entirely out of sight OF land and
within Il few miles of the Gulf stream.
She has for many years been the turn
ing point of steamers bound to and
from New York and Liverpool. and
within the past four or five years has
been equipped with wireless telegraphy
apparatus. She is commanded by Capt.
JOrgensen of Dennis, Mass. and car
ries crew consisting Of two engineers
and eight men, nearly all of whom are
from southern Massachusetts. She also
has on board three wireless operators
belonging to the navy. They are Rus
sell Burbank, chief electricians; Charles
Blankenship. electrician Of the first
class and William L. Snyder electro
clan of the second class. Her crew con-
sists of eight Portuguese, all from New
Bedford.
1t was o'clock, this morning. while
the storm was at it's height here, that
the naval wireless station at the tor
pedo station received q message stat
ing that the lightship had sprung
aleak. early in the day. and that al
though the pumps had been kept con-
stantly at work. the water was gaining
The water appeared to be coming in
somewhere above the fire room plates,
but the leak could not be definitely To-
Gated.
Three hours later. another message
was received saying that the water
was still gaining. and asking that as
sistance be sent as soon as possible.
At O'Clock. it was announced that the
fires had been extingushed and that
the fire room had been flooded. The gale
at the lightship had backed in the
northwest, which had kicked UP a
heavy cross sea.
At $50 wireless communication ceased