Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-01-13
ASHORE.
Tramp Steamer Indus
Strikes Fire Island Bar.
No Passengers Aboard and
Vessel Rests Easy.
Life Savers to Make Effort to RIGHT
When Fog Lifts.

New York. Jan. 12.-While feeling
her way through the dense fog. early
Thursday. in an effort TO reach this
port. the sugar laden steamer Indus
from Yves, Indian ports. struck Fire
Island bar and is now stuck hard and
fast. just how serious is her posi-
ton has not been determined although
the Fire Island life savers reported
after a visit to the stranded vessel that
she was in no immediate danger. She
was lying in an easy position ana the
sea WAS smooth. There was dense
fog hanging over the ocean, however,
and the wind showed Il tendency TO
increase i'm force. A strong wind and
high sea would make the situation eX-
tremely serious. the life savers said.
Efforts to float the Indus We're be-
gun Immediately after she struck the
bar and as soon as communication with
the shore was had the captain of the
steamer asked that tugs be sent to
his assistance. He did not remain idle
while waiting for the assistance, how
ever. The Fire Island life savers who
went out to the Indus We're unable to
give any material assistance. They
believed that the steamer was too firm
ly lodged on the bar To allow OF her
being worked off of her own power.
The captain of the steamer was most
optimistic. however, and began to jet
tyson Il portion of the cargo, hoping
thereby to raise the vessel sufficiently
TO allow her to slide off the bar. 1t is
thought that the Indus has not suf-
tered any serious damage thus far and
tina; she will have no difficulty in pro-
ceedinG if she can be worked into deep
water.
When the observes at the maratime
station on Fire Island first SAW the
signals of distress ii was thought that
one of the big trans Atlantic passen-
ger steamers might have lost her bear
ings in the denS" fog and brought up
on the bar. The weather was so thick
as to render identification impossible
at that time. however. and it was not
until the life saving crew returned to
shore that the identity of the craft
was known. The Indus has no passen-
gers. She is a tramp steamer owned
by james Harrison. Ltd. of London.
On this "trip she was bound from Ha-
vana for New York with a cargo of
sugar.
wreckins tug was started for the
scene by the Merritt & Chapman
Wrecking Co. Immediately after the
news of the Indus predicament reached
this city. She was expected to reach
Fire Island about noon.
The heavy blanket of fog which
cation of lifting during the forenoon
and >'inw Of 40 ctr la1
entirely shut off from the shore al
though the point where she was living
WAS less than half a mile away from
the observation stations. The life saw
cls who had visited the Indus during
the early morning hour after Il brief
interval of rest again launched their
surf boat and put out into the fog to
give whatever assistance they could in
floating the temporary helpless craft
soon after they disappeared in the
mist the whistle OF the Indus began to
blow steadily and the regular putting
of her engines could be plainly heard.
This was taken to indicate that the
captain still had hopes of floating the
steamer without the aid of the wreck
ing tugs which had been sent to his
assistance. Al that time the conditions
seemed To be iii his favor. The wind
was still light, the sea had not in
creased and the tide was rising
The Indus is a new vessel. having
been built in Glasgow only year ago.
She is so feet in length. of POO tons
burden and carries Il crew of - men.
Her commander. Capt. Kydd. was max
ing his first trip in the Indus when
she Went aground
the revenue cutter Mohawk arrived off
Fire island. This evening. and stood by
the stranded steamer. The tug Merritt
put out two anchors and attached heavy
hawserS to the steamer An effort will he
made to float the Indus at high tide The
prospects of getting her off are reported