New-York tribune., 1905-11-12
LINER AGROUND ALL DAY.
-
ON MUD BANK IN BAY.
Repeated Efforts to Float the Graf
WaMersee Fail.

The Merritt Chapman Wreckisss4 Company was
unable last night to pull from the mud of Red
Hook Flats the big Hamburg American Liner
Graf Waldersee. which went aground early yes
terday morning Beginning at 1:30 p. m. twelve
powerful tugboats pulled for two hours on the
steamer. but were unable to move her.
Another attempt will be made early this morn
ing at high tide. It is believed that the cargo
will have to be lightered before she can be
shifted out into the channel
representative OF the Merritt Chapman
Wreckng Company said last night that the
steamer v-edged well into the mud by the
tremendous headway she under when she
struck. Last nights effort the second at
tempt to release the steamer.
The Graf Waldersee is a combined passenger
steamer and freghter. She put for Ham
burg on the carly high tide yesterday. The
weather was thick and before the pilot
aware the big vessel fast in the mud flats
of Red Hook
Officials of the Hamburg-American Line an
nounced last night the cause of the steamers
grounding was the fact that tug. with three
barges, crossed the liners bows in the channel,
and to avoid collision the ship was forced into
the mud.
The steamer lies in safe place. and unlike
the Caronia which recently went aground on
Flynns Knoll-a bad place for wind and wave
is protected by the shelter of the harbor.
The Graf Waldersee left her pier at ) o'clock
yesterday morning She was heavily laden
and took advantage of the high tide to get clear
without interference. She proceeded slowly
from her dock in a thick mist, and, when about
a half mile off 42d-st. Brooklyn, she suddenly
| came to stop in the mud of Red Hook.
Hardly any except the ships officers
knew she was aground. The passengers were
and he iI0Dart being light, did not
| wake them When the fog lifted many about
the waterfront wondered why the big ship had
stopped, She 1signslled later that she was
aground and asked for assistance.
| Within an hour several Hamburg American
| tugboats and the boats of the New-York Harbor
Towing Company were alongside. but the re-
cedine tide made useless their efforts pull her
| off.
The Hamburg American Line was not worried
over the steamers mishap it felt confident
| she could be shifted into the channel at the
| next high tide.
The Graf WaIdersee's house is high amidships
| and when loaded she is high out of the water.
She could be seen plainly from the Battery
| yesterday, with her pointing toward Bay
! Ridge.
It was believed by many towboat men along
the waterfront that the Graf Waldersee was as
safe in her position as when In her dock III
| Hoboken.
If the feet of tugs fail to pull her off it is be-
| lieved that the cargo will be lightered and an
| other effort made. Should the work take longer
| than day the ninety-one cabin passengers and
those in the steerage could be removed easily in
| barges.
Among the marooned passengers Baron
| Won Etzle military attache of the German EN-
bassy at Washington Mr.. and Mrs, c. G. Davis,
| Mrs w l. Hamilton, Rudolph Japing. Miss
| Sarah Phelan, Miss Elizabeth Tuttle Mr.. and
Mrs Edward C. Morris, Mrs. j. NJ. Dresser and
! Mrs