The Jersey City news., 1906-09-05
CRUISER IN DANGER
Boston Listing and WaterIogged
In the Harbor of BeIIing-
ham, Wash.
PUMPED OUT BY HER MEN

Crew Compelled to Form Bucket Bril-
gade to Save Vessel After High Tide
Floats Her off Rock-Seven Com
partments Flooded - Lifeboats Kept
In Readiness.
Bellingham, Wash, Sept 5. = The
famed cruiser Boston, whose iron mes
sages helped to spell out the doom OF
the Spanish feet at Manila, lies here
listing and waterlogged, helpless as a
mortally wounded leviathan.
Dangling from her sides, swung out
ready for instant use, are all her life
boats, provisioned and manned, ready
for the quick, sharp alarm of "Ship
sinkingW.
Aboard are 300 men, haggard and
listless after a night and day of tre-
mendous physical exertion. These men
of the United States navy have saved
the vessel by maintaining bucket bri-
gade system that In thirty hours did
not pause and by propelling the great
pumps that could no longer be worked
by steam.
Vessel a Virtual Wreck.
AS result of striking Peabody rock
in Rosario straits the Boston is a virtu-
al wreck. That she ever made port,
with seven of her compartments food
ed and seam in her hull three feet
long, Is the marvel of all who are ac-
quainted with the facts.
The experience of the cruiser Boston,
flagship of the Pacific squadron, is alto
gether unprecedented In the whole
history Of disasters in the United
States navy there appears no instance
of warship having been saved from
almost instant sinking by means of
bucket brigade. Seldom have the steam
pumps been propelled by man power
and then for brief periods only.
The bow of the Boston is pointed to
shore. The dull throbbing Of her en-
gines can be heard The Boston Is
poised and ready for a dash to the
beach at a word from Commander
Coffman. She will not be permitted to
sink much deeper or list more to port.
Sinking of Ship Feared.
Navy men here agree that great
chances are now being taken by per-
mitting the vessel to remain in deep
| water
Let a few more compartments go
to the bad," remarked an officer on
shore, "and the Boston will hit the bot
tom like plummet"
The ships diver, who made a desul-
tory examination of the side of the yes
sci that encountered the rock, report
ed that strained joints are the worst
feature of the accident. 1t is evident
that the cruiser has received tremen-
dous wrenching. Just how serious this
condition is will not be determined
short Of the dry dock.
1t is feared the Boston has wound I'D
her long series of mishaps, the repair
ing of which has cost the government
approximately the amount expended
for her building, 100000 with dlsas-
ter that will put her on the permanent
disability list.
Struck Rocks In Fog.
The Boston struck the rocks at low
tide in fog twenty-five miles from
| this port.
The torpedo boat Paul Jones, on
passing the stranded vessel, was sig
| nailed by the Boston and an effort of
an hour was made to pull her free.
| Finally the rising tide, which throws a
strong eddy from the gulf of Georgia
| fnt fhn c&r
leave the Boston to her fate and pro-
ceed to Bellingham without her.
The Boston reached Bellingham un-
| der her own steam after a rising tide
released her.
Such narratives as have reached the
shore indicate that the 800 bluejackets
who saved the Boston and incidentally
saved themselves after the vessel float
| ed have gone through an experience
that they will never forget.
No sooner was the Boston of the
rocks than the water came pouring in
at fearful rate. One compartment
after another filed until the listing
| was alarming.
The propelling engines were intact,
but those used to operate the pumps
were irreparably out of commission
Men sprang to the pumps, and muscle
took the place of steam in propelling
the cumbersome machinery.
5ailed Ship Thirty Hours.
Bucket brigades were formed, about
200 men making the chain that passed
the water from the hold to the sides.
This work went on increasingly for thir-
| ty hours.
| With the regular swing of machines
the men worked on, dripping wet. 9th
ers of the crew passed along the line
thrusting bits of food, or betimes tobac-
co, into the mouths of those who could
not use their hands for anything save
the ceaseless swinging Of the buckets.
Steaming hot coffee was supplied in
| fhQ Samo manner