The daily morning journal and courier., 1907-01-14
NEW CLYDE LINER GOES
 ASHORE OFF CHATHAM
FREIGHTER ONONDAGA IN DAN CIRCUS POSITION ON 0R-
 LEANS BEACH.

Wanders TryO Miles Off Her Course in Fifteen-Mile Run--Night, Though Cloudy. Comparatively Clear--Captain Failed te Make Out the Nausett Lights When He Went by Them Crew Stick to VesseI-Tugs Standing By Her.
 Chatham, Mass, Jan.- 19.-Straying from the beaten track the Clyde freight steamer Onondaga, Captain Bunnell, bound from Boston for Charleston and Jacksonville, struck on Orleans Beach early to-day and is in dangerous po- sition. At low water this afternoon the Onondaga was nearly high and dry, but none of the crew came ashore as the vessel at no time gave evidence of breaking up. The chances of saw ing the steamer are considered about even.
 The steamer struck the beach nearly head on shore and the heavy sea soon drove her stern around until at day. light her nose was pointing back to- ward Boston. The vessel had wan dered two miles off her course in the fifteen mile run from Nausett lights to Pollock Rip shoal lightship during a night watch, though cloudy, was com paratively clear. Captain Bunnell shouted to one of the life savers this afternoon that he thought he was con- siderably farther to the south and had hauled his vessel in shore to pick up either land or light. Within min- ute of getting a sounding of seven fathoms his vessel grounded on the bar
 The Onondaga left Boston late yes- terday afternoon with a miscellaneous cargo for the southern states. The storm had cleared before the end of the cape was reached and Highland light flashed on the steamers deck as she speeded on to the southwark The storm had left an unusually heavy roll so that the outside of the cape was frlnged with a broad band of white which marked the shore even in the darkness.
 The south patrol of the Orleans sta- tion had just met the north patrol of the, Old Harbor station at 1:90 o'clock this morning when he sighted both sidelights of vessel and knew that she was heading straight for the beach. He burned his signal but it was too late to prevent disaster Then the patrol ran back to the halfway house and notified both stations. Cap tain Doane with the Old Harbor crew and Captain Charles, with the men of the Orleans station were soon on the scene. A line was shot across the yes sel but no one came ashore, nor was any attempt made to haul the brooches buoy aboard. Dawn disclosed the iden- tity of the steamer. During the fore noon the incoming tide and heavy sea drove the Onondaga gradually up the beach.
 Two tugs, the Orion and Mercury, arrived at the scene this afternoon whil ethe tug Underwater was expect ed later. No attempt was made to float the vessel to-day, but a strong effort will be made tomorrow to drag her off the sands It is expected, how ever. that the greater portion of her cargo will either have to be lightered or thrown overheard before the vessel can be floated.
 Through megaphone Captain Bun nell told those on shore that he did not see the Nausett lights when he came by them although he had made highland lights an hour or two before. He judged his vessel to be consid- erable distance to the south, and haul ed in shore to make a land fall or pick up some light.
 At dark tonight the captain shouted ashore that his vessel was still tight and showed no signs of breaking up al- though she had been hammered stead fly all day and spray was continually flying over her.
 The Onondaga is nearly new, having been built in Philadelphia in 1905, She Is 2.155 tons net burden, 2T6 feet over all. 40 feet bear and 19 feet draught Her engines have an indicated horse mower of 5000 and she carries a crew of 2S men. She has been on the Bos- ton-Jacksonville line almost contfnu- ously but has been used almost entire ly for freight.
 At sunset the weather was calm and the sea was apparently subsiding.