The Washington herald., 1907-08-21

Stranded on Tompkins ShOai. in the
Potomac, for fourteen hours. some 300
passengers on the steamer Norfolk yes
terday acquired a taste of life as so
vividly pictured by Robson Crusoe. the
Swiss family Robinson. and others. and
none Of them is enthusiastically in favor
OF such an existence.
They cheered Justify when they were
finally taken from the grounded steamer
and transferred 20 the jamestown, which
landed them in Washington about mid
night last night, and all made rush for
the nearest restaurants, as their single
meal during the fourteen hours had con-
sisted OF skinny portion of meat and
cabbage, and. like the Ancient Mariner,
although there was water. water every
where. they We're put on reduced rations
OF water, and even fishing lines were SO
scarce that there was little chance for
killing time that way, although it hung so
heavily on the hands of the passengers
that Capt Hendrick feared a mutiny.
The boat, which was due in Washington
early yesterday morning. ran her nose
into mud bank about O'Clock about
fCrty-seven miles below Washington.
Every effort 70 work her out into the
channel was unavailing. When it was
discovered that there was no chance Of
getting away. a signal Of distress was
hoisted in sure enough mariners style,
and the demand for edibles Immediately
began TO move up.
Fail TO Pull Her OF.
Passing steamers all lent a hand when
they discovered the big vessel. which
draws about fourteen feet Of water, lying
in the channel, but they could not bulge
her from her mud bed
Time and again efforts were made 20
tow her away, but tow lines parted IKE
so much twine each time. and at one time
the efforts of three boats. all tugging on
three-inch hawsers. failed to bulge the
stranded boat. the lines again parting.
The Newport News. one Of the most
modern and powerful steamers on the
line. pulled abreast Of the Norfolk on
her down trip yesterday morning, and en-
deavoUed, with the tug Camilla 10 pull
her off, but also without success.
The stranded vessels PROV was fully
four feet out of the water
When the progress OF the boat was
stopped on the shoals, It was densely
f0ggy. with a slight mist An unlighted
buoy could not be located by the pilot
because of the mugginess, and, although
proceeding slowly, the momentum forced
the vessels nose far into the sand when
she hit the shoals.
The passengers were not disturbed. and
it was believed that they would be pro-
ceeding up the river as soon as another
craft sighted her plight.
The boat. which had left Norfolk on
Monday night at 9 o'clock was provi-
stoned only for the nights run. and after
breakfast yesterday morning. there was
little left in the cooks galley. II was
cleaned out completely, and at lunch time
howl went up when il was learned that
there was little chance of another meal
Then the water began to get low. and
every time a craft was sighted in the
river, IL was hailed with delight. because
the passengers thought they would surely
be rescued.
passengers Hungry and Tired.
The scene Of their plight is about five
miles below Riverside, and there Is p
small country store on the Virginia
shore near that point. but the passengers
We're unable to connect with its contents
because it was not deemed expedient IN
lower one of the ships boats.
So all day long the passengers grew
hungrier and thirstier and more tired OF
each other. so that by the time darkness
came again last night they were in
sorry plight
Passing craft footed derisively as thew
proceeded on their Journey. after failing
to dislodge the big boat, and mutiny was
eminent when the jamestown. the Nor
folks sister ship. showed up from down
the river.
Capt Bailey Reed, the skipper on the
jamestown, was one of the most sur
prised men in the world yesterday when
he saw the Norfolk, and he Immediately
took his boat alongside.
The Jamestown although a much larger
boat, draws considerably less water than
the Norfolk, and it was not a difficult
task for her to tie UP 20 the Norfolk and
transfer the joyful passengers.
All perishable freight, too, was taken
aboard, and the jamestown came into
port about midnight with record break
ing load, having made the run from the
Norfolk in about four hours.
IIOnf Race Ia Lively.
AS she was pulling away from the
stranded vessel. the steamer St. Johns
from Colonial Beach, came abreast, and
the passengers who had suffered with
ennui all day, were madly excited when
a real old-fashioned Mississippi River boat
race started.
The two boats ran neck and neck for
score of miles, when the jamestown. he
cause Of her size. was compelled to slow
down TO accommodate herself to the mar
rowing channel, and the St. Johns beat
her into Alexandria.
The jamestown unloaded her passen-
gers at the ferry slip, instead of her
usual berth. and the 500 people aboard
made a traffic jam at the wharf that the
street car companies could not aceommo-
date. They rode on the roofs of cars.
overfiowed cabs, wagons, and draws and
every "rubberneck' wagon in town was
pressed into service 70 get them TO their
hotels.
All were glad the trip was ended
none was frightened because of
the delay, and the lack of food and water
proved the greatest annoyance of the dav
Whether the Norfolk is damaged is not
known by the officials Of the companv
She viii be brought to port TODAY and
will be put into commission as soon as
A.