New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-05-01
CELTIC,S PERILOUS BERTH
Sill of Commander Prevented Acci-
dent When Fog Held Her Up.

Seldom has steamer been in q more precari-
Gus position in these waters than was the
White Star liner Celtic which lay broadsde for
nearly twelve hours yesterday IN dense fog
across the main ship channel. Had it not been
for the excellent Judgment of her new master,
Commander A. Z. S. Mambeton. and the eff
fective work of her wireless equipment. she
would probably have been run down by passing
craft or grounded on the edge of the channel
Commander Hambelton went through an or
deal which seldom falls to the lot of a naviga-
tor. He remained the bridge for sixty-fve
hours. and every member of the crew took only
an occasional doze with his clothes on until the
steamer was safely at her pier.
The Celtic was expected to land her pas
sengers on Monday morning. but the unusually
dense and persistent fog blanket that shut down
the harbor for a radius of sixty miles on
Monday forced her TO feel her way from Fire
Island to a point in the main ship channel d
mile north of the Southwest Spit.
At a. Monday, when the fog closed in
on the big steamer the aft funnel could not be
seen from the bridge A half hour later the
Celtic picked up the submarine bell on the Fire
Island lightship. ten miles away, and bore
straight for 1t. Creeping along under bare
steerageway for thirty-three miles. she caught
the submarine bell on the Sandy Hook light
ship, and then anchored.
She managed to find the pilot at p. m. when
the fog thinned out bit. and made two unsuc-
cessful attempts to come UP the Gedney chan
mel
Gradually she came up the main ship channel.
and then. when the fog closed down again. she
| anchored one mile north of the Southwest Spit
The situation looked bad and the pilot said
&c Commander Hambelton, We'll what are you
going TO do when the tide turns?" The Celtic
was then pointing up the channel wait unit!
It's slack water and I'll show you responded
the skipper.
Commander Hambelton's experience in the
royal navy asserted itself, and he threw out his
stern anchor and cleverly swung the big steamer
across the channel the way warships are turned.
Had be trusted to luck permitted the tide
TO carry his boat around she would certainly
have grounded on the edge of the channel.
The channel where the Celtic swung broad
side is 700 feet wide and the steamer is 700
feet long there was small margin on either
side for steamers TO pass. once in this position.
forming q Veritable blockade of the channel, the
commander sent out wireless messages to the
Atlantic Transport liner Minnetonka, and the
Noordam of the Hoand-America Line, which
were anchored outside the Hook. warning them
Of his position and advising them not 10 attempt
to come up the channel. A similar message was
Deutschland, which was scheduled 10 sail at
6: 80 a. M. and she also remained out OF the
way until the fog lifted.
With the ebb tide and still in n thick fog yes
terday morning the Celtic found herself point
ing seaward Rather than undertake the perilous
task Of turning her again, her commander took
her outside the Hook and turned back.
On the way down to the Hook the Celtic
passed the Minnetonka and the Noordam. both
steamers running within fifty feet of her.
The passengers were somewhat restless over
the delay. and Miss Annette Kellermann. the
champion English swimmer. declared
that she would don bathing suit and swim
ashore for She prepared TO carry out
her threat but was restrained by several friends
who feared she would be lost in the fog.
The Celtic, which is Of the White Star
Lines feet in the New York and Liverpool SER
vice. IL running temporarily the American
Line between New York and Southampton. taxi
ing the place Of the st. Paul, which Is undergo
ing repairs.
The trip just ended is Commander Hambel-
toms first trip the Celtic, to which he was
recently transferred from the White star liner
Arabic, running between Boston and Liverpool.