Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-10-08
BATTLEsHIP AGROUND.
Kentucky Stuck in the Soft Mud Oh
Lamberts Point, Near Norfolk.

LamDeft9 Fo1nt, NEAR Nor1olk.
NORFOLK. Va, October s.-The United
States battieship Kentucky. which passed
in the Virginia capes late yesterday from
the north on her way to the Norfolk navy
yard for repairs prior to the sailing Of
Admiral Evans battleship feet on its
long voyage around Cape Horn for the
Pacific coast. grounded off Lamberts
Point today while proceeding up the
Elizabeth river from Hampton roads en-
route to the navy yard
The Kentucky with her nose stuck in
the soft mud of Lamberts Point fats lay
almost directly abreast the Norfolk and
Western railway warehouse No. 2. near
the long coal piers. Tugs went Immediate
| ly to the assistance Of the battleship. She
was in no immediate danger and was ex-
pected to be floated at high tide without
| material injury to her bottom. The mud
| Is very soft where the ship lay.
| The channel Is narrow at the point at
which the Kentucky struck and it is here
| that the bunker steamers, sailing craft
and ocean-going barges In the coast
| wise coaling trade lie awaiting berths at
| the Lamberts Point coal piers.
Many similar groundings have occurred
| near the same point, but none have re-
suited seriously.
Lam~erts Point is on the Elizabeth
river. near its mouth. few miles below
Norfolk. 1t is a sheltered spot.
With the receding tide this forenoon the
| battlesh.p appeared to be well on the bot
| tom. Tugs pulled desperately on the ship
with the hope of freeing, and floating her
before low water. which occurs at 3:47
pm. but the belief expressed on shore
was that nothing would be accomplished
until high water late tonight.
| The boats working on the Kentucky
were the government tugs Mohawk and
Wahneta. from the navy yard and the
Norfolk towing tugs Twohy, Chesapeake'
Clark and Katie. These are among the
most powerful tugs in this harbor.
The Kentucky, when she started to
| round the narrow channel Off the point
Thus confronted. the battleship. to ciear
them came too far over to the Lamberts
foint shore, and grounded ON the edge
| of the mud flats.
There was no apprehension of serious
| injury to the battleship because Of the
| condition Of the bottom on which she
rests, though 1t was felt that the chances
| were that with the approaching low tide
the ship would settle down In the mud
| and make 1t still more difficult 70 g.,
| her.
1t was at $50 o'clock this morning that
the Kentucky grounded. which was less
than an hour prior to high tide, which oc-
Cured at OPS o'clock. At high tide she
| was not budged from her position.
1t Is said at the navigation bureau
that the point where the Kentucky is
reported to have grounded Is difficult
| TO pass even In fine weather, and in
high gales. such as probably prevailed
| In Hampton roads this morning. II
might easily happen in making the
right angle turn in the narrow channel
that the ship would go aground with
even the best of management. Capt
Barry. the commander OF the ship, is
reputed to be one Of the best navi-
gators Of the navy. It Is believed at
| the War Department that on account
berts Point the Kentucky hAs Egs-
Attained no ipiurx J.. .fs4ss.s s'..EEslsssssss'fs