Evening journal., 1908-09-14
VALLEYS
NIGHT ON RIVER
Met Same Misfortune as the
Steamer Bristol Bound for
Wilmington Did

While the steamer Bristol, bound for
Wilmington from Philadelphia, was
forced to anchor this side Of Marcus
Hook last night, because Of the fog,
the Pleasant Valley, being used on the
Wilson Line, while the steamers City
of Chester and Brandywine, are under
going repairs, reached the mouth of the
Schuylkill river on the up trip from
Wilmington, about the same time the
Bristol reached Wilmington.
The Pleasant Valley was out of her
regular service. She was impressed to
take the place of the City of Chester.
which hurt her nose in a bump with
a tug a few days ago and is in the
ship hospital.
The Pleasant Valley was all right.
and is yet She just ran into a bunch
OF hard luck that gave everybody a
grouc hand an empty stomach, but
broke neither skin nor bones.
1t was all due to the fog. The steamer
headed up the channel in an atmos-
phere as transparent as armor plate
and naturally did not try to break any
speed records. II ws like man trying
to negotiate narrow alley under SINH
lar light conditions without hitting the
fence or falling over a bucket.
All went well until the Pleasant val.
ley was opposite Fort Mifiin, and ther
her troubles began in earnest. She sli,
gently upon a jetty, and STAYED therl
an hour, while the captain and piIo
strained and pulled levers. and tn
messengers used language Of rainbow
hues.
Finally the engines. assisted by tn
tide and the CUNTS of the passengers
pulled teh steamer loose. and every
body was happy again. But it was ;
case of "Of agin. on agin. Finnegan.
Fo rbefore the rudder could take a gril
on the water and keep her nose II
the right direction. she pushed VI
against the mud and stuck.
Then there was mild sort Of a pani,
and the passengers made a rush fo
the life preservers. and put them OF
as best they could One man got hi
on his feet in his excitement. evident.
~ intending TO walk ashore. A glanc,
over the side failed to reveal whether
the shore was ten feet away or tel
miles.
Ihe life preserVers were not needed
for neither ship nor passengers were il
any danger. The lattr, however. wer,
getting sleepy. and began TO think abou
their beds which were somewheei
ahead, concealed by the thick and i'm.
penetrable wall of mist
But the mud was not glue. and one,
again. after an hours Juggling, the en-.
gines pulled the boat out of 1t, and .sh,
/ floated in deep water. Then thelcaptair
concluded that the fog was an enarn,
entitled to respect, and decided tha
it was the patr of wisdom to lay t,
for the night so he sought a harbor a
the mouth of the SchuyIkill and cas-
anchor
And theer the Pleasant Valley stage,
for many hours. The passengers, hun
cry. had nothing to eat. Sleepy, the,
had no beds; so they selpt on tn
decks, in chairs or whereon they coul,
find a place. The decks were not a
soft as feather beds, but the yans,ver
ed the purpose. and the passengers
while not enthusiastic over the matter
were philosophical, and placed thl
blame where it belonged-on the fog
and commended the captain for hi
caution.
At s o'clock this morning a launcl
appeared in the ofing-whereve tha
is-and went bravely to offer succoI
Six passengers accepted and wer
taken to the Penrose Ferry bridge
where they boarded trolley cars 70
home.
Soon afterward the marooned passen
gers weer landed at the Governmen
dock at League Island and the Pleasan
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