Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1909-02-26
CRETIC GOES
ASHORE TWICE
First Strikes on Sandy Shore,
Second Time on a Ledge
WAS IN DANGEROUS POSITION

Big White Star Liner Had No Wire
less Apparatus and Summoned Help
by Aid of Rockets and Whistles
Finally Drawn OFF by Five Tugs
Was Late In Reaching Boston From
Naples-Has Many Passengers
Hull, Mass. Feb. "a .-Extricating
herself from the sandy shore of
Georges Island, in Boston harbor,
only to run upon the more dangerous
rocks of Centurion ledge. the White
Star liner Cretic, Naples for Boston,
was in a position early today that
might easily prove disastrous.
Loaded well down with freight and
1875 persons, ,the great steamer lay
amidships upon the ledge, and al
though she ran up previous to high
tide, it was believed that the five tugs
which had been sent to her assist
ance would prove inadequate to draw
her Off
The steamers difficulties appeared
to be the result of trouble with her
steering apparatus, and the general
opiSion among observers on shore
was that she had lost her rudder.
The life saving crews from the Stony
Point and Point Allerton stations went
to her assistance at the appearance
of the first danger signals, several
hours before midnight.
The Cretic was steaming up the
harbor shortly after 10 O'Clock last
night, apparently looking for an an
chorage, when her steering gear sud
denly became disabled and three sue
cessive rockets signalled to the life
savers that the great steamer was
ashore. At that time the Cretic had
run up on the shores of Georges Is
matter for the steamer to muster her
great engines and draw off from the
land.
Without the help of the steering
gear, however, she was helpless, and
in trying to back out from Georges
Island the Cretic ran up on the far
more treacherous rocks of Centurian
ledge, about one-half mile east of the
island Before the tugs had attempt
ed to pull her off she had run up on
the rocks nearly to amidships, and
with the wind blowing gale her posi-
ton was an exceedingly dangerous
one.
The officials at Fort Warren. To-
Gated on Georges Island, caused the
great saarchlights of the fort to be
turned on the steamer so that the
life savers might be guided in their
work.
The Cretic was drawn off this morn
ing by five tugs which went to her as
sistance She headed for quarantine
Whether the steamer sustained any
damage is unknown.
Red rockets flaring in the darkness
and shrieks of big siren whistles were
the first notification that marine
observers had of the danger that
threatened the vessel.
The Cretic, unlike the Republic, is
| uOl tqulpptu Win VII anu NhN
| first call for assistance that reached
this point came from Fort Warren g
few minutes after the rockets haC
| been observed.
The Stony Beach life saving crew
got out their big surf boat, and with &
crew of five men, Captain Sparrow il
charge, was soon heading in the di-
rection of the helpless steamer tc
render assistance.
Boston was called up and the steam
ship officials notified of her position
! While tugs were hurrying down Bos
ton harbor, and the life savers were
making strenuous efforts to gel
alongside. it could be seen from shore
that an effort was being made or
board to get the vessel off
The Cretic was due in Boston yes
terday but had apparently encountered
much bad weather on her trip across
and it was after dark when she passed
in by Point Allerton. The wind al
that time was blowing from the
southeast, but was far from beins
regarded as dangerous to navigation
A drizzling rain fell and the night wa:
very dark. but no person on shore
here, who observed the progress o.
the big vessel. had any idea tha