Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-09-16
STEAM YACHT ON ROCKS,
BUFFE1ED BY. THE TIDES
New York Bankers Craft
AfouI of ''Nigger Head"
in He'll Gate;

NEW YORK. September 16.-Buffeted
by the treacherous tide of He'll Gate,
in the east channel, off the middle of
Ward Island, the magnificent steam
yacht DIANA, with her owner, Vice
Commodore G. Ledyard Blair Of the
New York Yacht Club. and merry
party Of friends aboard, ran at almost
full speed on the blunt top Of Niger
Head rock late yesterday afternoon,
and for a time the neutrality-suspicious.
and his friends were in danger.
The yacht listed as the tide rose and
careened to port SO greatly that it was
feared she might turn turtle.
Other yachts and tugs steamed to the
Diana's aid, but they We're unable to
free her AS the Diana listed there was
considerable excitement among Mr..
Blairs guests. but they We're assured
by Capt William Houghton that there
was no immediate danger. There were
nearly fifty in the party. about twenty
of them being women.
Woman. Guest Faints.
One of the women was fainting and
hysterical when the tugboat George
Davis ran alongside and offered to take
off the, passengers. The transfer was
easily made the one fainting woman
being carried across an improvised
gangplank laid over the rails Of the
two boats. The Davis then steamed
to the yacht club anchorage at East
Esd street and landed the party. All
went to various hotels in motor cars.
Mr.. Blair and his guests had been at
Glen Cove and Sea Cliff on Long Island
sound viewing the closing series Of the
club races. On the run back to the city
Capt. Houghton ordered his. mate to keep
as close as possible to the west shore of
the island, but when a transfer tug tow
ing long string Of barses puffed up
the center Of the channel the Diana was
too close in shore to save herself when
the tail barge swung across her bows.
The Diana's steersman was forced to
put his helm down hard and the yachts
nose scraped over the rock. Many Of
the party were in the main saloon be-
low when the vessel struck and, alarmed,
they ran up the companionway as she
careened. Capt. Houghton explained that
the Diana was balancing almost on the
middle of her keel on the rock and that
he had no fear of her "breaking her
back If the tide had been running out,
he said, then the danger of capsizing
would have been much greater.
Effort at Rescue Fails.
After transfer of the passengers. half
distress whistles, passed hawsers about
the stern and united in a strong pull. 1t
was not successful. and being 5 O'Clock,
only couple Of hours until high tide,
Capt Houghton decided to wait
When the Diana struck, the East river
was alive with small and big craft. Two
or three collisions were averted only by |
sharp action. The yachts boats were seen |
to be manned, but remained inbOard. AS |
the tide was coming in it broke against |
the nose Of the yacht and aided in keep
ing the Diana in straight line. Capt |
Houghton later said that the flow of the |
tide was doubtless a great factor in spar |
ing the yacht injury. She lay firmly on |
the rock. about 100 feet from shore.
Several Sound steamboats, passed the |
stranded yacht and hundreds of their |
passengers had q fine view of all the ex-
element.
i About O'Clock Capt Houghton gave |
orders to try full steam ahead, as the |
tide had almost leveled the |
yachts decks. With terrific crunch
ing that was heard all over Wards Island |
and on the Long Island shore, the Diana |
forced her hull forward and floated free
from the rock. She then proceeded to |
the club anchorage under her own steam, |
the Moran accompanied her in |
case of accident.