Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-07-31
Three Perish on Coast Of Maine Boston Fisherman
Loses Five and ProvinCetoWn Four. Several Wrecks
--Other Crafts Missing. Dominion Cruiser
Niobe, Ashore on Sable, F|oated
CRUISER MODE SAVED.

|
Halifax. n. s., July 30-The new
Canadian navy was nearly deprived of
half of its strength today when the
| flagship Niobe crashed on the lodges
on the southwest of Cape Sable. Five
hours later she hoated leaking badly
and proceeded under her own power to
Shag harbor. 10 miles away where she
| is at anchor with six fathoms of water
and soft mud bottom under her The
first vessel to reach the side of the
disab led cruiser was the United States
revenue cutter Androscoggin, which
was cruising in the vicinity The
Niobe's wireless call for help was pick
| ed up first by the Androscoggin, which
promptly flashed back that she would
stand by to help and would do all in
her power. Through the dense fog and
heavy sea which is believed to have
been the cause of the Niobe's accident,
the Androscoggin rushed and was
standing by the Canadian cruiser when
the steamers Lady Laurier and STAN
ley. which had been sent to the scene,
arrived from West Bay. with the tug
McNaughton of Yarmouth.
The Niobe. however. found that she
was able to take care of herself. AL
though water was pouring into several
compartments her pumps kept her
fairly clear and Commander MacDon-
aid of the cruiser. expressing his
thanks to the American cutter for her
help. proceeded to a safe harhor. con-
voyed only by the tug
At Shag Harbor divers from the
warship went over the side and placed
mattings over some of the larger rents
in the hull and If the weather is favor
able tomorrow, Commander MacDon-
laid is confident that he can proceed
safely to Halifax for repairs.
Halifax, n s.. July S0-The pro-
tected cruiser Niobe. flagship of the
Canadian navy, was saved to the Do
minions young sea strenth after be-
ing impaled for five hours on PIN
nacle of the treacherous southwest
lodges of Cape Sable early today. She
was fioated with her hull badly
| pierced the starboard engineroom
| swamped with water, and with con-
siderable water elsewhere in the ship
ALTHOUGH there We're more than 500
officers and men aboard, there was no
loss of life.
| The means effected to release the
Niobe from her impairment were not
known here up to a late hour tonight.
Commander Macdonald. who is in
command of the cruiser anchored the
Niohe in a safe position some distance
from the scene of her mishap, await
ling the arrival of the government
steamers Lady Laurier and Stanley,
(which were dispatched to her assist
lance early this morning from st. John.
The cause of the accidenp probably
will not be disclosed until 1t Is brought
out at an official marine inquiry which
is certain to follow.
It is known that heavy fog en-
shrouded the coast. and 1t is said also
that there was a gale of wind blow
ling Commander Mac Donald and the
Iother officers of the Niobe were nom
communicative tonight when queried
by wireless for a statement as to the
I cause of the stranding.
The accident. which threatened seri-
ously to rob the young Canadian navy
of half it's strength CThe Niobe with
the cruiser Rainbow, stationed on tho
| Pacific coast. comprise the Dominion's
navy narrowly missed the further un-
happy notorioty of bringing about the
loss of 16 men. AS 1t was these 1c
sailors passed half dozen hours In
two small boats, lost in the fog and
at the mercy of heavy southeast
wind which it was feared would
wreck them on one of the many lodges
(which abound about Cape Sable. But
it was learned by wireless tonight that
all had reioined their ship in one boat,
the other apparently having been
wrecked, as was feared.
So extreme was considered the plight
Iof the Niobe that Commander Mac
Donald had ordered all boats cleared
laway. ready for abandonment OF the
lsupposedly doomed ship. The two
boats which were lost for a time with
their crew We're the first launched,
general launching of the boats having
been deferred until a more certain
Idea of the condition of the vessel mad
been ascertained
The Niobe piled up on Southwest
Hedge at 1895 this morning while
rounding Cape Sable, which is the
southermost point of Nova Scotia. on
her return to Halifax. her home port,
from Yarmouth, where her officers and
Continued on PAGE Ten.)