Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-31
N|OBE OFF SHOALS
Canadian Cruiser Frees Her.
self After Six Hours.
MAKES HER WAY TO PORT
Vessel Proceeds Under Own Steam
Despite Pierced Starboard
Engine Room.

HALIFAX. y. g.. July 3I.-After be.
ing caught for six hours on the south
east shoal off Cape Sable yesterday
morning the Canadian cruiser Niobe
got of at a quarter TO o'clock. and,
despite a pierced starbosrd engine
room and dense fog. made her way TO
Shag harbor under her own steam
The Niobe was conveyed in by tug
from Yarmouth. and IL expected -
reach Halifax this evening.
The first news of the rsnding Of
the cruiser came shortly before l o'clock
yesterday morning by wireless from
Cape Sable. Commander William -
Macdonald reports that the Niobe was
in grave peril and required assistance.
but at a quarter to o'clock he seat
a wireless that the cruiser was aAoat
asking for a conveyance and stating
that the vessels pumps were keeping
the water down.
The Niobe had been at Yarmouth as
one OF the chief attractions AT n big
old home week celebration AT that
today for Liverpool y. s The depth
OF water in Yarmouth harbor did NOT
permit the cruiser to proceed up the
harbor. so she anchored in the road
stead outside the light.
Drifts on Southwest Ledses.
There was a heavy southwest gale
Saturday night and Commander Mac
Donald apparently considered ii tn.
part Of prudence TO put to sea Bu,
In addition to the gale a dense fog
hung over the entire coast The Niobe
had more sea room outside. but she
did not reckon with the fierce current
that raced, and the vessel drifted on TO
the southwest lodges off Cape Sable.
the most dangerous part Of the rock
bound coast.
BY midnight the Niobe had found her
self on the edge Of the rocks and she was
sending out wireless messages for assist
ance. The message to the marine depart
ment at Halifax came in these words:
The Niobe ashore. latitude 43.2 north:
longitude $3.50 west. In grave peril. Need
assistance"
Further information was received fron,
the cruiser that apparently she was on g.
pinnacle rock on the southwest ledge and
that she was making a good deal Of
water. The appeal for assistance was al
once responded to and in an hour craft
were getting ready to move from Hall
fax, ST. John and Yarmouth. Measures
Of assurance were sent back to Command
er Macdonald.
Boom Boats Go Adrift.
While this was being done Commander
Macdonald. from the Niobe, sent another
message that two boom boats from tho
cruiser containing sixteen men had
broken adrift and could not regain the
vessel because of the tide. The sea was
running terribly strong and the fog was
impenetrable. Commander Macdonald
asked that small boats be sent 10 search
for them, and he also promised TO fire
guns about the time the relief steam shiTs
were expected to notify them OF tie
Niobe's whereabouts. This resulted in
to send life boats ana the steamship
Coastguard at Clarke's harbor also was
directed 10 join in the search.
The Niobe sent word at o'clock yes
terday morning that che sixteen missing
men had got back to the cruiser. return
abandoned, but no particulars as 20 the
cause of this or how the eight men had
been transferred were available.
On the receipt Of Commander MacDon-
AIDS message that he was afioaf in thirty
fathoms OF water and asking for a convoy
the orders for the dispatch of wrecking
feet were cancelled and the government
steamships Lady Laurier and Stanley
were ordered by wireless to &C; as con-
voy. The other steamships are being held
in readiness.
The Niobe was to have spent three DAYS
at a civic celebration in Liverpool. Com
mander Macdonald of the Niobe is a
son OF Senator Macdonald Of Victoria. II.
c. How the cruiser got clear of the
rocks Is not explained. but Commander
the cruiser never really stranded. He
thinks she simply grazed the rocks. slight
ly piercing the engine room and causing
the other leak referred to.