The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-17
CAUGHT ON ROCKS
OF NO MANS LAND
Fabre Steamship Roma, With
More Than 500 Aboard,
Goes Ashore.
VESSELS FATE is IN DOUBT
Binding Gale Makes 1t Almost
Impossible for Help to
Reach Her.
VESSELS FATE is IN DOUBT

Gay Head, Mass. February l6--The
Fabre Steamship Company's liner Roma.
with AIS passengers and a crew OF
100 men. bound from Marseilles for
Providence and New York late to- night
struck on the rocky shore OF No Mans
Land
Tonight tho fate Of the vessel was
In doubt. The static conditions were
bad, and wireless communication with
her was uncertain. y message picked
up at Siasconset three hours after tho
steamer had made known her plight,
seemed to Indicate that she had noated
but the meaning OF the dispatch was
not clear
Assistance was delayed by a binding
snowstorm. which. carried on the wings
of seventy mile wind. made naviga-
tion in the vicinity OF the forbddinc
island extremely hazardous. The rev.
enuc cutter ltasca, in tho western end
OF Long Island Sound. was first 10 re-
spond to the distress signal. bur had
before her a hard fight of several hours.
Ihc revenue cutter Acushnet set out
from New Bedford at 10 O'Clock on an
equally difficult trip.
Has stormy Voyage.
The Roma was duo at Providence on
Saturday. and after bucking gales all
The way across the Atlantic, ran into n
gale that. moving eastward, was cen
tral tonight off Nantucket Appar-
emily, the vessel was twenty miles or
her course, which lies along what is
known as the twenty -fathom curve, :,
when she brought up on the south
shore off No Mans Land. The direction
OF the wind was her immediate saliva
ton. for few vessels have escaped from
the rocks OF the little island with tho
wind from the south.
The egg-shaped island. with coast
iihe OF three miles, lies about eight
miles south of Gay Head Light, and il
the most isolated place OF habitation
on the y tlantic Coast. \ single family
lives there this winter.
The first wireless message from the
Roma was picked up at the naval radio
station at Newport at 4;40 o'clock this
afternoon 1t was In French and was
not translated until some time later
II read:
Ashore south side No Mans Land.
Send powerful towhoat with we'll pro-
vided towing material. Impossible FOR
us 10 get OF with our own power
Bonts Cnn't Live In Sen.
Tho appeal was telcphoucd here
which is the nearest point having a
fe-saving station. Gay Head at the
western extremity OF Martha's Vine
yard. IL almost due north or No MANS
Land Captain Cahoon, OF the Cav
Head lifc-savers, said that he would
undertake the eight mile row to the
Roma as soon as the weather moder-
ated. but that no craft 1t his command
could live In to-nights storm. There
was no motorhoat at the station
second message from the Roma
said that she was pounding heavily,
but scraps of subsequent dispatches
were more encouraging. One seemed to
indicate that tug had reached the
steamer and was trying to float her,
and another that the tug had been sue
cessful
Captain Combcrnous Is said to be
making his hrst voyage as master OF
the ship, lie communicated with the
owners at New York. and gave the
impression that the vessel was In no
great danger aud would be flonted with
the aid Of tugs
The Roma apparently went ashore
at half tide. The wind was then In the
northeast, but to might IL veered around
into the northwest and continued
strong.
More Than 200 Aboard.
New York. February 16.--'Fhe steam
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