Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-02-15
TUGS. FAIL TO PULL
SYLVIA OFF SH0AL
Another Effort Will Be Made
Today When Tide
Is In.
MEN ABOARD THE SHIP
PUT ON SHORT RATIONS
Only One Cup of Bean Soup Allowed
Each Man Until More Pro-
visions Arrive.

On account of unusually low water
in the Potomac river due to strong
northwest winds. the efforts to pull
the L. S. S. Sylvia, training ship of the
Naval Battalion of the National Guard of
the District of Columbia. off the flats near
Fort Foote proved futile last night. Two
powerful tugs attached to the Wash
ington navy yard fleet worked for
nearly two hours. but gave it up when
they saw that they could not move the
training ship.
Brig Gen. William E. Harvey, COM
manding the District of Columbia mi
litia, said today that he had not yet
received an official report of any kind
from those aboard the vessel. The only
information he had was received from
Washington navy yard authorities. He
said a court of inquiry has not been
appointed. but that one will be named
and the matter of the grounding be
thoroughly Investigated. The Navy
Department. he explained. probably
will appoint the board.
Men on Short Rations.
Except for an allowance of one cup
OF bean soup per man, which the snip
had aboard. those on the Sylvia were
without food from IL o'clock Sunday
afternoon until after s o'clock yester-
day. A launch from the Washington
navy yard took provisions down at 4
O'Clock Ensign Charles S. OConnor,
with seven enlisted members OF the
battalion. some passengers ana sew
eral members of the sea branch OF the
II Ira F>fv< ANN NJ n
last night on a navy yard tug. Com
mander, Joseph A. DeInpf. commanding
the ship: Harold L. Crawford, navi-
gator. and Ensign P. D. Johnston. with
the remainder of the crew, remained
with the ship.
All Sunday night and yesterday the
officers and men suffered somewhat from
the severe cold, 1t is reported. While the
fires were kept going. the iron hull
and the heavy wind made the task of
keeping the vessel comfortable a diff
5-fcult one.
Resting on the Mud.
The vessel is said by those who were
aboard her to have only about one
foot of water around her. She is rest
ing easily and in no danger, although
she has a heavy list to port.
The vessel ran aground about 3
o'clock Sunday afternoon during the
heavy snowstorm. She had been down
the river as far as Fort Washington on
a practice cruise. and was feeling her
way slowly up the river at one-third
speed.
1t was difficult to see far ahead, ow-
Eing to the binding sIeet and snow
storm. just below Fort Foote the Off
.eer on lookout reported a red buoy
dead ahead. Orders were issued to let
go tue anchor, but before members of
he ho
realized that the ship had been blown
off her course, and the engines were
ordered reversed. 1t was impossible to
check the ships Roadway. however, in
time. and she went hard and fast
aground. She is some distance out of
sthe channel and the work of floating
her has been made more difficult be-
cause of the fact that the wind had
blown nearly all of the water from
around her.
Tried to Work Her Of.
Efforts were made to work her off
with her own engines, but when it was
seen that this only served to plant her
faster aground. the effort was aban-
doned and word was sent to the Wash
ington navy yard for assistance.
The navy yard tugs are to make an
other try at flood tide this afternoon
While the tugs were trying to loosen
the vessel from her position yesterday
a small deckhouse on the stern of the
ship was pulled of. it is reported.
The investigation of the grounding
probably will not be taken up until
the ship returns to Washington. River
men who passed the vessel on the way
up say she is high and dry and it will
take an extraordinarily high tide to
make the work of floating her posi-
BILE.