Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-08-21
TICONDEROGA FAST
ON POINT Al FER
Steamer Carrying $50 or More
ExcursiOnists Strikes Reef
and Passengers are Sent
Ashore in LifebOats
WATER POURS INTO HOLD
Chateaugny, Out Of Service Since 1919,
May he Commissioned ms Soon as
Possible to Take Place Of Stranded
Steamer.

The steamer Ticonderoga of the Cham
plain Transportation company. carrying
between go and 800 excursionsts from
New York and Vermont, returning from
an excursion north among the Islands In
Lake Champlain, went aground on Polnt
au Fer reef about is miles north of
Plattsburgh. near the northern end OF
isle La Motto, Sunday afternoon about
2:30 o'clock and there remained hard and
fast. despite the efforts made to run her
off The blow opened the seams in the
hull of the steamer and water to the
depth of nine feet poured into her mold,
according to all information obtainable
Sunday night. Because of the possible dan
ger of her sinking or overturning, captain
Frank G. White ordered the passengers
removed to the New York shore. one
quarter of a mile away, in the lfeboats.
which act was accomplished without a
mshap. From there they were taken to
the Chazy, ~ y, railroad station and
thence by special train to Plattsburgh.
From that city the Vermonters were
brought back by the steamer Vermont
Sunday night.
The Ticonderoga left Burlington at II
o'clock in the MORNING Sunday, bearing
about 500 excursionists and arrived at
Plattsburgh about one o'clock and there
discharged the majority of the Burling-
tonians and took quite number of
people from Plattsburgh for an excursion
north among the islands. The ship had
completed its furthest point north and
had turned about and was headed back
towards Plattsburgh, being due to arrive
about $50 o'clock and then to start back
to Burlington.
ACCIDENT DUE TO Low WATER
How the accident happened could not
De ascertained Sunday night. but 1t is pre-
sumed that it was due in part to the ex-
ceedingly low water in the lake, which
in this part is only three quarters of a
mile wide. AS soon as it was discovered
that the ship was aground. Captain
White held a conference with his officers,
First officer John Rushlow, Pilots
Grant Edison and f. r. Rockwell. Chief
Engineer P. Duval, Assistant Engineer
Stanley Valyeau, Mate Douglass Came
ron, Purser Frank f. Fuller and Steward
John L. Thomas. after which speedy ex-
animation of the ships condition inside
and outside was made to determine the
exact nature Of the situation.
PASSENGERS ORDERED INTO LIFE
BOATS
1t was discovered that some of the
seams in the bottom had been opened by
the blow of the keel on the reef and
that water was coming in through the
apertures and it soon reached the nine
foot level. Then Captain White decided
that the best safeguard he could offer
the passengers was to have them re-
moved In the lifeboats at once He
gave the instructions to his under-oflicers
10 gather the passengers on the main
deck that being done, he addressed them,
telling the exact situation and asking
that everybody be calm, cool and COL
lected, for there was no grave danger.
He then ordered the passengers into the
lfeboats, sending the women and chill
dren first, and they were rowed to the
New York shore by the crew Arriving
there they waited until all had reached
terra frma and then went to the Chazy,
n. Y, railroad station, from which they
were sent back to Plattsburgh on special
train.
The accident will discontinue the IT.
conderoga in the company's service for
an indefinite period, for the seriousness
OF the damage cannot be ascertained
until a thorough examination can be
made. Probably the Chateaugay will
be commissioned as soon as possible
but because this boat has been laid up
since 1916 1t will take at least a weel,
to get her in readiness for service The
steamer Vermont will continue her
schedule as at present from Plattsurgh
to Montcalm Landing and return daily.