New Britain herald., 1926-07-07
Absence of Ferly Reef Buoy Permits Pon- toon Supported Craft To Strike Rock Be- tween Williamsburg And Greensboro Bridges.
Undersea Boat, Drawing 35 Feet of Water, May Have to Await High Tide to Be Pulled Off, Had Passed Through He'll Gate Safely.

New York July ' LP-The '. g. submarine S-5l went aground today between the Williamsburg bridge and the Greensboro bridge whils being lowed 10 the Brooklyn navy yard,
 Crash Was Unexpected
 The S-51 had just past through what were believed to be her major perils of the journey here, possible sinking in the deep waters of the Sound and loss in the swirling wa ters of Hell Gate. All seemed to bs in order for a speedy and safe ar- rival when the uudersea boat sud denly piled up on Ferly Reef Rock between the two East river bridges.
 The S-5l was being lowed in tan- dem by the tugs luke and Sagamore. A civilian pilot who had joined the escort during the night was in charge of guiding the fotilla to the navy yard. A second civilian pilot was on tho Falcon. lead ship Of the couyo oy. Although the navy had or dercd river trsifc to be turned aside to permit a free lapo for the raised submarine and its convoy there had apparently been some hitch in the orders because the usual heavy traf- tic was steamins up and down the river when the accident occurred. The rock where the submarine went aground is off 3Sth street. south of Welfare island.
 Says Buoy Was Conc
 Captain w E. Tomb. commanding the Ncstal, said that q buoy which should have designated the Ferly Reef Rock, was missing. Up 10 three or four minutes before the S-51 went aground the Vestal had been leading the fotilla.
 A signal had been flashed to the Ncstal We have been ordered to drop behind. The civilian pilot will pilot her the rest of the way"
 The Nestal veered aside to permit the submarine tow to pass. All at once shout rose from the bridge Of tho Nestal and sirens began blowing a frantic warning. She's hit" officers cried.
 The Falcon unable to check even her moderate speed ran up among the pontoous against the S-51. Whether the pontoons or the Falcon itself were damaged in this collision could not be immediately learned.
 The most dangerous Iart of the l g. mile trip to the navy yard from tho place where the submarine was raised after nine months submersion I after it's collision last Septemberf with ths steamer City of Rome waf considered by navy officers to be th9 area near EXecEtiou Rock. This hak been safely passed. When the accf- dent occurred Lieutenant Command er F. r. Sauer who had piloted the Vostal's course among the dangerous shoals and reefs had just lighted a cigarette, saying: i've done my job, I'm sorry 1 couldn't take her all the way through"
 End of Hazardous Trip
 H. had brought for IS5 through opyu seas. foss, cuastwsa traffic and other dangers the greatest long dis tance tow of its kind on record. Ten minutes before the S-5I went aground Admiral Plunkett, com- mundant of the navy yard. had left the Falcon. where he had com- ptmented the captain and other officers. including Captain F. J. King and Lieutenant Commander Edward ENshcrE. for their skill. Admiral Plunkett had declared that the navy would be proud to have such a feat 10 its credit The admiral rh.n lHft the Falcon to go ashore.
 Officers eaid that the missing buoy and the miseuidance of the civilian pilots were the cause of the grounding.
 The S-5t was drawing 55 feet of water as it was towed along and there are Gl feet at the place she grounded The submarine already was listing 10 starboard but when she struck the rock she was seen to roll stin farther over, All that re- maiuei il view after the collision was the coming 19' on which f.y was flying at half mast and the torn wreckage of her bridge. smashed in her fatal collision with th yi;y of Rome.
 One Of the civilian pilots was on tho Falcon. which was guiding by steel cable, the stern of the S-5I. another civilian pilot was aboard either the Iuka or Sagamore, which were lashed together and towing the submarine,
 Probable delay in releasing the submarine from the rock was seen in the fact that the accident occur red at high tide. As the tide ebhs
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