New Britain herald., 1926-06-01
Fall River Liner Pris- ella Goes Ashore on Great Gull Island Dur ing Heavy Fog Steamer Has Heavy List,
Many Women and Young Girls on Board But Cap tain Reports All Acted Admirably and There Was No Panic.
SOME CRITICISM
 AIMED AT SKIPPER

New London, June GPl-With 6 heavy list to starboard, leaking from several strained plates, considerable water in her hold, the forward flax pole gone, and her paddleHheels mashed, the Fall River liner Pris- ella, with 560 passengers aboard, which grounded on Great Gull Is- land, Long Island sound last night, arrived here al o'clock this morn- ing in tow of the tug Elmer A. Keeler
 Have Sleepless Night
 The passengers, who spent a sieep- less night after being violently awakened when the craft struck the beach, were taken aboard special trains that awaited them at the pier of the New England Navigation con- pany. where the liner was docked and taken to Newport and Fall River, to which ports she was en route from New York when she grounded.
 Captain Tells Story
 Captain Fred NJ HamiIin Of Taun- ton, Mass, veteran skipper of the Priscilla with a record of sS years in the employ Of the Fall River line told the story Of the grounding upon the arrival of the steamer here. He said that the vessel left her pier at New York at 5;S0 o'clock yesterday afternoon and that when the vessel reached the head Of Long Island sound she ran into very dense fog. The Priscilla was creeping up to Sound with Captain Hamilin on duty in the wheel house, peering through the murk for a sight of Little Gull Island light. from which a bearing would be taken for Race Rock light which guards the exit from the Sound 10 the Atlantic ocean.
 II was just at 11;O5 o'clock he said when the vessel grounded. The tide was just turning and the cur rent rushing in through the Race is thought to have drawn the vessel into the shoal water.
 Vessel Gets Stuck
 She just grazed the beach and the current swung her to the west ward and the bow crashed into and through the wharf of the Fort Mlchie reservation. And in this posi- ton, with the stern resting lightly In the sand and her nose through the wharf, the Priscilla stuck.
 Captain Hamilin immediately or dered the "S O &" call broadcast and the messages were picked m bv the Independent Wireless company's station and at coast guard head quarters.
 Tug to the Rescue
 The Merritt Chapman and Scott Wrecking company was notified and the tug Elmer A. Keeler which wa. Weatherhound here with a tow. was despatched to the aid of the stricken steamer Shortly afterwards the cost guard cutter Mojave got under way and the two vessels felt their way cautiously across the for en- shrouded Sound. The tug was the hrst 10 arrive, and found that Can taln Hamilin, aided by an unusually nigh tide had succeeded in floating the Priscilla and line had been at- tached to the craft. At 4:So o'clock 'he Pnscllla broadcast a mess7es that she was clear and that the tur Elmer A. Keller was about to tata her In tow. The tug went alonrsids and put a line aboard and the trin 10 this city was started. Captain Hamllin said that the passengers be- haved admirably, and that after the first monetary confusion was over there was no excitement or disorder He said that they all dressed and came on deck, and that after he had informed them that there was no danger they viewed the situation very calmly Many of the passengers were women and young girls, but they all remained as calm as Inc men folks, followed instructions and made the best Of the situation
 The Priscilla will be hauled op, for inspection and repair but if is not definitely known whether the work will be done here or in New port.
 Praise For Captain
 Passengers aboard the Priscilla upon landing here this morning were loud of praise in tho manner captain Hamilin and the other offi- cers and crew handled the vessel after the grounding. They said that every man was at his post, and the orders were given and executed without the least bit of delay or confusion. Passengers were espe- cielly struck with the rapldity with which the line was attached to the Fort DIichie wharf to prevent the vessel from drifting back onto the beach.
 The local steamboat inspectors viewed the craft upon her arrival here and questioned Captain Hanni-