Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-07
ST GOES AGROUND
IN EAST RIVER AS IT
NEARS NAVAL BASE
Submarine Raised at Sea
and ToWed 1876 Miles
Hits Ferly Reef.
REFL DATING MUST WAIT
FOR WATER AT HIGH TIDE.
Missing Buoy and Error Of
Civilian Pilot Blamed.
Crowds Honor Craft.
BY the Associated Press.

~ the Associated Press.
NEW York; July THE United
States submarine S.51 went aground
today between the Williamsburg
Bridge and the Greensboro Bridge,
in the East River. while being towed
to the navy yard here
The S-51 had Just passed through
what were belivede to be her major
perils OF the journey here, possible
sinking again in the deep waters of
the sound and loss in the swirling
waters of Hell Gate. All seemed to
be in order for speedy and a safe
arrival when the undersea boat sud-
denly piled up on Ferly reef rock be-
tween the, two bridges.
Civilian Pilot In Charge.
The S-51 was being towed in tandem
by the tugs Iuka and Sagamore A
civilian pilot who had Joined the es-
cort during the night waS in charge OF
guiding the notilla to the navy yard.
a second civilian pilot was on the
Falcon, lead ship of the convoy.
Although the navy had ordered river
traffic to be turned aside to permit
q free lane for the raised submarine
and its convoy there had apparently
been some hitch in the orders. because
the usual heavy traffic was steaming
up and down the river when the ac-
cident happened. The rock where the
submarine went aground is OF 3Sth
street south of Welfare Island
At the time of the grounding the
tide was at flood. Officers said the
average depth of the course being
followed at the time was 81 feet. The
submarine as towed had q draft Of
sS5 feet. Capt. W. B. Tomb, command
ing the Vestal, said, that a buoy which
should have designated the ferly
Reef Rock was missing. Up to three
or four minutes before the S-51 went
aground the Vestal had been leading
the flotilia.
A signal had been flashed from the
Festal, We have been ordered to
drop behind. The civilian pilot will
pilot her the rest Of the way.
Sirens Blow Warning.
The vestaI veered aside to permit
the submarine TO pass ak once q
shout roSe from the bridge 0f the
Vestal and sirens began blowing q
frantic warning. She's hits officers
cried.
The Falcon, unable to check even
her moderate speed, ran up among
the pontoons against the S-51. Wheth-
Nr the pontooIls or the Falcon itself
were damaged in this collision could
not Immediately be learned.
The most, dangerous part of the
160-mile trip to the navy yard from
the place where the submarine was
raiA6 after nine months submersion
following its collision last September
with the steamer City of Rome was
considered by Navy officers to be the
area near Execution Rock This had
been safely passed. When the acci-
dent occurred Lieut.. Comdr. E. p.
Sauer, who had piloted the Vestal's
course among the dangerous shoals
and reefs, had just lighted Gig.
arctic. saying: I've done my job.
I'm sorry couldn't take her all the
way through
Made 1856 Miles Safely.
He had brought the S-51 135 miles
through open seas. fogs, coastwise
traffic and other dangers. the longest
tow of its kind on record.
Ten minutes before the S-51 went
aground Admiral Plunkett. comman.
dant of the New York Navy Yard, had
left the Falcon, where he had COM
plimented the captain and other offi-
GERS, including Capt. E.. j. King and
Lieut.. Comdr. Edward Elisberg, for
o1ril1 1os Hks<,lo ,.S.S3 =.