Page:Federal Reporter, 1st Series, Volume 9.djvu/430

THB PliYMOUTH BOCK. 415 �on shore. In a few moments after the accident, as soon as her headway was lo^t, the Plymouth Bock settled into the trough of the sea, broadside to the wind, and in that position, with the great area of her upper works. and the consequent great expanse to the force of the wind, it is manifest, under the combined effect of a strbng wind and tide and a heavy sea, she must have speedily gone ashore; andthis, as soOn as theescaping steam had disappeared, was the ifear of her passengors. Her sole dependence was upon her auchors. �At the time of the accident the Germania, a staunch and powerful sea-going steam-tug, 100 feet in length, with engines of 125 horse-power, was eruising at sea in Bearch of vessels needing assistance, apd was then from one to two miles to the south-east of the Plymouth Eock. Those on board of her saw the escaping steam and also observed What appeared to be blasls of her whis- Ues, then too far to windward to hear them. ihese were interpreted as signais bf distress, and the libel charges that suehi signais \v€re given. The answer, however, denies this, and. the proof estatjlished that no such blasts of the whistle, nor any other signais of distress as of desired aid, were given from the Plymouth Eock. Her engineer, driven from the engine-room, had ordered ap assistant to go upon the hurricane deck and open the two safety-valves to facilitate the escapeof steam. ihis was doue, and the dense jets of steam from the safety-valves, lastihg for a few moments, are what those on board of the Grermania misunderstood as signais for help. ihe Blackbird, which at the time was just going in round Sandy Ilook and saw the escaping steam, did not surmise that the Plymouth Bock was in trouble and proceeded on her way. The Germania, immediately upon these supposed signais, went to the assistance of the Plymouth Bock, and reached her in about 10 minutes after the accident. The captain of the latter, seeing the Germania approaching, cbnntermanded the orders which the pilot had previously given, to cast the port or smaller anchor, which had already been unlashed by the flrst offlcer, and was previously shackled to the chaln, with some 15 fathoms overhailled. �The Germania was up athwart the bows of the Plymouth Bock. The pilot of the latter asked to be towed in, and inquired the priee. The captain of the Germania answered that it was no time to make any bargain; that they would take hold and leave it to be settled how much it was worth. From each vessel a line was then hove to the other, having a hawser attached; that from the Germania missed. The line from the Plymouth Eock, with her hawser of 50 fathoms' length attached, was drawn upon the Germania, and the hawser made fast, and the head of the Plymouth Bock was then pulled round to windward. This occupied from 10 to 15 minutes from the time the Germania came along-side. An additional hawser of the Germania was shortly after attached, and the Plymouth Bock was then towed to her dock at Twenty-third street, XewTork, without further ditficulty then', at about 4 o'clock p. m. After passing the Hook, the City of Bichmond got a hawser aheiid the Pjymontli Bock with considerable trouble and delay, owing to the roughness of the sea, and assisted in the subsequent towage. This assistance was not entitled to and does not diminish the claimsbf the Germania for her services. No damage after the accident was done to either vessel, and no persou on board of either vessel sustained any loss or injury. ��� �