Page:Federal Reporter, 1st Series, Volume 4.djvu/479

EHEMAN V. STEAM-SHIP SWIFTSUEE. 465 �that the Swiftsure was aground on Smith's îsland. They at once proceeded to where she was lying, a distance of eight or ten miles, and they arrived along-side of her about 2 o'clock in the aftemoon. These two tugs are among the most powerful on the Atlantic coast, and are well equipped for relieving stranded vessels. They offered assistance, and were invited on board of the steamer. �The wind, which had been south-west in the morning, was now south-east — that is to say, directly from the ocean — and the water, which in the morning had been very smooth, was now much rougher, so that the steamer, as the tide rose, was thumping more and more upon the bottom. Her officers were in consequence fearful that she might receive serions injury if the thumping continued, and when the tugs arrived were making some preparations looking to throwing overboard a portion of her cargo if the thumping should inerease and the ship not get off as the tide rose. The officers of the steamer asked the captains of the tugs if they thought they could get the steamer off. They replied that they could, and were willing to try. They were then told that the sooner they got to work the better. The tugs made fast first one and then two hawsers to the stem of the steamer, and by using one tug to keep the other in position, as well as to assist in pulling, and with the aid of the powerful propeller of the steamer herself, they presently got the steamer so that she would move when lifted by the roll of the sea, and little by little they puUed her a mile or more, until she was in water where she would float. They were occupied in this service until about half-past 5 o'clock. When the steamer was fairly afloat, and in deep water, her captain declined further assistance from the tugs, and, obtaining a pilot, came in through the capes and up the bay to Baltimore. She was there examined by marine surveyors, and found not to be in any respect injured in hull or machin ery, nor was her cargo damaged. �The value of the steamer was about $110,000, and her cargo about $15,000. She was 275 feet long, and had engines of �v.4:,no.5— 30 ����