Struck Dangerous Portion of Coast Early This Morning in Fog
Hole Stove in Her Forward Compartment and Portion of Her Crew Taken Off by Life Savers, While Word is Sent to New London for Assistance, and It Is Expected That She Will Be Gotten Off Before Dark This Evening, Though Her Bow Is Filled With Water.
While proceeding up the coast this morning, bound from Newport News to the Bradford coaling station, the United States auxiliary collier Nero, in command of Captain Shurteff, grounded on the rocky coast of Block Island and stove a hole in her forward compartment, which immediately filled with water.
The ships pilot, it is believed, mistook the distance of the fog signal on South eastern light and ran his ship too close to the shore.
The collier was proceeding along the coast very carefully, when about 6:30 the sound of a fog horn broke through the blinding mist.
The pilot, believing the signal to be way to windward, bore the ship close in shore.
In a few minutes there was a sudden shock, and the boat had been cast upon the rocks.
Captain Littlefield of New Shoreham life saving station, who was patroling the coast, discovered the craft soon after she had grounded.
He took a few of the officers off in a life boat; but, as there seemed to be no danger of the collier sinking or pulling off the rocks, the remainder of the crew were left on board.
Although it cannot be definitely ascertained how much the collier is damaged, it is almost certain that a large hole has been stove in her bow.
The forward compartment is filled with water, and she Is hard and fast upon the rocks.
A message was sent to New London requesting that tugs be sent to the collier’s assistance at once; and It is expected that by night she will be floated.
The coast where the collier struck is extremely dangerous; and the fog of late has been exceptionally heavy, this morning being no exception.
The Nero belongs with the North Atlantic fleet and is a third-rate auxiliary. She is used mostly in carrying supplies between the different stations, has a displacement of 4926 tons and tonnage of 1900.
She was built at Sunderland, England, in 1895, and was formerly the British steamship Whitgift. She is of steel, screw propulsion and schooner rigged.
The News-Democrat, Providence, RI, August 1, 1906