About 8 p.m. last Friday 2 wireless message was received from the Pacific Mail steamer President Cleveland reporting that the vessel had gone aground on the Tungsha Spit. The message added that there was no immediate danger.
The Shanghai Tug & Lighter Company's salvage tugs, St. Dom-mie and Alexandra, were despatched with all speed to render assistance.
The President Cleveland was due to reach Shanghai the previous day, but caught the full force of the typhoon. She reached the Fairway Buoy, where the pilot usually comes "un board, too late for the incoming tide. It was announced that she would be a day late, and her arrival was expected last evening about the time when news of the mishap was received.
Passengers from the stranded liner were Janded at Shanghai lat" ton Sunday afternoon. The tender Alexandra, which brought them to the Customs Jetty, with the powerful tug St. Dominic hae been standing by the President Clevoland since she went ashore on the Tungsha Spit, last Friday event ing.
None of the passengers looked the worse for their experience. "We have had a splendid time at Tungsha," said a lady. "With the exception of last night no motion was felt since the ship grounded, so the many serious cases of sca-sickness, largely brought on by the terrible voyage from Yokohama, were soon cured, and began to enjoy life for the first time."
Although the accident occurred on the day following the typhoon, the sea on the banks has merely been choppy since Friday. The ship was never in danger, but it was thought unwise for the tugs to come alongside. Saturday night: was accompanied by a slightly bigger sea and a heavy downpour of rain. The general opinion of those on board was that, had it been less choppy on the night she was stranded, the Cleveland could have been got off, owing to the high tide caused through the typhoon weather. Everyone save the officers and others on duty refused to believe what had happened, when told of the mishap to the ship. "There was not the smallest shock and she appeared to be still going slow," were the words of one who was of deck.
At the time the tender departed: for Shanghai weather conditions had returned almost te normal.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.