Show wireless messages are not now being received newport R I 1 dec ll 11 A half nil isred message ent just before the batteries arc supposed to ha e bacomo exhausted came here by wireless from the Nantucket 1 lightship early today asking for help from anywhere the message was timed 2 a m and was as follows nantucket in distress send help from anywhere hera the message broke off the united states gunboat left for tire lightship at 3 a in oday the wind Is west northwest and moderate the sea Is subsiding as the lightships design includes watertight water tight compartments intended 9 I 1 bave lier in just such stress as sho i is now in tha lighthouse officials de illare that there will bo little difficulty on the part ot her crew in keeping her afloat until aid can reach her the lighthouse tender azelea which left I 1 new bedford at last I 1 night should reach the vicinity of the lightship during ehte when wireless messages were re at the torpedo station here yesterday from the lighthouse re porting that she had sprung a leak and that the water was steadily gaining I 1 the officials prepared lo 10 send help the gunboat hist was ordered to aeed to the scene but as she was about to start a defect in her steering gear was discovered which made it necessary for her to have repairs made immediately word was then sent to new bedford where the lighthouse tender azelea was lying anft that sel was dispatched to the lightship early today the steering gear of the hist again vas in proper shape and at six she left the training station under orders to make the best possible speed to the lightship the distance she will have to cover Is about aj mile the leak in tho lightship hull while not definitely located according to the latest messages was apparently just above the fire room plates so rapidly did the water come in although the pumps were kept constantly at work that late yesterday afternoon the fire room was hooded and rhe fires had been extinguished wireless communication then ceased and it was supposed that nothing further would be heard directly from the vessel as the dynamos probably had given early today however camo the brief apparently unfinished message again asking for aid this time ii is thought the wireless system must have become completely crippled the wind to northwest late yesterday and this had the of causing the great peas to moderate perceptibly so that less anxiety was felt hero before noon tor the lightships safety on board the lightship are captain jorgensen 0 dennis mass commanding two engineers three baval electrician operating the wireless apparatus pa ratus and eight seamen |