Most of the crew of the 2,000-ton freighter Texita made it safely ashore after the vessel ran aground near Plumb Point Lighthouse off the Palisadoes. Battling rough seas, they used a small boat to reach land when efforts to remove them by tender failed. Only the captain, his wife, and two crew members remained aboard the damaged ship, which had taken on significant water.

Published Saturday, September 3, 1960 

Ship aground off Plumb Point

Gleaner Shipping Reporter

The 2,000-ton freighter, the Texita, travelling from Port Arthur, Texas, to Kingston with about 130 tons of petroleum, ran aground near Plumb Point Lighthouse off the Palisadoes Thursday night.
According to reports, the Texita, which flies a Spanish Honduran flag under Captain Willke, was going to await a pilot at a rendezvous called “The Hole” when she drifted too close to shore and hit a sandbank about 70 yards from the coast.

At about 1 p.m. yesterday, the busy tender Lady Huggins tried to take off the crew but failed, as the sea was very rough. Later in the afternoon, when a reporter visited the scene, the ship was tilting heavily windward and being battered by heavy seas. Most of the crew had gone ashore by a small boat.

Up to late yesterday it was reported that the captain, his wife, and two other crew members were still aboard.

A member of the crew told The Gleaner the ship was badly damaged and had taken in a great deal of water.

By yesterday evening, the salvage vessel Rescue was standing by about 50 yards from the Texita, awaiting orders about refloating her.

The Texita is chartered by United Fruit Company.

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