Battling rough seas, most of the crew of the the 2,000-ton freighter Texita, en route from Port Arthur, Texas, to Kingston, was safely brought ashore by a small boat. The ship was heavily damaged and took on a lot of 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 Palisdoes 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 sand bank about 70 yards from the shore.

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 and 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 that the ship was badly damaged and had taken on a great deal of water.

Up to late 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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