New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-10-14
TERRIBLE CATASTROPHE.
SINKING OF A SKIFF FERRY-BOAT WITH
SEVENTEEN PERSONS on BOARD
ELEVEN OF THEM DROWNED.
From The Troy Times, Oct. 10.


This morning sad calamity occurred in the river
opposite the steamboat landing, the particulars of
which are narrated below. II appears that &c the
skif ferry boat, running from the steamboat DOCK on
this side Of the river 70 Green Island, loaded, or
rather orcr oaded with serenteen PERSONS residents
of this city, was conveying its inmates across the
river, it capsized near the midule OF the stream,
throwing the passengers into the water. Many Of
them could rot SWIM and their screams for assistance
attracting the attention OF persons on shore, every
effort was made 10 rescue them from the danger OF
their situation but in vain. The distance from shore
prevented the arrival of the boats dispatched IN ime
20 render any very offeotUal service. Out OF the
seventeen persons in the skif, only siE escaped all
the remainder sinking beneath the surface Of the
water TO rise no more
The capsiziDg is stated by those who escaped the
fate Of their companions TO have been caused oy the
sudden rising Of the inmates Of the bos in order to
prevent the swell Of the steamer Alice, which was
passing at the time, from overlooking the skiff and
wetting their clothes.
As soon as the boat capsized the greatest conster
nation prevailed among the persons in the water, and
those who could not swim cluug 10 those who cOlG
with de6tb-like tenacty and thus several who are
known TO have been good swimmers perisBed.
The names OF the persons in the skill are as follows:
Robert Douglas cOlored; Jerry Cavanaugh John
Mshar, Charles Dele Geo. Yetter Patrick COkcly
Thomas Nsughton, Anthony Mench, Henry Frear
John Mider captain steamer John :. Ide; Patrick
Butler, Patrick White Thomas Dyer james Stat
terly Barney Rigney, Michael Eagan and Thomls
Nolan.
OF these the following escaped: Patrick Butler,
James Slstery, Henry Frear, Capt. JnO. Mider,
Tbom6s DYER Patrick White Three o. the above
were picked up by the steamer Stillinan Witt, and
the other three were rescued by the small boats.
The following are the Names of the persons
drowned, and whose bodies were recovered this
morning:
l. jerry Cavanaugh, married; 25 years Of age.
Q. Patrick Cokely, 80 years Of age; resides near
corner of Fourth and Adams. ats.
3 Thomas Norton as years OF age; resides ID Fifth
ct near Ferry leaves family
L. John Mahar, Irish boy, u years Of age. The
agony Of his father upon behodDg the body exceeded
all exhibitions Of sorrow ever witnessed lie was
perfectly incOnsoable.
s. Geo. Yetter, Frenchman; he was the ferryman,
and was rowing the boat at the time OF the unhappy
occurrence: has been married only nine months; re-
sides in Second st.. South Troy.
6. Charles Dele, "a years of age; only six weeks
married; resides in Congress-st., near Eighth.
Z. Anthony Hench, German boy - years OF age
resides at 100 Wilam-st
(. Robert Douglass, colOred), % years OF age re-
sides III Niau.st; has family.
Tie names of the other persons on boar the boat
at the time of the occurrence, and whose bodies had
not been recovered up to IL NJ, are as follows Bar
ney RigDey. Michael Eagan, and Thos. Nolan IF
forts are being made to recover the missing bodies.
The wharf has been lined with spectators during the
whole Of tie forenoon and the calamity engrcsses the
attention Of all citizens.
Coroner BontecOu and Hegeman were early at the
scene of the catastrophe and worked with great zeal
and efficiency TO recover the bodies of the unior-
tunates.
A Coroner inquest will be held upon the bodies
this afternoon at O'Clock. The deceased were ali
conveyed to their various residences.
The accident occurred at about o'clock. Most OF
the persons in the skif we're workmen 10 Messrs.
Wheelers and Taylor & Co.'S chair factories in West
Troy and wree ON their way to work when the disaster
occurred.
The skif was greatly overloaded. Had it not been
for the large number Of persons in the boat the &c
dent would not probably have happened. We mug;
reserve further comment upon this sad calamity until
tomorrow.