New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-10-14

COMMODORE had her stem broken, and leaks qulte
badly.
p S-A Geographic dispatch from Piermont says
that it is reported that eight lives were lost.
FOG DISASTERS IN THE HARBoR
Two of the Sound steamers which lef; this port on
Monday evening remained in the vicinity Of Black
wells Island during the night in consequence Of the
fog.
The steamboats, Joseph Belkpap, from Amboy With
Philadelphia passengers, due at this port on Monday
night at 81 o'clock, and the Wyoming from Elizabeth.
port, also due here about the same hour, did not
reach the city until o'clock on Tuesday morning,
having been detained by the dense fog The latter did
not leave her dock at Elizabethpor until Tuesday
morning. The former left at her regular hour, but
was compelled to stop at Elizabethport.
The Staten Island ferry-bOat Sylph while making
o'clock tip from Staten Island on Monday evening,
during the fog, went ashore on Governors Island,
where she lay with all her passengers ON board until
O'Clock Tuesday morning, when she succeeded In
getting off, having received no material damage.
The ferry-boat George Washington of the South
Tenth street line, about o'clock on Tuesday morning.
came in collision with the long dock foot OF Bridge
street. known as PolliOns Dock, and had her rudder
and sternpost carried away; the dock also sustained
considerable damage.
The boats of the Stouington, Fall River, Hartford,
New Haven and Providence lines delayed for
some four five hours owing to the fog; they arrived
on Tuesday morning about III o'clock.
The heavy fog on the river yesterday morning
and the tight previous seriously nterfered with the
passage of the Peck-sp ferry.boats, which were de-
ayed some time in crossing. No accident occurred,
however.
FERRY.BOAT COLLISION.
During the fog on Monday afternoon, the Staten
Island ferry.boat Hunchback while on her five o'clock
trip from New York, between Robbins Reef and Bed
lows Island, ran into the Staten Island fery-boat
Southfeld on her tip from Staten leland STAYING in the
Southfelds starboayd bow, and cutting her down to
the waters edge. The Hunchbscks bow is COM
petey torn up but fortunately no person was injured
STATEMENT OF A PASSENGER.
To che Editor Of Ihe ". Y. Tribune 81,
SIR: Tie co ilsiOn between the Two otaten lsland
boats last Ling, more fnghfu than the morning
papers make it out 20 be. myself being pass enger
ON board Hunohback aud also being requested to
give an account Of the collision, will endsavor TO lay
before You brief statement OF facts.
The hunehback started from New York st5 o. clock,
on her down trip for the Island. There being dense
and almost inpenetrabe fog at the time, our captain
wisely ordered his to ear the bow OF our oost oil
the tbrOng Of people who stood looking ahead 10 zee
il there was fear Of any accident. lie then stationed
some of his crew the lookout Fortunate for us
that he md so, for when midway between New-i0rk
and Staten Island, they shouted TO the Captain that
the steamer SOuthield coming do 6n upon us at
fearful rate So sudden and unexpected was the meet
ing ano although almost every precautioI was taken
" prevent any collision, we ut once saw thar c)ison
was IL eyitable The passengers had just started Tor
the stern Of the boat when fearful crash was heard
OIL all sides. We met bow to bow. Tne Southhoids
sfa board bow terribly stove in, and cut oRn to
he water edge.
Oui bow was completely torn up, the whole front
was mas Of spinters the Flagstaff came tumohng
Gown the deck, and many persons barely escaped
being struck by it, To chow the fghtful force with
which we struck needs but to state our heavy anchor
was tossed six or eight feet from its original place.
Every one board was taken OIL their lees ana pros
trat. on the deck. Ooe gentleman, Mr.. john heese
Bailey, was thrown with great force down the ssirs
from the upper cabin and trsmped upon ny the pane
stricken thrODg, who rushed In frenzy 70 nnu sone-
thing 10 save themselves WITH
The panic that ensued was terrible; at least four
huDdI co persoDs-amOng whom were two hundred
sdes-were rushing ~ and fro eager to obtain life-
preserver to place around them. What few there
were were soon gone, and men and women could DC
seen with them clssped around their oo1ies. One
gentleman in the agony Of despair, was seen 10 nave
five, No one knew the extent OF the lnJury elmer
steamer had received; boats were put out from the
Southfeld to examine and cruise around Our boat
bad but Cne and that rendered useless by belag
stove in at the time of the collision. HAD we sunk,
the Tors Of lie would have been awful. AT the time
We struck the passengers ON both boats gave them
selves UP for lost not knowing where they we're aod
the darkness of the night together with the gloomy
aspect of things arouI that were gathering thick ana
fast, Wds lDCeed enough 70 uisbeaIen 'ue po''e' VI
them. -
Having made brief statement of facts, now ask,
ought such things to be permaed-one Doat ta Sa
could hold but twenty-five or thirty people to save 4oo
OF $50 souls2 Let the rigid eyes of the law look to
this-this is indeed cal-and may the want Of boats
or Ct life not be the cause Of adding 70 me
fearful disaster and loss Of life that so lately startled
the community. Yours truly, a PASSENGER.
Neic. York October Is. 1871
The steamers Sou hield aud Huuchback being thus
disabled the Sylph put in commission to take the
O'Clock trip from the island. She had to encounter
tie same dense fog, and went ashore on Governors
leland where she remained with all the passengers on
board until o'clock in the morning. when she hoaed
Of with the high tide, and landed her passengers in
safety. Her commander fouod his boat surrounded
with rocks and could not with prudence start his en-
CINE until the tide rose The cause of the Sypns go
,g ashore was defect in the lead line. 1t had been
repaired and portion of it cut of, making the usual
fs,Lon tokens shorter. This deceived the man VINO
as sounding and csused the captain to run bis vessel
ashore.
H,, ,.Tv MApcpIIus EARNgR TILE Hur1cnsf