The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-02-28
COLLISION IN the EAST RIVER.
A Williamsburg Ferryb0at
Sunk in u Fog.
~~~c~~~cc~-~~~~~~~-~~~
MARROW ESCAPE OF THE PASSENGERS.
DREADFUL SCENES ON BOARD,
D., h., ~

DREADFUL SCENES ON BOARD,
Considerable excitement In this city yes
terday, by the most alarming that collision had
occurred the East river between ferry boats
ing the heavy fog which prevailed early in the morning,
and that great number Of passengers had been In
sequence drowned An In the majority OF such
cases the state Of Affairs proved 10 be entirely exagge
rated, lives At all lost far az heard from,
although ths dangers 70 which the passengers
posed were q fearful character, and, ell things
sdsed the Of the NEST tragic results
appears 10 have been little short OF miraculous The
facts seem TO be substantially folIows;-
About half-past O'Clock in tho morning the ferry.
boat Nebraska, Of tho New York and Williamsburg lne
left the foot OF South Seventh street, Williamsburg, for
the ferry slip foot Of Roosevelt street. In this city The
vessel heavily laden with passengers horses. carts
and other articles, and there dense fog prevail
ing that objects upon the could not be discovered
ahead At the distance Of few yards. Under
such circumstances II would TO have been
the duty or the pilot OF the Nebraska 70 feel hts
way cautiously and slowly, with view 10 avoiding un
pleasant accidents such SO liable TO occur the
East North river in foggy weather Instead Of doing
this however Of the passengers acge that he kept
his vesssl under full steam poughng along through tho
uncertain waters without taking tho precaution Of
striking tho alarm bell blowing tho signal whistle
give notice to other vessels Of her precise whereabouts
In this tho Nebraska reached about the middle
Of the stream when became evdont by the blowing Of
. steam whistle that another vessel in dangerous
proximity The pilot Of tho Nebraska Immediately re-
versed Wheels sounded the alarm WHISTLE and too late.
began take steps avoid the danger with which his
vessel had become encompassed In few minutes the
unknown vessel struck the Nebraska full her side just
forward Of the wheehousc smashing the latter and drv
ing the wooden railing through the cabin TO the great
CONSERVATION Of the passengers
The injuries were examined and nrst inspection
seemed not to be Of serious character The Nebraska
however, soon began TO show signs Of filling with water
and tho pilot endeavorcd her the slips
close at hand but the dense fog rendered navigation
very difficult that many ON board gave up hope and
made up their minds that terrible tragedy must nsvts
bly, happen The vessel driited towards tho New York
shore, filling more and moro with water until nnay be-
came evident, by rapid careening the side that
struck that she sinking rapidly and must foundsr
in short time IL relief 40, sent to her promptly
ferry boat passed Just about this time, and sig.
nallzed 70 take on tho passengers but signal was
plainly not understood. and the Nebraska continued
her way, sinking deeper and deeper, until the
actually up hcr guards just at this fearful mo
ment that the condition Of Affairs known the
rescue the passengcrs II may well DO imagined tina,
during all this time tho CONSERVATION Of the
was awful great number Of females were on board,
and their scseas and other signs OF alarm most
peris Of their position Many Of them turned pale with
some mode Of escape from what they considered to Ss
desk others prepared to disrobe themselves in Antcpa
tion Of swim or lus s others seized hold Of pieces
thought might afford them t6e slightest buoysncy IN The
water Few, very few, preserved tho presence Of mind
SO necessary IN such dreadful emergency.
actually took or his clothes and saved himself swim
ming to brig wn,i. woman Smpsa c SyeTSO.rd and
that was also picked up while floating down the stream,
and other instances Of escapes and
adventures Considerable property in the shape Of hats
cloaks, shawls, mufs dinner pals &C. chiefly the pro-
perty OF persons In poor circumstances roaied on from
the wreck and fell into the hands Of boatmen
were seen securing the river In search Of plumber
after the disaster occurred.
bad sign for the managers Of these boats that In
this trying position discovered by the passengers
that there were small boats hand by which their
lives might 10 saved In case Of necessity There was,
indeed one small boat, but was entirely unit for
inasmuch u leaked badly. In the midst Of this dim
caty the pilot endeavored 70 the Nebraska in tho
different slips but owing to the dense fog he unable
10 effect landing. These repeated failures % And q
friendly slip caused the passengers great and
time tho general belief tuat they were all
doomed TO meet a watery grave.
Tho Nebraska had reached about hundred and nifty
feet from the shore when the Warren
assistance and lowed her up TO slip between Market and
Catharne streets, where she lies Five life boats
from ngersolis Boat Bazaar. which the immediate
of the passengers which successfully accomplished
Many Of the up 10 their waists the water
when rescued Had II not been for the provdental
rival OF these life boats fear would have record
the less Of q number Of lives.
By OF ropes the Nebraska finally fastened 20
the pier and all the passengers who had not been taken
OF by the light boats safely landed few women
and men whose fear uncomfortable fell into the
water In their bind hoadong speed get land and
though stated that all these rescued st from
the excitement which prevailed, IL not al all mprob.
able that Of the unfortunate passengers may have
pcrished.
Among these who particularly distinguished them.
selves IN saving the lives 81 the passengers Mr.
Henry Webb, Of the Arm q Edsali Webb ship car.
penters, Frank D0ane foreman OF the docks
the master Of tho Bremen ship Neptune, now thu
balance dock.
The boat which ran into the Nebraska proves TO hay.
was her way from the Navy Yard dock at the time
for New York ~ the pilots Of each OF
sells do their best 20 erimipate each other.
Mr.. Rausir pilot Of the NcbraskN states that he took
jackson street he he hoard the whistle Seneca
and Immediately stopped his vessel and sounded tho
alarm but that the Seneca continued her Instead
Of stopping she should have DONE ON the other
his boat the time of tho collision and that lao
not responsible for what occurred Between tho
statements II probable that the usual verdict such
cases viii be arrived st-nsmely, that nobody Is 10
blame, except Divine Providence.
When tho collision first occurred immediate danger
apprcbended and the passengers were rather Jolly
than otherwise respecting the matter. "How YOU,
Jackson streetS' "Iiow you SebraskaSn and such
other ocoee ordinations heard every side from
tho passengers II mot long however, before all on
board plunged 10 the deepest anxiety and alarm.
II s singular fact that this ferryboat Nebras.
ka coidee Just about the spot nine months
ago with OF the Boston line steamboats, but only
had small nurabcr Of passengers on board At the time