The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-09-20
THE COLLISION IN THE NORTH RIVER.

inquest tho Late Mrs. Philippine Haash,
Killed at the Collision OF tho Gregory and
George Washington Full Testimony Re-
spccting the Caipability of those Managing
the Boats-The Verdict Rendered. sc.
Yesterday morning before Coroner Cover an inquest
was held at the New York Hospital over the late Mrs
Philippine Haush, killed Sunday morning last near
the Desbrosses street slip, by collision between the
fenyboat d. 8. Gregory and the steamer George Wash
ingon The full particulars Of the disaster were elected
At the inquest and are comprised In the testimony
which follows
IT Mrs. Philippine Haush laid ont at the dead house
and presented horrible appearance the feet and limbs
being crushed mangled and the bones broken
extent which renders il marvellous that nearly days
elapsed between the Of the melancholy
dent ard her demise Tho daughter OF deceased
Tying at the hospital dangerously cut aud bruised II
has been learned that the other lady who seriously
injured on the occasion has dod Hudson
City The following ia the evidence eliced at the 10.
guest
TESTIMONY xArov McnoLa
Eaton Nichols, being duly sworn, testified fol-
ows:--I live in New London; was aboard OF my own
boat the City OF New YORK OF which am first officer
~ North river; stood on my guard looking out the
eangway between half past ten and eleven o'clock
Sunday morning, ana saw the Washington with quite
load, and heard two whistles. and saw the bow OF a
fairy boat; the Washington didn't slow her engine until
was the two boats come together the whistle
made by the Washington; saw no steam from
the washington az all; started from there and
On the promenade deck and saw Il was the Gregory
whos1 prov had seen; the collision occurred while
vas down stairs; saw her strike Tho Gregory; she had
~ Stacked her engines until she going into her. she
struck the ferry boat about ten feet abaf the forward end
q tho cabin; could not see the ferry boat whether
she Stacked her eBgne not; tho Washington didn't
blow whistle at all the upper deck saw the WASH
fngton trying to back out Of her. there govern
the vessels in such cases. ii boa, blows one whistle
III
are blown IL means that the other shall 20 tho loft
collision occurred below where the boats generally
70 10 go into the slip; the feyboa heading towards
her slip little al an angle; then saw the Washington
start and go on down the river; the Washington had
plenty OF room and ought 10 have sheerod OF In answer
% the whistle; saw attempt on the part OF the
Washington to sheer OF; the feryboat had not the
room 81 that time the fcryboat about two hundred
feet from her slip gong 10 the slip usual;
II was the Greeory's whistle; u food tide at the
great deal TO get into the slip the Washington, when
nrst nor above the slip pier al the tide
vas running mp At that time tho Washington was all Of
t~ce her length from the track Of the feyboa about
-four hundred feet, when the feryboat whisted
TESTIMONY or GEORGE WHITE.
George w. White being sworn az witness, testified
NJ folowsI waya passenger the ferryboat Gregory
On sunday morning whom the collision occurred; had
my horse and buggy the cabin; in my wagon
~ tho time aud saw tho Washington coming down;
mine was tho head team, the forward end Of the
saba; after looking ut the Washington moment
madc up my mind for collision and jumped out of my
wagon and led my horse away; the Washington
about six hundred yards above the slip at the time;
abe ferryboat and small bell, and wondered why that
esnyboat did stop tho Washington wheeled her
around and struck the wheel box OF the errybost the
heyboat had plenty OF time to stop; supposed the bell
to crowd the ferryboat, ana that surprised me;
lave crossed the river for fourteen aud mover saw
nuyboat handled like that; the Washington did not blow
any whistle and saw attempt 10 stop the part Of
syther boat had thore been more than whistle
Shs ferry boat would have heard it, the thought struck
e that the Washington had the right OF way and that
aAs ferry boat ought to have stopped in my Judgment
had tho ferry boat stopped there would have been
sdsnL
TESTIMONY or JOHN g. RANKS
John 8. Banks being called as a witness testified
- f0ilows:-I live at Sou n Bergen, New Jersey;
] was a passenger on the ferry boat on the occa-
son Of tho collision was standing on the bow OF the
> steamer coming down crowded with passengers, and
nmedatc afterwards the whistle the ferry boat
blown once; short time afterwards the whistle
again blown; heard three whistles; when within two
hundred or three hundred yards Of the steamer the
thistle VS. pgan blown making the third WHISTLE the
FERRY bload no. slackened her speed; heard no bell
ring: 1erc much confusion seeing collision i'm.
isent stepped TO the other side Of the boat tho wash
SON did not rcpy TO Tho whistle; when crossed
ahe bow Of the forty boat crossed the bow OF the
Washington and l stepped 70 tho front Of the
boa. again when the co lsion took place; Il tho
ferry boat had stopped she blew the
Arv whistle there would have been COLLISION there
was no sisckening Of either boat; the Washing
parties quiet restored assisted rescue
sAc wounded; saw deceased there; shc was driven
shrongh the partition and was covered with mbers and
TESTIMONY ~ Loupoy CAMPBELL
UOucOn Campo II was called witness and teaife ed
- follows:-I live in south Bergen, y. j.; was a
passenger board Of the Gregory the occasion or
De collisions standing on The bow OF tho ferry boat
heard II blow q whistle and saw the Washington ap.
pruachng from four hundred 10 i've handrei yards off,
heard another and another whistle from the ferry boat
heard whistle IRON the Washing tom the vessels
running At right anges seeing collision inevita
Die, held on 70 OF the stanchons the bow;
vas looking ntentiy at the Wash neton and saw no at
tospp her part 10 stop her machinery change her
until she oDsured by the ladies cabin, when
me collided; she coded with the Gregory some six
ID. aal1a(t af ~.
Ne guard and the partition into where the horses stood
have an ndistinct recollection Of hearing bell ring
whistle 70 have changed her course and avoided The
sccidsn and so might tho ferry boat; saw deceased
assr the accident her legs were crushed and mangled
my impression 10 that ferry boats have TO yield the right
~ way according 10 law
TESTIMONY cv w. C. !. vRrIcHs
live IN Jcrzey City; was passenger on the ferry
Boat; was in the ladies' cabin heard a whistle and
ioOked and the Washington coming toward tho ferry
bess about four hundred yards away; made leap for
ahs door heard bell just abou, the time Of tho COLI
srsase tho speed
usrInosr on JANE r scnooSxAxsR
live IN Jersey City; was passenger tho ferry
boat; ihink was the twenty minutes pas, ten boat;
J stood near mdshlps; saw tho washington bearing
Sown about 400 yards from rs; heard bell from
he engine room; then thought heard another bell or
slAckcd the ladies' cabin and requested thom
= out twice. the last time pulling three ladies' out;
- Ssfore the collision heard tho small bt ring which
sans J. sash her forward; think the forryboat could
nave cleared Aar IL the Wa hing,on had sheered on
r~usosy or JOINS sMAcK
4 am phosi b~-e been such for nine years; have
sssu ferry pilot on tho Jsrsey City ferry for four years
yns pilot on the Gregory the O. casion OF tho acci
sent According 20 tho laws at for us left Jersey
City ct 1920 for New York; shen within coo wards
q the slip saw tho steamer George Washington coming
Aevn and whslled once which meas 10 pass rght.
ne paid attention that and whistles AGA n which
bs took notice Of and left fo- mo bit 10
pursue my course according to the law the collision 90
sared when was oay two hundred yards from my slip
and be had tho whole North river, and ought to have
pAssed 70 the night; he returned my signal aud
had stopped my boat then no would have sunk me
right there; could not clear him 20 asiern Of him ,
W keeping my boat ia motion " broke the blow; the
Warrington five hundred AZ hundred yards awny
when nra her; the Washin ton could not have
pyoided anking my boat II had stopped when nrst
piew the whistle unless he went into ths Boston dock
haze eyiience ~ prove that the plot Of the Washington
vas stubborn about giving answer the collision being
Inevitable when he got within nftoen PAGES he stopped
mia engines, A. nearly toll, aud rang my bell to