The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-08-07
The YACHT LADY KIERSER DISASTER.


day-Curious Conflicting Testimony.
Yesterday morning an inquest was held at Bellevue
Hospital the body Of Patrick McAlister who lost his
NE by being drowned when the yacht Lady Kierner
was run down by the steamer James W. Baldwin, on
The morning of Friday, the 9th ult.
A jury having been empaneled the following evil
dence taken The owners Of the steamer Messrs.
Romer and Tremper, as well as the captain, J. II.
Temper. and the pilot, William Mozer, were aided by
counsel
John B. McGrath, on being sworn, deposed that he
lives at 666 Ninth avenue; he was on board the Lady
Kierner small sloop.rigged yacht, Of eleven tons
measurement at the time the catastrophe occurred he
captain of her. and had had considerable nautical
experience for twelve years sailing vessels and
steamers; the 26th Of July-he remembers the day
well-at few minutes past twelve O'clock midday, he
and party OF friends started from the wharf at the foot
Of Ffty6rst street for cruise TO Rverdale the names
Of those OIL board were himself John b McGra!h; his
Blake, Washington Gregory, William Chattaway, Henry
Goss, Joe Macintosh George Chase, John shehan and
sailed up the river far Riverdae, and there they
laid alongside dock for some time, until six O'Clock in
they then cast OF and although they had their sails
set dfted down, there was wind, until they
opposite the Eysan Fields Hoboken where they cast
anchor, as the wind was quite gone away; at eleven
O'Clock in the evening they weighed anchor and again
started up the river they first made tack the
board side towards New York. and then made another
tack time after the port side towards the New
Jersey shore; the tide was what is called
blowing from the northeast; while they we're on
this second tack witness saw the steamer James W.
Baldwin coming towards them down the river when
he first her she might have been between quarter
OF mile and half mile Oft; heard her paddles DIS
tincty; saw that they could not get out Of the way
there was so little wind, he SCALED the boys up"
nearly all Of them being below asleep and hailed the
steamer; the steamer struck the Lady Kierner mme-
diately Afterwards, and some Of the chaps board
Owed the SIDE and others grappled the steamers
bows and Climbed on to her deck The steamer struck
the zach. right abeam. between the shrouds on
the starboard side; witness had charge OF the
yacht at the tme and was steering her; there
four men looking out forwards; some of the the
water hailed the steamer to lower boat and them
and the reply they got that there was mo boat
aboard the steamer; it was rainy morning but 80
dark that you could not about pretty ceary-you
could see one hundred or thousand feet Off; the
yacht carried light it was white light, the usual
lantern at her bowsprit Joe Mcrath his brother had
put out this light and he could swear II was lighted at
the time OF the disaster; he recognized the dead
SSay Sy its s Clothing n.v was that Of Patrick
was also an engineers certificate in the pocket OF
deceased which would also prove his identity; there
thinks that those board Of the ought
seen them clearly; witness is plumber BY trade but
and matters; heard no whistles or gongs
sounded board the steamer before the accident he
had asked them lower boat they said there was no
boat, but passenger told him they had boat the
70 cut the falls Of the boat bu could NOT d one
after some time, with the assistance OF Others managed
lower Tho boat and picked up lot OF his shipmaes who
struggling In the water; thinks that those on
board tho steamboat had lowered boat Immediately
the collision occurred there would have been lives
pened; just about two O'Clock.
Hugh McGrath-1s brother Of last witness; lives at
Of Twenty first and Ninth avenue was on
board the Lady Kierner at the time OF collision the
yacht went up far Rverdale and left there
%nn thew shs anchor s
Fieldsh and was awakened by his brother
shouting down the hatchway, Turn out every one
Of ind
right down on u.s." he jumped up and went on deck,
when he the Baldwin about quarter of mile on
witness up into the sarboard shrouds nearly the
masthead, and got all hands TO hail the steamer all
together they shouted several times quite loudly but
those board the steamer did take any notice and
she still bore down on Them when she quie near
witness seeing that collision inevitable, leaped
overheard and the paddle OF the steamboat him.
bruising his arms and back he the freroom clare
board the Baldwin and four standing 10 the
bows he hailed for boat and for a rope and after
time he pulled on board by OF the passen-
gers his brother sailing yacht at the time OF
the occurrence and must have stuck 10 the helm other.
wise she would have up TO the wind which she
did not do witness tied on the lantern to the b stay
and can swear lighted all the time I'D 10 the dis
aster McAllister on board tho yacht when was
struck, and his particular duty was TO ind the b
recogn lied his body at once by the clothing
Washington Gregory:-Iives at corner OF Eleventh
and Fifty third street; after they bad weighed
anchor of the Eysan Fields the greater part the fel-
lows were below; mono we're drunk, they had only
over six hours Charles Mcerath, Weldon McAser and
himself deck This witness then repeated nearly
verbatim the same evidence the two former wit
nesscs Those the yacht did change their course
all after seeing the steamer; she too near and
there too little wind McGrth the captain appear.
cool possible; Immediately the steamer struck
them he went forward and climbed ap her bows, and ne
afterwards assisted TO pick mp the Survivors: they
tany had boat on board The steamer for he had
picked up ny IT,
George Chase who looked very III and seemed suffer.
ing from rheumatic fever dcposed that he lived 729
Eleventh avenue he did not know much about boats
nautical terms; board the Lady Kierner whom
she was run down by the James W. Baldwin. After
peatng and corroborang the testimony OF the brothers
McGrath, witness further said:-Four men climbed
aboard the steamer az first when she struck; he wnes
was in the water when John McGrath called to him to
jump and catch hold OF rope, which he did, and
pulled up on board the Baldwin; heard McGrath say
TO the men on the steamer 'For Ged sake lower .
McGraih continued Anything III do in emergency;
a leaky boat at all events will do 10 save the poor
chaps" u the boat had been lowered first as was
after wards DONE all would have been saved ali were
perfectly sober, and the bow light burn ng the
lady Kerner from eight O'Clock in the evening up TO
John Shehan-Laves at OF Fifty seventh street
and Eleventh avenue; knew the deceased we'll; had
friends. Witness who appeared much affected while
giving hrs testimony corroborsied all The former ev
throw him rope for Gods sake, but il was long
time before any attempt was made 10 save him, and he
was finally drawn on board the steamer nearly ex-
This being the evidence on the part OF the friends of
the deceased McAster the Coroner then proceeded
hear the witnesses on the other side.
william Mozier living al the corner OF Forty-fourtn
and Ninth avenue being sworn, affirmed that be
the pilot of the James Baldwin had been
steamboat pilot for more than twenty years was on
board the Baldwin the night OF the Goth aud morning
Of the 9th Of July last was coming down the and
soop abou. two O'Clock Ia the morning stand
ing towards the steamer the west shore this soop
the centre OF the river and the wind was N e.
and the yacht or sloop heading Upwards
that Is In an easterly direction they went about
for the New Jersey shore, and he stopped the steam
boat After little while be something
dark on the port bow, when near to Thrtisth /
street. which he thought was saiboat; this boat vas
right W 10 the wind and there was no light aboard he
slowed the boat and just then the ssilboat died With the
wind and headed ght for the steamer he rang The bell
Tor the engine 70 stop and Immediately Afterwards the
order 10 back sstern thinks that those aboard inc
yacht had pus Their helm down they would have cleared
the steamer AFTER she was struck the yacht remained
upright In the water right the bows On the bac
win Tor fifteen twenty minutes she then niled and
turning over on her SIDE the tide carried ner
away; witness partner in the wheelhouse ms nsss.
ami, ait get boat down immediately sne collision