The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-04-23

ON Tuesday night, a. a consequence of the misty
rain OF the day, thick fog set In after ten O'Clock,
which up TO yesterday morning had become OF the
denscst description on the rivers and low lying lands
adjacent 10 the city. on Long Island Sound in par
ticular the fog thick thar, as sailors some
times say You could 'cut II with knifen and, con-
sequently the navigation OF this estuary, generally
difficult operation, was rendered yesterday morning
a task OF the utmost danger. The boats coming to-
wards New York found the air heavier and denser az
they approached the city, and some had to lay to
inside 10 allow the fog 10 clear up a little
before they could proceed. Among these latter
was the Elm CITY, the well known boat Of
the bridgeport line which left her dock last evening
at her customary hour for New York. The weather
had been very thick on leaving the Nutmeg state,
and Captain Downs, having hundred passengers
under his charge besides a fun cargo on board,
particularly as the weather. instead OF growing clean
as he progressed, only got thicker. When opposite
Throgg's Neck the Elm Cifys engines were stopped,
for the fog was so thick that nothing could be seen
few feet on. In fact the captain and pilot were only
able 10 guess az their position from The points OF the
compass and the distance they had run The
Elm City had been lying passively ON the
water for some time, and her whistle Kept
blowing alarm every half minute OF so, when,
before any warning was given, all ON board felt a
sudden shock, heard the crash OF rending tmbers,
grinding, grating collision, and they knew that they
had been run into Al FIRST the Elm City kceled
TO such extent that all thought she sinking,
and there the greatest scurry and confusion on
order and quietness. The time was haf-past seven,
and the passengers had Just been aroused for break
fast before the shock came so 10 was a little
better than IN they had been suddenly
alarmed In their sleep. Fortunately, however, tins
not the case. The Electra witch was the name
of the colliding vesse-a propeller, of the Neptune
ne-struck the Elm CITY on the starboard side just
abaft the forward guard and right against the boiler
The guard deck aud surrounding WOODWORK we're
cut into TO the depth of seven or eight feet AMI the
boiler "a strong onel forced inward some three ee'
II certainly the strength OF the boiler which pre-
served the Inflated boat from being cut down 10 her
keeson. Had the boiler been weak on turni the cfc %
OF the collision would have been disastrous The fug
at this time began 10 lift little and The two boats s
well as the extent Of the injury could be clearly secn
The propeller Electra had her bow cOniurted all 10
one side. but was otherwise uninJured, while the
Elm City had great ugly cash ia her aioriHald
side, and looked hOpelcssly wrecked. The rent ~
the side was patched up well a. 10 could W. done
AZ the time aud the two boats then proceeded on 90
New York In company where they arrived al thetr
respective piers about ten A. NJ. yesterday morning
Captain Downs. of the Elm CITY, says that he kept
his steam whistle sounding every hair minute rtgu.
larry all the time he was las ing 20 the Neck andth
ne heard whistle from the other boat al All before
he was run into. From the direction OF the car ln
the side OF the Elm CITY, the Electra must have been
coming at right angles across the track OF the oihet
boat which had. probably. white Wing too, dfiicd
broadsde across the channel which AZ THIS point
begins 20 narrow. The fog was 20 thick. however.
and the running 80 heavy that n would be hard 10
tell which party in fault. As Is, u = very Tor
tunate circumstance for those on board that nothing
more disastrous has TO be chrOnlcled.