The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-08-15
THE HOBOKEN FERRY CASUALTY.

ExOneratiOn Of the Mate aud Engineer-In-
quest ON the Body.
An inquest was held yesterday morning, at ten
O'Clock on the body of boy named John Gordon,
who was run over while in o small rowboat by o
ferry steamer at Christopher slip the 10th inst,
through, is alleged. the careessness OF the pilot
George Perry testified that he lived in Greene
county, N. Y, and was one Of the pilots of the pro-
peler Newpan, running from Hudson to New York.
On the 10th Of August he standing on the gang
way of the boat at the foot Of Amos street. and he
heard some one shouting, and looking up, saw two
boys overheard between the steamer and the Chris
topher street ferry slip; saw boy In small boat
ahead Of the wheel OF the ferryboat; the boat was
coming into the slip; the bow OF the small boat
caught on one OF the buckets OF the wheel; the
wheel made reverse revolution and the boat was
drawn up In it; the boy stood about mdship saw
afterwards some pieces Of the boat in the water.
Henry Deeley, Of No. 422 Hudson street, aged six.
teen years. testified that he knew the boy John Cor
don; in conjunction with him and another boy Ber-
nard Keenan, they hired boat at the foot of Chris
TOPPER street to take sail up and down the river;
they were passing Christopher street slip when the
lerrybo was coming in; not noticing her, they
struck before they had time TO get out of the way;
the witness and keenan, Jumped out OF the boat;
Gordon stayed in and cried to the pilot TO STOP while
he the witness) shouted to him from the water
the same; the wheel made more turn, then
stopped, stood still about five minutes and then
turned towards them again; the wheel struck the
boat and smashed It in pieces.
Michael O'Ne, OF ala Hammond street. testified he
was longshoreman and was standing on the Chris
topher street dock the afternoon of the 10th OF August
when the accident occurred; lie saw q small boat
coming down towards Morton street, opposite the
ferry slip and the next thing he observed was the
small boat In the wheel of the ferryboat; he could
hear the boy cry stop her, stop her;' they backed
tne boat GOWN ana that was he last OF the boys hal
through the wheel In pieces.
VIM. R. Lasher l3l Willow street. Hoboken,
w I'M -~k
James Watt, OF the Hoboken ferry, and that
nearing the slip at balf-past one on the 10th OF
which he did; the engine room was about one
hundred and forty-nve feet from the New Yo0k end;
appeared to be ON excitement among the passengers;
could not tell from where he stood what was going
ken end OF the boat, and some OF them sang out to
him to back the boat; he paid attention to them
until he heard voice which he thought was the
that he backed without hesitation; the voice appeared
to come from the Hoboken end Of the boat gave her
turn and a half. perhass two, and then received
bell to stop backing which he did: the pilot then
sang out through the speaking trumpet not to movs
the wheel; ne ola not move her until all was clear.
titled that he was In q small boat between Christie,
pher street ferry and pier so North river the day Of
towards the bow Of the James watt a. she was
and the next thing he saw were the two boys in the
water and the small boat broken in pieces went
tOWArus the Two boys, picked them up and put them
on the dock; the wheels OF the lcrryboat were
stopped but she was making headway from the
force she had previously on. -
DR.. Knox stated that ne made post mortem ex,
animation on Thursday and found mark across the
forehead; on turning down the scalp, however, he
found the wound superficial: his optnion was
that death resulted from accident.
Coroner Plvnn here gave the evidence to the Jury.
who retired and after an absence OF about an hour
returned with the verdict that the boy John Gordon
was accidentally drowned, and the pilot engineer
rom all blame.
Henry Mason pilot Of the ferryboat James Watt
who was arrested OIL charge o. wiful carelessness
In connection with the accident, was then dis