The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-07-15

was crowded In almost every available place. an
'hose VINO had secured positions were quietly dis
posing themselves TO enjoy the cooling breeze 30
welcome AFTER days sojourntng, either (or
business or pleasure, especially when the Their
mometer during the. day ranged among
the nneties The boat had scarcely got fairly into
tne stream wnen the steamboat Providence OF the
Bristol line, also crowded with passengers was oh
served coming on her course up the river The tide
was running out strongly at the time and this some
what retarded the progress OF the Sylvan Cr0yo
loaded down as she was with human freight and
from the peculiar relative positions of the boats n
was soon apparent to all that collision was newt
able. Az far as can be learned, no whistle was
blown, no bell was rung, nor was any other lntina-
tion given 6y those In charge Of the boats that they
Tpe sylvan Grove Kept steadily on, endeav0ring to
cross the bow Of the Providence while the latter
sci continued on It's course, towering toward tho
Harlem boat as If 1t would "walk right over It,"
The passengers on both boats now became almost
wild with excitement, and with frantic haste the
lah by which the few life preservers on the sylvan
Grove were held up against the deck covering was
eorn down and the life preservers were secured.
although to the dscredtt OF the sex be it said the
tserner' portion OF those on board secured most Of
the guards and at the same time evlnced greater
amonlt of anxiety and alarm than did the weaker"
portOL The passengers secured life pr0S0rverS,
stoos csars pieces Of plank and everything ana any
.nng th could possibly aid or be OF assistance IN
TO come upon those who Thought themselves doomed.
a rev moments OF awful suspense ensued; the
huldled together on the side OF che boat
manager 10 caeen the boat SO that the guards on one
SIDE were but atew feet above the surface OF the
wafer The providence had lesseaed her speed, but
noI soon enough . avoid c0liiding with the boat
wnlcn $1,000 across yer course. When the collision
was found TO De unavoidable the pilot Of the PrOvi
as to lessen the probability OF loss OF fe This point
was OF course the paddlebox, and against This the
Prov or the Providence Ame with such force az 10
stliver the Wood work and start and warp the iron
arms or the paddlewheel lte 80 many reeds. The
cOding OF course lifted ne Grove somewhat,
and this, together with tie Croydiuy of the
passengers to the other SIDE cayeened the
boat much that the water rushed n
at the cabin windows on the por side and there
was every probability Of the boat Making The ex-
element was intense and IL Was also with the
greatest difficulty that many OF the Passengers could
be prevented from Jumping into theNwater In
moment-which to those on the Sylvan t~oye seemed
with broadsde the lllfated vessel anathe latter
Immediately righted. Then rush was mads toward
the Providence and some forty or fifty Of ne pas
sengers from the sylvan Grove succeeded IN eating
on board. The amount OF damage was speedily
ascerained but the excitement was not Very
easily allayed. The Providence lay TO for a few
minutes with boats and other appurtenances ready
tated into the water When iG was learned Chat the
hull OF the boat was not damaged aud that no person
injured or had fallen overheard The Providence
proceeded on It's way and the sylvan Grove, being
completely disabled was towed back 20 her slip and
the passengers landed.
These latter generally deeming the conduct Of the
person or persons who were in charge Of me sylvan
Indignation meeting, and many dire threats were
made against the parties who had SO lccS!eSSly
rlsked the lives Of over four hundred passengers.
The Providence sustained no damage whatever.