New-York tribune., 1870-08-13
COLLISION IN THE HdRBOR.

THE CONEY ISLAND FERRYBoAT NoRwALK
sUNK-SEYERAL LIVES LOST-A TERRIFIC
SCENE.
About 1880 yesterday evening the steamer
Norwalk which plies between this city and Coney
Island collided when at full speed with the schooner
Lady Helen, which under full sail with fresh wind'
off Bedloe's island The schooner which was laden with
coal, struck the Norwalk amidships on the pOrSidc
carrying away the entire wheel her bulwarks ana the
bows penetrating steamer made huge hole In her
The Norwak had passengers on board ana the Shock
from the tremendous conclusion was 80 great tat the
widest alarm instantly prevailed, many jumping into
the water and upon the deck OF the schooner upon
which they carried away Such was the force OF
the collision that the remained for some time
wedged in the NOrwalk
On board the Norwalk the excitement succeeding the
collision fearful Men, women, and children Tainted
Others yelled errhcally. The ladies rushed from the
cabins shrekng. TIE deckhands tried to save them
selves az best they could. AgOnzing shouts came nom
the ladies' cabin and above the din and uproar were
heard the agtated and uncertain shouts OF the captain
Of the boat. The collision unexpected, In many
cases persons were still seated the bulwarks OF the
steamer Two children forward part of the boat
fell from their mothers arms into the water ana tee
card monte man suddenly interrupted in his game
or fraud and dashed overheard. A NUMBER OF Olncrs
were precpltated into the water. IL Is prODaDe tat
not less than eight lives were lost
While those who had been dashed overheard were
help fell upon the ears O the more fortunate passengers
the tug boat Howard Capt Leonard Kipp came to the
The captain of the tug had witnessed the coils
ion. He succeeded In saving two men. MI Jackson
Of those that went overheard, ia supposed 10 e
drowned, and four five others not known MI
sharky. who standing the bar at the time re
ceived injuries about his head, and had RID DfOken
Mr. Lawrence Clancy also injured in his head Assist
ant Alderman Duffy OF the Nineteenth Ward and Thomas
Carroll, keeper Of Breyoor Hall, in Fifythlrdst are
missing.
The Lady Helen took on board about $50 passengers
from the steamer aud went into the Atlantic Basin
safely IL was not then known that she had receiver
Meantime the water flowing into the Norwalk at q
fearful rate The passengers called out to the master OF
the tug and notified him " their dangerous predeament
The tug attached Itself to the Norwak and owed her 10
Burtiss shipyard at the foot Of Conoyerst, Brooklyn
At the moment the wharf was reached cry was rased
that the Norwalk going down. The people rushed
for the gang plank and tramped upon and crushed eeh
other their grness 10 ashore Hardly had Jhe
last man touched the dock ana the tug been un,oo
from the steamer, than the latter went down Inc Ut
most excitement prevailed IN the helshb4ihoo1 ,t ,ie
cries OF the Passengers who missed friends ana relatives
were agOnlzns.
HOW THE COLLISION OCCURRED.
The Norwslk Capt Wilson, left Coney Island at 7
o'clock A little half an hour afterward, the
schooner was discovered about 200 yards distant coming
under full sail and stiff directly line Of the
steamer which was also under full headway. The pilot
OF the N0rwak blew his whistle once but II was TOO ate
Capt Wilson he had no lights on the steamer at
that hour Of the evening I Is sad va m dhat t9e ~ @ @
sell though the cries of the passengers were dSnoy
heard BY those on board
CAPT. WILSON'S STATEMENT.
THE TRIBUNE reporter visited the vessel at the ship
yard and nterrogated the captain, who made state
ment to the that at the time Of the accident the
boat was way the city, and the schooner was
going out and directly the line Of the steamer The
schOoner when about under his boats bow, instead OF
keeping on her way, hauled in the wind and struck
the anidshps just forward Of the larboard wheel
The schoOner then altered her and made Oncarr
ing with her number of the steamers passengers The
Captain says that he has knowledge that any hVes
were lost although he Is aware that numbers jumped
. overheard.
The Norwak l. owned by George ". Wilson, John A
Lewis and A. Smith, and the damages received will foot
up to $4,000 The pilot. George b. Seeley cOrrOD0rated
the Captains statement and says that before coming n
contact with the schooner ne blew his whistle 10 signify
that she should keep out OF his way.
The passengers landed at the foot OF hlngst ana
took their way home by the Brooklyn ferries.
stated that OF the sailors OF the schooner TOOK
her boat and abandoned their vessel she was, never
theless made available convey $50 passengers from
. the NOrwak To the pier.