The New York herald., 1870-08-13
Collision Between a COney Island Steam.
boat and a Schooner.
Intense Excitement and Melancholy
Loss of Life.
Gallant Conduct Of Tugboat Captain ana
Heartless Indifference Of a Hamilton
Avenue Ferry Boot Pilot.

A most melancholy disaster occurred last evenins
In the bay, between BedlOe's Island ana Robnr
reef Exactly at fifteen minutes before eight O'Clock
the amboat Norwalk, from Coney Island. contain.
ing about 900 passengers, was run into by thd
schooner Lady Ellen, laden with coal. The schooner.
which hailed from Boston, was running under sti1
breeze eight knots an hour. The pilot OF the
Norwaik. named Seeley, who according to the tes'
tmony OF all the passengers who made statements.
was intoxicated, did not heed the schooner's ap-
prOach till she arrived 100 yards from his boat. He
then blew one whistle but 1t was too late to ease
sheet with any success. In stcnoran tones ne DRIED
out cd d--n your soul where are you going with
that schooner ~ but the sound OF his voice had not
died away when the bowsprt OF the schooner en-.
tered the wheelhouse crushing everything beforeie
ATERRIBLE sosNE.
.'Bang,o 'smash.n "crash" wen. everything
within, and the crash aroused the passengers, who
were sitting costly In the cabin. Il was raining as
the tme heavy thunder storm nad just closed. ana
this forum lte for the passe 1gers had to sesx
shelter within, and thus escaped what would
have proved certain death to many had they re.
mained outside. In went the bowsprit, pressed
forward with tremendous weight OF COAL till the
boats becam, wenged. The yells, screams and
shr eks that followed were so terrible as 70 unnerva
the stOutest men.
Two children who were sitting on the gunwaid
dropped into the water and were drowned. -Four
ladies In their fright jumped or fell into the water.
but they were afterwards rescued. Custom Houss
rcer named John Laing tried to slide along tha
paddleDOX INTO the schooner ana went overheard.
lie clung to a rope, however, aud was rescued.
John W. Van Ordea foreman O. Hook a1d Ladder
Company No Il, Of New York. was more successful,
anU ne aaeu M "u .T n,ren srrase ~ ,nss
heartrend'ng manner. Men rushed mauiy ana
| wildly about. and cries OF
L.rE fhr srh ~ ~, nns s,o ne, ,,u.a..,,..,
were nearu from evey sue, ou. .ny 't t
Msro nvI avoe @ % So ,,,v W cr @ ~ n Gan ,varp n
them ce9y ire & 1cSva @ up hre 4e rro n
en G nat a." The osnt and tSrew rhe Ire
I%esW benches oyeroard and Jumped aser
then holding IN i1s S oct 70 ~ thra@og g as the oaUys ss
Two Two en mee VI e wou have nro ed
under the Sireamst nes owia9 70 ,he ssrgng
Crowu, wneu .ney Wiz ,ho tsnn'n,, snnas
IN cao,nu tne fears of those around them aid pre
III ca'i'y VIC .ea @ "a @ ' a o. ~ T n,, S no CIV @ ,ipaS p
ven lug panic was lne means 2i saving ma y inves.
Nv WIZ o a ~ it tse AIM ',v,,i"nt men anH wonan
" ". eseu ~ 81 v,tar % wi ;,o .hoaa ~, hnar1 tran
s,IusAiMa LILLE ~ .o M Inv shnIn snE oa.u rg M
uea VIII vh py ~ o tns WrSaN wn ne o.
| ne. @ Anose WIZ "oi1 v" VIC Noi""iA "ii' no 'o'
ioiso'" ro THE prsnrr.
| ,,,,, .h. ~ ,i,E & nL,ur. ,Mr.,r 60 rho ro.,n.
We Save mot learned tne name Of ib,s boat byt
~ nn ,o,n not oniy tho iou,tny ,-r t,tude
Of the nssssngers hui m, thanks OF the entire com
muni5y. us He re- caed many Of those in the water, ana
then taxing the NorwaiK IN tow brou sht her to the
| where the pas3enyers were All landed The
| police OF the Third snb-precnct, unier the
Supervision of Sergeant O'Ne.l, were on hand
| mud reniered valuable service in assisting
! and directing the frightened passengers to the car
and terry routes as MANY OF them, being myers
i'm BrOUklyn were perfectly beWlldered on reaching
| terri, fr1no.
Subse luentiy the sinking vessel was towed down
to the foot OF Conover street. where she stranded.
The loss Is estnat Il at $1,000. The owners OF tho
| Norwalk are George W. Wilson, John l.. Lewis and
a. Smith. This Is the second time within the past
two years that this vessel mas been sunk by COLLISION.
| AT TIE MERCY OF THE WAVES,
The schooner, WI cG Dai embarked q large nums
her oi tue passeng rs, drlited up tn bay anu when
| she came above Governors Island the passengers
signaled the Hamilton IeIytoats seve al times. bue
| no response was made. They were left to struggle
ON In tber distress I'll the little tngboat returned
from Red Hook ani towed them to the At
lanc dock In Brooklyn, where the pas.
sengers were safely lndeo, after giving
tnree nearly cneers Tor their benelactor anu DE-
nverer tue captain OF tne tug. Inc passengers
a!erWards heid meeting anu resolved 10 present
nm ltn testimohiai. damaging statements nave
Deen maae against 81.
THE CAPTAN AND PILOT
OF tue Nof"aiK. Inat the later was drunk no pas
senRer VINO saw MN ui putes anu tnat thc former
Was ensaHeu III nayihg us aour5ss . 10 Two Iair
a..
bear testimony. ''A''