The New York herald., 1870-08-15
fHE COLLISION m TEE BAY.
Statements of Captain Wilson, Of the Norwalk,
and ths Captain of tho stsamtug WALKER
Graphic Account Of the Disaster by
an Eye Witness-Narrow Escape
orasi from Death by Fra

Ano ionowng account OF the collision Is given by
Captain Wilson. who was at the time in charge OF
the steamer:--
We left Coney Island exactly at seven O'Clock for
our last trip to New York. with about four hundred
passengers on board. We got q little beyond Bed
steamng along at about nine miles an hour. on the
very edge OF tne Mud Banks, and only half a mile
from shore. when We saw the schooner about half
9 mile from US, VITA oil sail Set aud standing
due south. The steamer had out her usual four
signal lights. as 1t was already quite dark, owing
had Just ceased. The schooner also displayed her
proper signals. We were heading north by east,
AND for about five minutes Just before got
after that she was kept nearly full before Che
wind, thus heading east, and coming In the
course, Keeping away from her as wei a. we could;
but II seemed 70 us as though the more we Kept
away Ine more the schooner, instead OF luifin2.
On the hurricane deck Of the Norwalk there were
Of this time Captain Charles Hazard and Mr. Bnrtis,
as well as the pilot. When he saw that collision
was inevitable the pilot blew his whistle
ons.ou ana kept the boat boa, going ahead, for the
she would certainly have been sunk by The shock.
Tho schooner struck about ten feet forward, amid
short OF after 1t mad just penetrated the wheehouse.
we0t down to SEQ what our damage was. saw no
watch her closely then went on board the Schooner
and looked underneath the steamer TO see how far
The fracture was from the water l!ne and saw tnat
lt was sufficiently above IL to allow OF her making
port without danger. l then ordered my pilot TO
signal for assistance which,. as the wire leading
from the pilot house to the whistle had been broken
IN the collision. he could only do by going
deck and b.owlng the whistle with his hand.
ane,s Mter he as hsd done this he turned to see
spoke to him ana expostulated with MIN In
somewhat sharp terms, charging that he was en-
pilot stated that he was attending TO his duty, that
his place was where he was, and that his orders
were imperative TO stay there.
Previous to the schooner striking she had been
deserted by all her crew, who went OF IN the yawl
boat. Just as the vessels came together Mr.:
saw the boat some twenty yards distant The
schooner crashed through the steamers side ana
remained there motIonless, though, her sails
were still standing and there was strong wind
blowing, with swell she was pressing firmly for
The tugboar A. watkins came alongside about ten
minutes after the disaster 1t was useless however,
to attempt to be tOwed away until the sails or the
schooner were lowered, and Captain Delaney, having
kindly offered his assistance, asked him to jump
aboard and cut the halyards so that the sails
tugDoat hauled the Norwalk away, and we were
towed into the foot OF Sullivan street. Brooklyn,
Just below the Atlantic dock. All the passengers
went ashore calmly and apparently at this time per-
fectly recovered from their friQht-indeed, there
were some who insisted on being carried further
up a., we had great diftculty IN Inducing them TO
leave the boat. After the passengers were landed
the steamer was towed down 20 Burus' ways,
where she was laid on In the morning. The estl-
mated cost OF repairs Is s., 900.
am confident that there has been no loss OF life
Whatever. When the collision took place the pas
sengers we're very much alarmed, and some fifty OF
them Jumped into the schooner, while four, mad
vita fright, eaped into the water. | am sure, how
ever, that all these persons were picked up.
Statements have been made as to the inhumanity
OF the captain OF the Hamilton avenue ferryboat IN
undeserved as the ferryboat was at the time Of the
disaster at least two miles and half from the scene
OF the collision.
AS to The pilot having been inebriated, he has, to
my certain knowledge, not drunk drop for six
months and for ten years he has not been in state
OF intoXicatiOn.
am only desirous that public criticism on this
disaster, which has fortunately ended compare
lively harmlessly, should be suspended until there
Is proper investigation by the authorities. feel
sure that when all the facts OF the brought
to light the persons In charge OF the Norwalk VIII
DC exonerated from blame.
Statement OF u PASSENGER.
Robert w. Edmonds, Justice elect OF the town OF
Eastchester, Westchester county, who was one Of
the passengers on board the Norwalk, on Friday
evening, when she was run into by the schooner
Lady Ellen, gives the following account OF the oc-
currence:-
the Norwalk. VITA Mr.. Dunrry, friend OF mine, on
her last Trip from Coney Island on Friday evening;
rain began TO pour down In torrents which had the
effect Of driving the passengers inside. About ten
we arrived between Robins Reef ana BedIoes Isl,
and, when saw schooner coming on 81 tack from
the northwest, with sails full set and favored by
stir breeze she was, when first sighted her, about
400 yards the northwest OF the NorwaK the latter
was going at pretty good rate ana anticipated no
danger whatever, as 1 imagined that the pilot knew
his business well enough to know how to keep away
from the schooner, no matter what course she took,
as he had plenty OF room to avoid a collision. got
up from my seat and took position under cover
the starooard side to get clear OF the RAIN as |
thought 1t looked as though the storm was TO con-
tinue. l had barely taken my seat when heard
A FEARFUL CRASH
and was at once hall knocked over from where l
sat AT the time there were in my company, beside
Mr. Dunfry, two ladies' ana a child. The lad es ana
cnlld at once jumped up TO rush forward but held
them back and told them To stay where they were,
as knew that we were In as safe place as we
could get on the boat, knowing as conceived rom
the shock, that there nad been colIsion The
engines stopped immediately. Taxing tne ladies aad
child along with Inc proceeded forward NV attei-
ton was at once attracted TO several men The star
board side, each one with bench lifted In readi-
ness TO piCch it overheard. | took hold OF one OF
them and pulled him back, and cried out ''What are
you doing there is no danger; don't lose your pres
ence OF lnmd." then called OUT In a loud tone OF
voice Tor everybody 70 remain quiet and not to
flghten the women and children. BY this time the
air was rent with the most heartrending. shrleks,
the women running TO and fro, and cries Of 'where
are my children" rang upon every SIDE some OF the
men acted as bad as the women and made equally as
great an otcry then hurried TO the ladies' cabin and
struggling through the excited crowd reached it
safety. where lett the party in my charge On get
ting there | noticed that the chambermaid O
coiored woman, Was acting braveiy, anu looked
cooler than some OF the men. The women
in the cabin were faintlng and some of them
the chamberma1d remained rs cool as cucumber,
and went from one TO the other trying by all sors
or persuasion 10 quiet tnelr 1ears; Wnen LETT the
party in the cabin went on deck and endeavored
TO calm the excitement; met on my way man
with Two children who were screeching and he ex-
claimed. "The boat is filing with water; there's no
use OF trying to hide It," then went down to the
freroom and put my hand into the bige and found
the water cold. This showed me that The boat was
making water; the pumps were working, however,
thanks to the presence OF mind OF the engineer. 1
went upon deck, and to quiet everybody cried out
that the boat was not making water. AT the time OF
the collision several persons jumped overheard,
among them little girl; they were nearly all picked
ht,tlyV
not saved for many OF those In the water were
IN their last struggles wnen saw them
When came up IRON the engine room / met the
captain on the deck that rms on level with the
ladies' cabn he appearei to he perfectly SOBER and
was carrying Something like piece Of Matching un-
der his arm told hun the people ought to be queted
and he replied that all danger was over. During
the excitement when the collision took place man
named Barclay Librarian or this City, | believe,
went up on the upper deck and tolled the bell and
blew the whistle. thus attracting the attention OF
the tug, which came to our assistance. The pilot