The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-06-21

The Propeller NuSpa Sinks Small Boat Con- Con
tanning Four Persons-Two Ladies and One
Gentleman Drowned-Apparsnt Criminal
Recklessness Of Pilot-A Drown
ing Case at Marlborough.

It does seem as though the fates are determined
this season to cover the Hudson river counties with
gloom. Cases Of death by drowning are becoming
frighuully frequent. But short time ago father
ana two sons named Decker were drowned in the
Hudson opposite their residence, near CatsKii, one
endeavorng to save the other, the heartrending af
fair being witnessed by the mother from window Of
the house. Next came the terrible scene OF yester-
day, the drowning OF the Rooney brothers, twins, at
Fox's dock, this city, and now a still more awful
calamity has ranspred four miles south OF this city,
In the middle OF the river, opposite the little village
Of Milton The particulars are indeed heartrending,
and are as follows:--
AN EXCURSION.
Shortly after seven O'Clock last evening
merry party OF villagers, consisting of william
Miller aged twenty.eght John Rowley. aged
twenty-four; Elmira Miller, aged twenty-five, and
Melissa Burton, aged twenty-one. all resi-
dents OF Milton, procured q small boat
ana, em5arklng in 1t, started for a sail on
the Hudson. The intense heat Of the day had made
the placid waters OF the river very inviting and the
boat was rowed TO the eastern shore, where all got
out ana TOOK walk. The shadows OF night coming
on, was proposed to return the boat and river
wards the cheerful party wendell Its way. Once
again on the water, the sky being perfectly clear and
starlit, and the water unruffled by scarcely o
breeze, the party concluded to proOng the sail,
which they did tl after midnight, and then the prov
VI WIG UVae WAS tuTneu
HOMEwARD.
The gentlemen were plying the oars and the ladies'
were seated IN the stern laughing and chatting,
bound north. The small boat was then In the middle
OF the river. Words Of caution were exchanged by
the gentlemen, and the ladies commenced To feel
nervous All eyes were so intentiy concentrated
upon the tow coming up that a
PROPELLER BOUND SOUTH
was not noticed at all. Soon, however, the pufing
noise from the propeller which vessel was now close
upon the eXcursionst suddenly attracted the atten-
ton OF William Miller, and at once the real danger
was unprecedented. And then all eyes were turned
northWard. Miller dropped his oars and shouted TO
"KEgP OFFp
but the pilot either did not hear him or else was
not in the least sackene1, and with lights all set
and burning. AT this Juncture the occupants or the
boat were indeed In
PERuoUs POSITION.
The shreks OF the ladies' ana the loud warning
The propeller was now so close TO the boat that there
was positively no nope to avoid the collision. Not
having slowed the least, the propeller struck the
small boat amidsnps when the latter
BROKE INTO FRAGMENTS.
Piercing cries for assistance went up from the
females, who were as once precipitated into the
water they floating away TO the larboard and the
men TO the starboard, while the propeller passed
right on as though nothing had happened, and lett
sertion-snch a case as has never before transpred
on the HUDSON
Cling and convulsve cutching at the water the two
ladies sank and the waters OF the Hudson closed
over them. John Rowlet - turn Tine next. In vain
did he struggle wildly TO reach the broken fragments
OF the boat or even the oars. He, too, became ex-
hausted, and sank to rise no more.
WONDERFUL ENDURANCE.
William Miller however. seemed TO possess
greater powers OF endurance, for he swan about
sends dock, on the west shore, below
Milton, where he Immediately became un-
some of the Vi layers, when Miller was found and
his wants administered to, and he soon revived.
The news OF the sad affair was soon nolsed abroad
and from two A. M. TIL daylight this morning crowds
OF people thronged the docks discussing the matter
and all spoke In terms OF severe condemnation Of
the action OF the pilot Of the propeller.
DRAGGING FOR THE BODIES.
| All this morning fifteen or twenty persons have
been drifting about the river in small boats graphing
successful: Where the unfortunate persons went
1--WE - feet deep. Therefore il is hardly pos.
slbe that the remains will be found. Cannon
VIII be fired over the water tomorrow to endeavor
to raise them, but 1t Is possible they have been car
RED down with the current ana will not rise within
nine days. This shocking accident has caused a
general depression OF spirits in the village OF Milton.
The propeller, 1t appears was the Nuhpa, oil Hudson.
News comes from Marlborough that man while
In bathing there Yesterday was drowned. HIS name
has not yet been ascertaned.
On Saturday the so0p hannah Ann, OF POugh-
keepsie, ran down q small boat containing party
OF ladies and gentlemen and a child, at Wilbur. All
were rescued with the exception OF the latter, q
enid OF william Murphy. The body was recovered
The Drowning Cnse at Milton.
Captain w. Is. Carroll. OF the propeller Nuhpa, OF
Hudson, gives the following version OF the drowning
casually above referred to-
NEW YORK, June 90, 1870.
Last night, on down trip Of steamer Nuhpa, from
Hudson, when near Milton, sne ran into small
boat with two or three persons In IT, who were
drowned. The steamer stopped and backed and
used every means to save them. After lowering her
boat they found theirs upside down.