The New York herald., 1871-03-16
HE'LL GATE HORROR.
Collision Between the Steamer Electra aud
the Schooner Lucy Hall.
Man Crushed to Death-A Bowsprit Pierces the
Steamers Side-An Inevitable smash-The
Story Of the People on the Steamer.

William Clifford. q man In the MONDAY OF his
career strong in the hope OF brilliant future, with
every promise that the summer OF his time should
dawn pleasantly uD0n him, was rudely swept from
the world unseen unheard OF by his comrades, and
plunged, without cry, into the Jaws OF death. He
had but just left wife and child. whose pleasant
home gave every evidence OF happiness, and to-day
the widowed mother m0urns his loss without even
the poor consolation of his
BODY TO GRIEvE OVER.
How little did he dream, as he held her In hfs
arms and folded his little one to his heart 1t was the
last time he should embrace them The steamer OF
which this man was the mate, the Electra, left
Providence the day before yesterday. and. coming
down with the tide ut the rate OF Twelve miles an
n0ur, passing through He'll Gate yesterday ut o
quarter past seven A. NJ, collided with
schooner, the Lucy Hall. The captain OF the
steamer states that upon rounding the point ne saw
the schooner with all sail SET drifting with the tide
Feeling confident he could pass her he headed the
boat to the right of the schooner, when. seeing
NOTHING COULD SAVE HIM
In that direction from running on the
"gridiron." which would be certain destruction.
he changed his tactics ana attempted
to pass her on the other side. The
anchor OF the schooner, which had been dragging.
suddenly can2ht, swinging her round, and, when
just OF Hallett's Point. she dashed her bOwsprt
into the steamers waist Immediately above the
guards, piercing closet into which the mate had q
few minutes before retired, tearing up the bull
warks carrying OF the lileDoat and leaving no ves
tige OF
THE UNFORTUNATE MAN
but portion OF his brains scattered over the cargo
From the appearance Of the slOop 1t Impossible
for the people on board the Electra to suppose she
was dragging her anchor Gong under full canvas,
passing through the gate in the same direction they
were going. But hen the steamer neared her and
they saw the anchor had grounded they iet at once
that the collision was inevitable. SO furious was
THE DASH OF THE BOwSPRIT
through the steamers side, that the ifeboat from
the steamer was landed clean across the so0p's
deck, and 1t Is supposed The mates body ground
10 pulp almost in a moment For some minutes
the loss OF the first officer was not discovered. The
captain and crew were In total ignorance of the
his cap and brought 1t to Them when they rushed
to the spot and were horror stricken to find aSN
HIS BRAINS BESMEARING THE COTTON BALES
and his body gone they knew not where. On learn
Ing the sad result the captain made every effort in
his power TO send word on board the schooner, but
haste to the dock they sent in direction to find
out the name OF the SlOop, and endeavOr to ascer-
tain whether those on board her had any knOwl-
edge OF the missing mate but up TO late hour last
night
NO TIDINGs OF HIM
MIN had been brought In. The sad news was tele.
graphed to some friends Of Mrs. Clifford 1.-THE mates
w1el yesterday, with Instructions to break the IN
tellgence gently to her.
THE ONLY LOSS OF CARGO
the steamer sustained was a half case Of boots,
which was thrown over. The damage to the boat
herself was comparatively slight and. consequently,
soon repaired. She started on her return trip at
i've O'Clock last evening.