The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-04-01
TIE WEsTFIELD CALAMITY.
The staten lslnnd Ferry In the Hands Of n
Receiver.

The collapse OF the Staten Island Company
might have been anticipated by the public on &C
count OF the enormous claims preferred against
the unfortunate institution. The rumor yesterday
was that the company had gone into bankruptcy.
This, however, was erroneous, as a HERALD re-
porter discovered yesterday on visiting the office
OF the staten Island Ferry Company, at Whitehall.
There he met Mr. j. j. Stephens Treasurer OF the line,
and 1rom him he inquired how the company
stood. Mr.. Stephens, in response TO the inquiry as
to what had happened. replied fhat the Terry nau
passed into the hands OF a receiver.
at Is not bankrupt" exclaimed MIR. Stephens; "a
receiver has been appointed, and his name Is Mr.
Louis H. Myer, OF 40 broadway, where he is seldom
To be seen, but then he has another office at Il
Nassau street. He il a German and a man OF some
wealth, bur really know very little ABOUT nm"
REPoRrER-Wnat Is his his particular BUSINESS
SrEPHENs-l DOM actually know. lie has been
for several wears identified VITA Western railroads
and one thing ana the other out what his legitl
mate occupation may be really cannot tell.
MISUNDERSTANDING Is the cause, Mr.. stephens, OF
this denouement
sTEpHESs-We. 1t occurred in this way ex-
pect. The first mortgage oond holders mad not been
pad their interest last Decemner and. not getting
any assurance OF receiving IT, they concluded 10
exact their dividends at once.
REPRESENTATIONS does this ferry pay9
SrErHLSs-lt pays mucn less than people imagine
II costs US $3.50 10 run these Doats, and lolks
imagine because they see eight or nine hundred
persous on board one OF them day that we must
necessarily be making a fortune. II Is nOtnlng OF
The klnd. This company has never earned more
than eight per cent on its capital. and they don't
profess 10 have made much since the company was
formed. IN 1864.
KEronrER-What is the amount OF damages
claimed by the relatives of those who suffered by
the estheld disaSerY
SrEpHENs-rhe summonses that have been served
so lar upon me are over a hundred, and should
Judge Inc amount involved Is over million; but we
/ have appealed AL the cases.
REroRrER-Well what arc you going to 40
about 1t?
STEPHENs-Just as usual Every company like
TINS has cot to so through the smallpox ana measles
That's now 1.-The ola tning works.n
Mi. stephens informed The HERALD reporter that
Inc boats Sun Kept running and would Keep run,
the hondnoiders arc paid ANA then his duties Will
cease
Meeting Of the Victims of the Dreadful
Disaster of Augusr-The Philanthropy of
lac ~tnfen Island Railroad Company
George Law's MORTGAGE Of $250,0oO.
The sufferers by the Westheld explosion, which
occurred August last, held meeting last even
Ing at $50 Bowery. This IS the third conference Of
the KIND that has taken place. Lltrc more mas been
done thus far by them, however, than to advise
together in regard to The difficulties which stand
the way OF obtaining redress Tor their INJURIES
About sixty persons nave usually joined in these
discussions, which principally to devise
means OF helping those whose condition In lie did
not warrant them beginning legal proceedings
against the company which owns the ferry. How
ever, none such have yet been found ana appears
that almost all OF the attendants or the meetings
have already secured lawyers to prosecute their
claims. 1t has never been proposed by them TO take
any Joint measures, but to encourage one
another TO make Individual efforts for their
own cause. Mr.. Daniel w. Mofrlson has been the
Chairman, ana he presided last evening, Mir. Michael
Regain performing the duties OF AIRY. Alter
the meeting was called 10 order several persons
arose to lmpart information, 10 ask questions to
Cer SUGGESTIONS, ana IN TINS way The proceedings
ran on ia familiar, unpaflamenta ry, coiloqulal
STYLE wnich ~ perhaps the very best fitted their
ooiect III was stated that the Case oil Mr.. Freed.
hon, which, 1t YIN &c remembered, was one vi the
most notorious OF those Of
fRIGHrFUL ESCAPES AND sIcKENING DEATHS
was 10 lie liied III the supreme Court early IN
june ana woaid he the first tried in New YORK..
y young man from brooklyn rose and saiu that
ne was one OF those who haa been Injured. His
cause was to nave been tried last week. but Tor the
man Inen advised all those who hau sustained ln-
uries 10 put their cases IN the hands lawyers AS
soon as possiDe, because they could then come
up quicker IN the calendars OF the courts. They
mus. DO the best tnat they could and Try succeed
wnen they are tried.
One OF the resuscitated victims asked, odd you
nolce about
THAT MORTGAGE or TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY
THOUSAND DOLLARS
which Law - said TO mold against the company
Can tie, 40 tnat-can lacy mortgage their property
now
CHAIRMAN-I have been informed that any mort.
gage maze since the liabilities created by the accl-
uent commenced 10 exist cannot hold good IN a
court OF law, ana THAT the men VINO VIII take sucn
mortgages may he arrested and punished.
1 nave heaIu tnaL some OF Tue claimants
had taken steps seize the residence or Mr..
Nande p bnt do not place any reliance this
rumor. although | think thai most OF the awye rs
employed are sufficiently smart TO prevent the CON.
pany IRON escaping
TnRouGH ANY LooPBoLE.
Let me ADVISE YOU TO remember To be careful TO
secure Witnesses ana especially Physicians WAC
tile most important III regard TO injuries:
and louk well WAC YOU put on the witness stand
Also look sharp after your lawyers.
A NlcriM-W nat Is the COMPANY worth think
II would ne something OF interest to know That.
DIlTD-l
brio understand that Vanderbilt is worry forty
CHAIRMAs-I guess that's q ittlc too much.
A vIcTIM-l understand. If we are To believe
themselves, that tney are not worth cent ~ all.
(.auyhter.I In Brooklyn they asked Tor ten or
iileen years to pay Inc Judgments that were gwen
CHAIRMAN-Yes; they wanted to wait antil
THOSE WHO HAD SUFFERED
were dead ana then 10 CHEAT the neirs. We don't
come here to insult the company, but Tor orr own
rights. We ask only Justice; we don't want to IN
wrllten to ils lawyers asking settle our claims
before tnes came In court ana 1t has been refused.
There are good many here who have been roDped
OF their ony means OF support. The lives upon
when they leaned have been wiped out. And the
lawyers Of the company had as much asked,
FROM YEAR YEAR
II they could, nnti those VINO need redress to keep
them from poverty ate dead aud buried ! am in
favor OF MISUNDERSTANDING paiiently-or The trials TO
mp IN court Efforts should be made to get the
proper testimony carelessness as well as OF IN
juries. the employees who worked on the lated
vesse should ne compelled 10 bear witness.
VICTIM invoked special ignominy upon the
name OF the lawyer who mai defended the company
In Brooklyn lDlckinsonl, VINO SAID IN Court during
the lrial that lO4 lives lost were not worl the
wiping OF the company,
Inc Iolowing resolution was passed.
Resolved, victims Of Wesfeid disaster hereby
tender thanks the Distract Attorney, samuel d. Mois OK
BrooSyn, tor bis energy in advocating their cause.
The report that the Jerry company h al entered
IN voluntary banEruDicy as 10 euue the PAYMENT
OF tue Judgments against u was briefly mentioned.
Tue meeting then adjourned untii next sunday
evening.
MrS. n. &. BISHOP has made oiier to the VIC !
Tins Of tie Ncstncd disaster, wplcn has been ac-
ceptcd, 10 denver a lecture IN the Academy OF |
Music ana to give 10 them one half ol the proceeds.
THIS generosity u In Keeping with her womanly !
conduct when the wards OF Bellevue were peoped |
last summer win pAiabe sufferers. she deserves |
a large audience.
gUTpfDr Ry TAXING POISON