The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-05-14
A Frightful Collision Near He'll
Gate, in the East River.
FIVE MEN DROWNED.
The Americas Crashes Through the Little
Convict Graft Hopc-A Sudden
and Shocking Fate.
Two Officers and Three "Ten Days Pris-
oners" Hurled Into q Watery
Grave-Narrow Escapes.

Another Of those terrible accidents which no
amount Of such dreadful experience as heir fatal
consequences enforce seems capable OF averting
happened on the East River late yesterday after
noon The victims are five persons. One moment
before they were hurled into eternity by the fear
Iul crash Of q collision between two steamers
they did not probably dream OF such sudden
and unkndly death. Yet as II there hung upon
them some CHASTITY fatality they were sailing
across the waters with the pale presence OF real
death at the PROV OF their little craft an unre-
garded omen ofDeath himself, horrible, sudden ana
shocking, who was about to dash across their path
and give them into the chilly and cruel embrace
OF the river. Whatever mischance it was, what
ever guilty carelessness or unavoidable destiny
that caused this appalling sacrifice Of life,
cannot abate its horror or soothe the
agony OF sorrow that will be felt by all human
hearts when the story is read. The greater part
OF those who were drowned by the sinking Of the
vessel were cOnvicts, sentenced by the law to a
ten days. penance for trivial offences; but their
ignomnious character cannot, 1t is certain, lessen
that sad sympathy which their fate will awaken
nor the just condemnation which must
descend upon whomever was guilty OF
ruthlessly risking and sacrificing their lives. The
reporters OF the HERALD have secured as complete
facts as possible about the strange and shocking
disaster, and they are given below.
The Collision.
The steamer Hope, used by the Commissioners OF
Charities and Correction, was run into yesterday
afternoon by the steamer Americas, near He'll
Gate, and sunk. Four OF the seven men composing
the crew of the boat at the time were drowned.
The Hope was returning from Harris Island,
where she had conveyed some bodies to be inferred
In the city cemetery, and was on her way back
when she met with the disaster. Captain Uriah
Maroney was in the plot house, and the vessel was
just rounding to stretch across the river when the
bow OF the Ameri,us struck her amidships and
almost instantaneously
CUT HER IN TWO.
Several Q! the crew disengaged themselves from
the sinking vessel and managed to rise to the sur
face OF the water, but only one was seen by those
on board the Americus, owing to the darkness, and
a II lie buoy was thrown to him. Managing to catch
the preserver after struggle the man, who turned
out TO be James Flynn, a ten days. prisoner from
shore and was taken up by Onicer Mcclure aud
conveyed to the Twenty-third precinct station
house.
Mr.. Tyler Gibson noticed another of the crew
STRUGGLING IN THE WATER,
and went to his assistance After considerable
and took him to Blackweli's Island. The name OF
this man, well as those OF the four who are miss
was being returned 10 warden Brennan '" at
Bellevue Hospispr Ter = increment by the
aEen to Iand As Soon as the ac
cident became known on the island the fire
bells were rung and the available force in the
place crowded down to the beach, but unfortu-
nately, no assistance could be rendered those
ON THE WRECKED VESSEL.
Intelligence OF the affair was then sent to War
den Brennan, and after sending men and boats to
the scene OF the collision, he went to inform the
Commissioners OF what had taken place. They
instructed him to use every means In his power to
recover the bodies OF the drowned men, and also
gave orders for the raising OF the steamer this
mn pfn Wnrhnn nrnnn an thnn anf pInn
where the steamer went down, but nothing could
be discovered Of the dead prisoners He left a suf-
ncien force in the vicinity to watch for anything
that may turn up, and then returned to the hos,
pital to find out, If possible, the names OF the
ing This mis- work was vas being being proceeded with last
ascertained. The only one OF the drowned whose
name is known is
He was down in the hold OF the vessel at the
time of the accident, and had opportunity what
ever OF saving himself. Warden brennan speaks
of him In the highest terms, and says he was
very steady and competent man. When Captain
Maroney reached the shore he went Immediately
his clothes and then returned to where the boat
sunk He is using his best endeavors in conjunc-
ton with the men from the hospital to recover
THE HOPE
was small propeller and was newly fitted out
only few days ago. She was specially employed
by the Commissioners OF Charities and Correction
in taking dead bodies to Harris Island smallpox
That disease The fore part Of tie little craft was
set apart for the dead and the space in the stern
was arranged for the invalid passengers. The
crew was composed, with the exception Of the
captain and engineer, OF ten days. prisoners from
the island, and the steadiest and most trustworthy
OF those were always selected to work in her.
THE IMMEDIATE CAUSE OF THE DISASTER
Is at present shrOuded in mystery. Captain Ma
roney was completely taken by surprise when the
Americas hit his vessel and dashed him, with the
pilot house, into the water. None OF the deck
hands who have been saved have yet been able to
make any statement OF what they know OF the
matter, but the probability is that the darkness
which 80 suddenly fell upon the river prevented
either steamer from ron seeing the other and the
THE AMERICUs
Is good sized vessel and runs from New York to
Greenwich, Conn. She was on her way to that
place when the collision took place. and, from what
can be ascertaned, everything possible was done
OF the Hope The storm that broke over the city
30 suddenly yesterday afternoon was very violent
on the water. Rain poured down fercely through
the darkness, and navigation was for cOnsidera-
BILE time dangerous and difficult. As
AN INVESTIGATION
Is to ne instituted this morning the real cause OF
the terrible disaster WILL no doubt be arrived at
during the Cay. Warden Brennan is more tn ian
grieved at the loss OF the Hope, as he bestowed
great amount OF attention and care on the accom-
modations on board her for patients.
THREE HEADS SEEN ABOVE WATER.
AZ the Astoria Ferry Hotel and had some converse
ton with the genial Boniiace OF the place. Mr. Ed
Brown: w.. ne SAID ~ did not see the accident my
ming at Halett's Point may have had something to
do with the occurrence by throwing the Hope out
saved struggling in the water and what believe
TO be third head, but only for an instant when 1t
1.-THE third head was lost to sight.n
STATEMENT OF CORNELIUS FINCH
am boatman and work here at Mr.. Browns
place. Shortly after the squall at about half-past
and was engaged in painting boat. BY chance /
happened 10 lift my eyes from my work and saw
across tue river, at Hallett's Point the steamer
Hope, belonging to the Commissioners OF Charities
and Correction, heading towards Wards Island,
and at very dangerously short distance behind
her ! saw the steamer Americas A few seconds
later collision occurred, the Hope being
into In her aft quarter, and still
lew SECONDS later she went down like
stone. Immediately made my way
down TO the waters edge, where 1
jumped into boat accompanied by my friend Glib
son. We made the boat spin across the river,
can tell you, and we were the first small craft to
arrive, and before even the Americas had lowered