The New York herald., 1873-08-14
a WICKED HOAX
Bogus Report Of q Fearful Disaster in the Bayx
AnIiety Amcng the Patrons Of Long
Branch-No Accident to ANY
of the Boats

most shameful hoax was perpetrated lasg
evening by some persons, who could not be traced,
to the effect that one OF the Long Branch steamers
had sunk during severe gale in the Lower Bay.
on her way to Sandy Hook pier, and that 400
lives had been lost. A few minutes later the
rumor was varied by the assertion that.
the vessel lost was the large and
magnhcent steamer Plymouth Rock, and that forty
iiVes were lost. The reports spread like wildfire,
and were current by seven O'Clock all the hotels,
III the club rooms and other places ofpubltc resort,
and the most intense anxiety prevailed TO learn tho
truth OF the matter. The newspaper Offices, tele-
graph stations and the Offices OF the New Jersey
Southern Railroad Company focal points for the
asseInblage OF anxious mqulrers large proportions
OF whom were persons who had relatives or iriends
ON the steamers Plymouth Rock and Jesse Hoyt,
both Of which vessels ply on the Long Branch
route Many, too, who expected friends TO return
by last evenings boat experienced the
MOST INTENSE ALARM.
and the report was exaggerated and gathered
strength as it circulated.
A little later IL was ascertained that portion Of
the railroad track at Seabright, between Port
Monmouth and Long Branch, had been washed
away by the heavy sea breaking from the ocean
over the low. sandy peninsula OF Sandy Hook point,
and that there was as consequence, no noon
train from "the Branch.n This however had
occurred In the morning during the prevalence Of
the strong northeasterly gale which was blowing
on "the Hook" and In the Lower Bay during nearly
the whole day.
The Plymouth Rock was due at her pier, foot OF
Murray street, on her return trip from the Branch,
at about eight half-past eight O'clock and quite
large numoer OF persons repaired 10 the vessels
dock to learn whether any
ACCIDENT HAD BEFALLEN HER
or the Jesse Hoyt The latter vessel usually
makes the five O'Clock down trip, and remains ma M as
passengers by the 1rst morning train to the city.
1t was deemed possible, OF course, that this
OF the Plymouth Rock was awaited with the most
anxious lmpatience as the guarantee, drst, OF her
had reached the the HOOK when vi THE t RocKn lett
=, Meantime telegraphic inquiries were made at
the stations on staten Island at Fort Hamilton
and at Sandy HOOK and the replies In every in
stance were to the effect that no accident was
known to have occurred to any steamer whatever
When nine O'Clock came at the pier and the Ply
mouth Rock had not yet arrived there was a ser-
Gus look apparent on the faces OF the people await
ing intelligence, but all the employees Of the COM
pany
as absurd, arguing, first, that, though the weather
had been severe, with stiff gale and heavy sea,
the probability Of accident from stress OF wind or
water to such vessels as the two steamers named
was ridiculous. Some OF these employees had, for
various terms, been engaged on the vessels and
ability to withstand any amount Of such weather
as prevailed yesterday.
At last, about halEpast nine O'Clock. the lights
and colossal outline Of the Plymouth Rock were dis
cernible among the feets OF vessels and swarms
OF lamps that cleaned aud gided about the river.
and In five minutes more she was alongside her
pier 1t was found that she had experiences
almost q
HEAD WIND ALL TIE WAY
up. and that the tide had so been heavy against
her. and this accounted for the delay OF about an
hour In her arrival. Captain West, ner commander,
had heard nothing OF the rumor till he reached the
dock. He Informed the HERALD reporter also, that
he had passed the Jesse H0yt about half mile from
Sandy Nook pier, the latter vessel being on her
way down. The Captain also stated that he did not
think the weather had been severe enough to hurt
any decent vessel.
Some of the passengers on the Plymouth Rock
stated that they had heard that the steamer Sea-
bird, running between New York and the High
lands OF Navesink, mad been lost. The reporter, on
the strength OF this, went to pier IS North River
and found the Seabird fast at her dock. where she
had then been lying FIVE hours.
SO much for q wicked and utterly unfounded