The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-04-09
THE DANGERS OF THE SOUND.
The Steamer Elm City, OF the New Haven
Line, Grounded in the Fog near Throgg ,s
Neck-NO Lives Lost md but Little Dn M
age-Statement Of the Clerk.

The Steamer Elm City, OF the New Haven
Line, Grounded in the Fog near Throgg,s
Neck-No Lives Lost and but Little DAM
age-Statement Of the Clerk.
The steamer Elm City, OF the New Haven line met
with a serious accident yesterday morning. She
was on her way to Hartford having left Peck slip
about halfpast twelve O'Clock. At about two
O'Clock the passengers were reused by a terrible
shock. They rushed ON deck and cutched their
place called the Stepping Stones, near Throgg's
Neck. which is about dozen miles from He'll
Gate. The water flowed ever the lower deck, but
Captain Frederick Peck assured the frightened
passengers that there was no danger The ex-
element was very great. All the passengers,
men, women and children, strapped on life-pre-
servers and seemed to be ready to jump over
board. The fog was dense at the time and the
accident was it is alleged caused by the negli-
gence of the Throgg's Neck lighthouse keeper who
FAILED TO RING THE WARNING BELL.
The extent of the damage was not great, the
steamer having struck her bow, and not one life
was lost. The New Haven, on her way from New
Haven to New York, took on board all the passen.
gers of the Elm city and landed them at Peck slip
at two O'Clock yesterday afternoon. They were
compelled to start again for New Haven. Some OF
them lett on the Continental at five O'Clock, but
the majority preferred to go by rail. The captain
expected to have the steamer of at high tide and
the greater part of the freight would not be dam
aged.
STATEMENT OF THE CLERK.
The clerk OF the Elm City, Mr.. Hedges, made the
following statement:-
''We had passed through the Gate. and thought
then that everything was all right and was about
going to bed. The steamer was going along at
average speed. The fog was somewhat thick; but
we heard no bell at Throgg's Point where there Is
fog bell which is supposed to work by machinery
Some time ago we had occasion to complain OF this
benan not paying attention to his duties Sud-
denly we went ashore at the Stepping Stones and
just before we did so we heard the fog bell at
Throgg's Neck tolline out. But we had already
passed 1t some distance and 1t was too late We
ran up between two OF these rocks, aud the bottom
OF the boat was damaged very considerably.
THE WATER WAS Low
at the time, and the vessel, though she sunk
upon the rocks, did so without taking much
water. OF course there was great excitement
among the passengers. We had about one hun
drcd OF them, OF which twenty were ladies'. There
was screaming and so on, and undoubtedly, at first
they thought that there was gong to be another
calamity. They rushed out Of their stateroOms in
desha6iA6 and ran about the boat asking each
other what had happened. did all could to re-
assure them but / found 1t somewhat difficult
We found that the vessel had sustained rather
serious damage, but that there was no danger The
passengers were all made to get up on the saloon
deck, and there they waited until the morning
The water as 1t rose gradually came up over the
main deck, but when the passengers got or the
deck was yet dry, and the boats were ali ready in
attendance to convey them to the propeller New
Haven, which belongs to the company, and which
ATTRACTED BY THE BLOWING OF OUR WHISTLE,
came TO the assistance Of the Elm city. Ii was
fortunate that the water did not reach our fur
naees else we had not been able to blow the
whistle. During the morning the company sent up
tugboats and barks to get the Elm City or the rocks
think that they will nave TO construct an inner
pert hole and pump her out before they take her
off, i cannst say what the damage will be to the
boat The damage to the freight, OF which we had
about half load, will be considerable.
don't think the pilot, Mr.. Stevens, is to blame.
The fog was very thick, and there Is no doubt but
that there was variation In the compass. II the
log bell at Ihroggs Neck had sounded the accident
wonld not have occurred. | have known Mr..
Stevens for twenty years and been with him for
about seven years, and during that whole time
have not known any accident TO have happened
him before. do not think he will be held account
able. There is no doubt the boat has very ugly
gap in her bottom; about thirty feet long, / should
Juage.n
THE INJURED STEAMER REPLACED.
The company state that their business will not
be nterfered with by the accident, and that they
have chartered the Granite State TO take her place,
starting on her first trip tomorrow evening, at