The New York herald., 1873-11-22
FOUNDERED In THE DAY.
The TugbOat James Cook Sinks -Four
Miles from Sandy Hook.
The Captain, Deck Hand and Fireman
Drownei-Four Persons Rescued
While Floating Out to Sea.

icled, this time occurring in the Bay OF New York,
within iour miles OF Sandy Hook. The tugboat
James Cook sprung a leak ana foundered at fifteen
minutes past five O'Clock Thursday evening, and
OF the persons on board TOUR were rescued in an
exhausted condition and three drowned these
being the captain, deck hand and fireman.
The Cook was one or the many smaN
propeller tugs that hover around the
slips near the south ferry, towing ca
nal boats and barges, while occasionally
picking up job to go down the bay, perhaps as
far Sandy Hook, but such the latter very sell
dom, as others besides those in the towing bust
ness are aware that some boats are better fitted
for WORK in smooth water than to take the chances
OF rough weather below the Narrows. But the
Cook iellin with an otter to proceed TO Shrewsbury
River on Thursday afternoon and after proceedingto
Brooklyn to take in provisions and other necessary
articles proce eded on the trip with the following
crew and others:-Captain, Charles Dakn; deck.
hand, Charles smith; engineer Alexander Steb-
bins; fireman, Barney Brown; cook boy, about IA,
name not ascertained and two others connected
with the business or the trip; M. Baird and A.
Haviland, the latter pilot OF the steamboat Sea
Bird. Everything went along smoothly down to-
Staten Island through the Narrows, but when
about half way between the entrance to the latter
and the Point of the Hook it was discovered that
THE TUG WAS LEAKING,
dHu tHut ID uduiy lHStdub dCtlOu WAS ucmdnOeus
From the best OF information bearing upon tha
matter this did not at first greatly surprise the
crew OF the Cook, as, without doubt they were
familiar with sucn tribes as leak and the con-
sequent trouble It gave on such rickety craft,
but when the water dubbed and flowed
in from the sides in streams and
began to grow deeper and deeper on the engine
room floor, there was alarm and the men bounced
to the work OF bailing." as it was iorcibly ex-
pressed by one or the rescued men. All hands
bailed and bailed without effect The leak
exertions that men who know they were in peril
OF their lives could possibly do the water slowly
the fires. All this while and yet 1t was not long,
the tug Was nearing the Hook, and. from the cap
tam down to the small boy, each knew they must
WOULD BE EXTREMELY HOPELESS.
Higher and higher, deeper and deeper became
the water in the engine and boiler room, until at
last the fires were totally extinguished Then the
frightened crew began to aunch the boat But
such boat 1t was nothing more than
nog trough" said the HERALD's Informant,
and .instead OF being able to hold seven
persons wasn't big enough for two.n Darkness
was now last approa hing, and all on board were
about jumping INTO the water-"every man for
himself and God Tor US al"-when they saw steam
Ing up the bay not more than hall mile away, a
large steamship, and instantly hope flied their
hearts dcemng that they would at once be taken
cient to blow the whistle. and this was done until
the steam was exhausted, while, at the same time.
on board the steamship might be attracted But
no. the huge vessel passed on and left them with
ACT OF GREAT INHUMAErrY.
as the survivors say, with much earnestness, that
both the whistle must have been heard and the
light seen The water was now In the hold in such
a vast volume that the hull Of the tug began to
settle fast, and then shortly alter AMI exactly
Is minutes past five O'Clock, the Cook made lurcls
to starboard ana instantly plunged beneath the
waves. At the same moment and with much
presence OF mind. the SIX men and boy jumped into
the bay far from the disappearing tug as possible
and they were thus lett without hope, for the boat
TO be- Fortuna ely IN gong down the top of the
pilot house and portions OF the main house were
detached from the upper works OF the tug, and in
the despair OF men looking death in the lace they
swan to these noa ting pieces the pilot Haviland,
Engineer stebbins, M. Baird and the boy reaching
Smith and fireman Brown the latter. IL was
moment OF temporary relief but the misery or
westward Which set them fast out to- towards ards the the
ocean, and there was nothing in sight but the dim
lights OF Sandy Hook and the starry heavens. Ten
minutes after those who had reached the top OF the
rilot S house shouted to the three men chnging to
were answered. but repeating the cries soon again
they did not obtain a response, and shortly after,
seeing several pieces OF wreck near them came to
the conclusion that 1t had broken up and they bad
MET THEIR DEATH
IN this terrible manner. Surely the four drifted
down past the Hook, and the cold became so In
tense that they despaired OF life, and it required
the greatest effort to keep themselves from letting
go their hold and being swallowed up, as were
their companions. There was nasty sea on. ana
ually dashing into their faces with such force az to
reduce their strength SO sensbly that drifting by
the Hook each said to the other that they were
afraid they could not longer hold on but must drop
off and be lost. IL was a moment OF terrible i'm
port to these three men and boy; and when they
had given up all as lost the friendly lights OF q ves-
sci were seen heading toward them and when
within hearing distance they shouted with
Thanks to those on board, they were heard,
and so soon az the vessel could be rounded to a
aid OF a large lamp and the guiding voices OF the
nearly drowned men, they were quickly reached.
The suffering OF the two hours, for it had been no
longer mad made the men incapable or taking ad-
vantage OF the glad succor, and the unfortunates
had to be pulled into the boat, and when the res
cung vessel was reached they were so helpless as
to compel their rescuers to hoist them on board.
This friendly vessel proved to be
THE SCHOONER JAMES PHELPS.
OF Essex, Conn.,, Captain Rockwell, -bound to
Virginia, and at once fires were made and an the
attention tnat possibly could be extended was be-
bounds, but Captain Rockwell only assprea thenp
that he was glad OF the opportunity Ns ISediSg,
them and sorry he could not have been I'M time I'd
save them all. And the Captain did moro, He
gave orders 70 return TO the city And At "a ears,
esmmnnps~ eSal sns SFns 9s sSygs ss sss ss
been saved.
Sro--' THE LOST
me names or the lost may thus be rcpeAted:-.
Captain Charles Dakn, deck hand Charles Smith.
fireman Barney Brown. Mcssrs. Dakin and Smith
were were brothers-n-law, and lived In Brooklyn, where
THE SAVED.
:, Those that were saved are Mr.. A. Havand Mr.,
N. Baird, not OF the crew, but ACCOMPANYING
thcm on busness engineer Alexander Stebbinsf
anu boy, name not ascersained.
TIiE r0uNDEREp TUGBOAT
James OocS was propeller, about 40 feet long IL
leet c1un. ieet hold, and was supplied with an
Engine OF IA inches cylinder and Ia inches stroke of
piston She was owned by Mr.. Frank Stebbns
and uninsured. Her age could not be ascertain ed
FUNERAL OF EX-GOVERNOR vRooM