The New York herald., 1874-12-29
A Ferryboat Collidee with a
Cattle Transport.
A TERRIBLE SCENE.
Two Men Killed and Two Badly
Injured.
Statements Of the Employees Of
the Companies.
THE STREETS AND THE FERRIES

Tho fog that had hung over the river in thick,
heavy banks since Sunday night settled down
thicker and more dense than ever about four
O'Clock yesterday afternoon so that navigation
became very difficult and exceedingly perilous
Just at the hours when thousands OF working peo-
pie must cross to Brooklyn and Williamsburg
after their days labor is ended. OF course the
boats OF the various ferry lines could not make the
usual number OF trips, being compelled to move
with great caution, to avoid running into other
craft AZ well as the bulkheads, which make out
into the stream Q considerable distance. AS
natural consequence every boat crossing the river
from this city to Brooklyn was compelled to carry
very many more than
HER COMPLEMENT OF PASSENGERS,
hundreds upon hundreds Of people who had been
hudded together In the filthy streets In front OF
the ferryhouses eagerly waiting, in many cases
from half TO three-quarters OF an hour for . boat
TO come rushing pell nell on board the moment
aho struck the bridge.
At 1ve O'Clock the Alaska q very large boat left
the Roosevelt street Jerry house loaded almost to
the guarus with human freight, besides some
twenty-five teams and trucks. Almost every avail
able inch OF the surface OF the craft was occupied
by men, women and children, very many even
climbing TO the hurricane deck to AVOID being SUI.
focated or crushed by the mass below. The
boat moved cautiously out OF her slip, blowing her
whistle every two or three seconds, and turned
mp the river to run to South Seventh street, Will
tamsburg. The tide was running strong ebb,
and as the Alaska's engine was working with but
hall the usual pressure of steam the vessel could
not have been moving at greater rate Of speed
than three and half to iour miles an hour.
Shortly alter getting out INTO the stream the fog
seemed 10 become heavier. SO that 1t was with
great dimculty that the pilot could see 800 feet
ahead When opposite pier No. Al the pilot des-
DRIED the cattle boat Golden coming toward him,
apparently at full speed. He reversed his engine
at once and then blew his whistle hard and long.
BIS practised eye saw at glance that a
COLLISION WAS INEVITABLE,
since the Golden was less than 800 feet on when
nrst seen and she did not appear to change her
course IN the least. Fearing great loss OF life he
called to the passengers on the forward deck to
get back, but before his warning could be well
needed the Golden had struck the Alaska and cut
on the entire fore part OF the gentlemen's cabin.
1t is useless to attempt description of the
OF confusion and terror that ensued among the
passengers. Shrieks and groans filled the air;
horses reared, kicked and stamped to the immi-
nent danger OF the lives OF those unfortunate peo-
pie who found themselves suddenly jammed
In between trucks ana other vehicles, and
many were about to leap into the river to avoid
CRY or 1.-THE boilers burstp' prompted, no doubt,
by the maddening rusn OF steam through the es-
cape pipes OF both boats. To their credit be 1t
said that the deck hands, and. indeed, all the en-.
ploJ es on board the Alaska, behaved with becom-
ing gailantry, and we're soon rewarded by seeing
ra THE TERRIFIED PASSENGERS
become somewhat quiet.
All energies were at once bent toward the relies
of the injured passengers. The Golden, being clear
Of freight, sat much higher out OF the water
than the Alaska, In consequence OF which her
guards (she is an old ferryboatJ Tapped over
those OF the Alaska. TWO men--John Karamen-
acker and an unknown person-were found to be
securely held by their legs, which were mashed in
between the decks or the two boats. The unfor-
tunate victims gave utterance to lrightfu groans
and eEtreated those about them TO eXtricate them
hs quickly as possible. Near the two men
large sugar truck, with horses attached, and 1t
was with the greatest dlf1cuity that the animals
could be Kept quiet long enough to admit OF their
being unnitched and led away into the LADIES'
cabin. This was finally accomplished, however,
and then cart rungs and every available piece OF
timber was brought TO bear upon the
MASS OF CONFUSED TIMBERs,
bat with poor results Finally q couple Of jack
screws were procured, and with the aid OF these
the dying men were loosened from the vice OF
twelve or fifteen minutes, suffering all that 1t ls
possible lor human beings TO suffer and far more
found to have had his right leg cut completely OF
below % the knee, sn while his M LETT was dangling BY
-
he was taken out From papers found in one Of
his pockets IT Is supposed that his name is Charles
and that he ,oe, ayes IN Gme street
Scker, had both his legs crushed in a frightlu
manner. Ae was removed TO Bellevue Hospital,
where he died IN lew minutes alter having been
taken into the building: Joseph Dalton, a ooy
fifteen years OF age. living at No. 237 seventh
collar bone broken and to have been severely
bruised about the body. He was taken home oy
friends. Also John wilson, OF NO. l60 Broadway,
Williamsburg who was severely injured about the
back and thighs. He Was removed to No. so
Henry street, New York, where he was cared for
As soon as the boats were separated the Alaska
made landing at pier 40 and
PUT ASHORE HER WOUNDED,
after which she was towed TO Williamsburg by an.
other boat OF the same ferry company.
mp to about $1,5O0 on the Alaska and hall tnat
Smount on the Golden.
WHAT THE PILOT SAYS.
Jacob Lockwood. the pilot or the Alaska, says
that at about five P. M, when he left the slip at
the foot OF Roosevelt street. he mad full load OF
the weather was quite thick, though he could see
very well ior 500 yards-nslf way across the river.
q not more tnan 100 iees from the docks,
smut oa and Blowing his bis tTo whistles 0Uss every
quarter OF minute. When abreast OF pier 40 the
weather set In thicker, but he could still see the
docks all along and the third pier ahead, SO that
he knew just where he was. He continued on,
the fog remaining about the same up to the time
or pier ~ he saw the Golden coming down. head
ing directly tor him; he immediately rang his bells
70 stop and back ana hove mis- wheel hard to star.
board. The Golden however. did not alter her
course, and In amoment struck the Alaska on her
star board bows, her rudder cutting through the
PLANK shears fender and fifteen or sixteen or the
deck beams Of the Alaska, besides carrying away
ran and
the starboard asI DID We would have cleared each
other When We c0ided the engines OF the
Alaska had made three full turns back and
HER UEADWAY WAS DONE,
ene was stationary but the Golden had not stopped
when she struck Us. He did not hear any whistle
from the Golden before ne saw her, and she was
1ully SEQ feet away when the deck hand Wemess.
Who was on lookout, said there was steamer
anead. Inc Alaska was so close lnshore that 1t
was impossible for = boat TO pass between her and
the docks. while the Coidcn had the whole river
Defore her. and ne cannot conceive why she took
going down with the tide
WHAT THE DICK HANDS SAT-.
John WemesS, deck hand on the Alaska says
"A tha l00kout no hlarr icaraa q