The New York herald., 1874-11-12
"GO AHEAD Or BURST"

Racing Steamers ON the East River
Commencement OF an OMcfal In
vestig and Children
Screaming from Fright.
The local Board OF United States Steamship In
spectors In this city have wisely come TO the con-
ciuson that the time has arrived TO investigate
the racing contests now taking place on the East
River, between competing harlem lines. few
days ago race to Albany, between the steamers
Sylvan Dell and Shadyside, was under discussion,
but fortunately for the lives OF all on board the
contest did not take place. 1t would appear as Il
the wild and reckless spirit INDUCED in by Missis-
slppi captains and their engineers, In the old
''nush" times, had taken possession OF the East
River steamboat men.
Thousands OF New Y0rkers travel on the Harlem
boats at the peril or their lives, not Knowing at
wnat moment their enterprsng captains may
send crew and passengers into eternity by their
desperate enterprise to 60 ahead
THR OFFICIAL INVESTIGATION.
The local inspectors are Messrs jeremiah 81
monson and John K. Matthew's, who have had liie-
long experiences with steamboats,. The present
investigation is into the causes OF collision be-
tween the steamers Harlem and Sylvan Glen,
which occurred on the 18th Of OCTOBER last.
THE TESTIMONY.
Moses Fl. Longstreet master OF the steamer
Sylvan Glen. being duly sworn, states The time
of leaving for both boats is four p. NJ the Harlem
lett her pier few seconds sooner than the Glen
and when we arrived abreast the abutmert Of the
bridge on New York side the Glen was half o
length ahead; the Harlem was heading in to-
wards the docks; saw that they would not clear
the Glen by Keeping on the course that they were
on; blew two whistles TO them to keep on; the
Harlem continued on her course; did not answer
the whistles, the boats then came together; the
Harlem sheered and the boats came together very
easy, guard to guard; there was . tow ON the
New York side OF me, and could not sheer in TO
get away from the Harlem the boats were Oppo-
site Catharine street terry ON the first collision;
after clearing the tow sheered IN to new York
shore, which separated the boats and ran SO
nearly to pier As; when about ABREAST of pier So
the Harlem blew two whistles for tow which
was going up the river and in toward the dock; I
saw that there was not room for both boats to
Whistles for the Harlem to keep outside OF the tow
i received no answer; the Harlem sheered In
shore and the boats came together about 200 feet
below pier 40: just previous co their c0lding rang
TO slow the engine, and seeing that could not as
thought clear pier 40, rang to &c. ahead at
the Harlem had her tenders OF, which kept the
boat from smashing our wneelhouse; when of
the abutment bew two whistles and the boats
feet away from the docks the Glen was twenty
i've ieet ahead OF the Harlem when they first came
together; the boats came together side and side
the Glen ahead; at the time OF the collision we
were about fifty feet from the end OF the docks
ing could have done to nave avoided the 9sS col.
hsion with the Harlem, unless running over the
towboat.
THE SECOND COLLISION.
At the second collision the boats were about
neck and neck; we were away about ten
CITY CITY Of 0 Toko which was on the dry aecK st
the time; from the first to the second collision
1he Harlem blew sTp h %ases M os
Harlem to keep on; the boats would not
have colided had ! stopped and backed
second collision took place ported my wheel
when she struck US; ! gave proper signal, but
secsivea no answer; my duty 10 sucn cases ls to
use my best Judgment to avoid q collision; l used
the best OF my judgment TO avoid the collision.
Harlem was not ahead Of US at any time; was
aware that the Harlem was going to stop at Grand
know that the lenders were put on my Boat; I It is
not customary Tor them to be put over unless by
% Of @
were not down when l nrst saw her; have the
! Steamboat law and Pilot regulations In the pilot.
house; don't know how much steam we mad on
when we left the slip; did not notice II she
safety valve; don't Know whether the the en-. n.
gineer used any unusual means to make
any conversason % with tue engineer about carry
| ing steam; the tide was running strong ebb; In
pursuing the course along the docks l avoid the
I strength OF the tide; am often compelled to 20
outside to avoid vessels as well as to keep inside.
Moses H. Longstreet. being recalled, deposed =
abutment and Jackson street pier is down stream
! and or shore; l have control Of my boat when
running under o slow DELL.
Q.-How far win your boat run after the
engine is stopped before she loses steerage way2
A.-She VIII run about 500 iect IN the tide
she was in at the time; had no apprehension or
8 COLLISION with the Harlem when blew ms Grss
two whistles, nor OF any danger. as expected
the Harlem to keep OF; not receiving ans reply to
prehensons of danger then: when blew my
second two whistles had apprehenstons OF dan
ger. as the Harlem did not answer my signal or
haul or upon either OF the occasions; whenI blew
my first and secund whistles | could not have
l would nave run into atowboat, and secondly
into the projecting bow OF the screw steamer City
PASSENGERS TESTIMONY.
Henry B. Nafe, policeman passenger on steamer
Sylvan Glen, being duly sworn, srates:-I was in
on east side, through the window; went forward
on forward deck and saw the Harlem; we had it
this way TIL we got to Old Jackson street slip,
wnen the Harlem slowed down to 60 into Grand
street, and the Glen went on about her business !;
when v ent out on deck the Hariem's bow was
that time was about between Roosevelt and James
slip ferries; tue guards were then withn three or
our ees o. eaca they would come together
struck; this was near the large sectional dock;
that is the only time tnat they colided. that no.
tlced the stem OF the Harlem was at no time
ahead OF the Glen; the Glen was ahead OF the
Harlem all the way up; the Glen was so close on
the docks that she could not get any closer unless
she ran on the docks; there was nothing in the
river that compelled the Harlem to hug the New
YORK shore 80 closely; the Harlem could have gone
outside OF those two tows, as she had plenty OF
time to sheer of Old Point; when frst saw the
first tow she was going down the river outside
The Harlem; the second tow was coming down the
river on Jackson street; the Glen was alongside
the docks all the way mp.
The investigation will be continued on the lsth
inst.
BLOODY ASSAULT ON SHIPBOARD