The New York herald., 1875-10-02
DR.. PORTE0US' DROWNING.
Some SAD Revelations About
the Accident.
THE BOATING PARTY INTOXICATED.
None Of the Men Sober Enough to
Do a Murder.

The excitement attending the death Of the late Dr.
Porteous was naturally increased by the publication Of
sensational stories that he had been fouy dealt with
by some misadventure letter, over the signature OF
a prominent resident OF Sea CHI, appeared in print
and the matter assumed an aspect that demanded strict
Anquiry The facts follows
on Tuesday afternoon the party, consisting OF the
late Rev. Dr. Porteous his wife, two children lady
friend, Mr. r. l.. Benjamin, Mr. John Koop and two
children OF the latter left Sea Cliff shortly after dinner
for q sailing excursion Benjamin and Koop had been
acquainted with each other for some time and had
worked together at the trade, plumbing. The
Former had become considering the difference in their
social status quite friendly with Dr. Porteous but the
present occasion was the first one on which Koop had
ever been in company with the reverend gentleman
ihad ever spoken TO him. There was in the yawl
basket containing luncheon and liquors, and tho
members OF the party refreshed themselves occa-
sonally from its contents. About five
O'Clock the ladies and the two children OF Dr. Poreous
landed at Sea C and the Doctor proposed to go
10 Glen Cove and get drink no liquors beng obtain
able at Sea Cliff. At Glen Cove they drank several
times, and koop says that when they started =. 70
return Benjamin was quito intoxicated; Dr.
Porteous was somewhat under the influence OF ardent
spirits, and he himself was not altogether sober
Koop rowing tho yawl, Dr. Porteous was sitting IN
hhe stern while Benjamin. with Koop's two boys, was
n the bow of the boat theological discussion which
had commenced earlier in the afternoon between
BENJAMIN and DR. Porteous, was renewed when
lthey some little way from the
shore and as il grew more earnest benjamin started
toward the Of the boat evidently for the purpose
Iof sitting beside the doctor while continuing the con-
versation As Benjamin passed hoop he stumbled
moment upon foot which was placed upon the gun
wale Of the yawl and the boat was instantly upset
its occupants thrown into the water to struggle for
Hher lives best they could Benjamin confidently
Sruck out for Shore but the result proved that he had
Koop and his two boys managed to reach the bottom
of the yawl, and Dr.. Porteous grasped hold
iof it, but the boat turned over and all parties
were precpitated into the water Koop and his chill
dren managed to regain the yaw but the doctor failed
10 reach it boat from schooner near by, from
(which their dangerous condition had been seen
yawl which came up towed tho senseless form OF Dr.
Porteous to the shore instead OF lifting into the
and taking measures for its resuscitaon The climax
of blunders capped by the criminal stupidity of
hhe persons on the shore, who allowed the probably
ony half dead clergyman TO lie in the water in defer
ence to the popular superstition that 1t is improper to
touch body until the arrival OF the Coroner. Koop
says he weak after his that he remembers
Futile OF what directly followed his reaching Shore
bu he states that the whole occurrence from the upset
of the yaw 10 the bringing ashore Of the body could
mot have occupied more than ten or fifteen minutes,
and that the doctors condition could not have
been much worse than his owns The residents
Iof Sea Cliff much incensed ut the
1diotic negligence of the persons who were present
at the time, an6the indecent haste Of the Coroner in
bordering inquest to be held on the evening of the
cden and in the absence OF additional evidence that
tcould have.been obtained.
Mr. @ H. Appegate, who is in business in this city
nd resides Sea Cliff denies writing the letter TO the
District Attorney Of Queens county which has ap-
Reared in several Of the papers over his signature,
E1he letter being written by Mr. Harnicke, partially
iron facts supplied by Mr. Applegate. BY some mis-
Echance the of the latter gentleman appended
no the document, and as MI Appegate is well known
Jas a. resident of Sea Chn, and thought
Ito have investigated the affair Of the drown
ying thoroughly, the letter much com
smented upon and gave rise to very grave rumors.
yesterday Mr.. Appegate called upon Mr.. Harnckell
and written acknowledgment OF the latter gentleman
was obtained that he himself the author OF
ter in question In parts OF the coast OF the
lUnited States well throughout Great Britain,
pamphlets distributed containing plain directions
or the resuscitaton OF the apparently drowned aud
would seem that in no place IS their study more sadly
needed than along the shorcs or Long Island.