The New York herald., 1875-12-04
THE sUNNYsIDE DISASTER.

THE CONDUCT or MEssRs SANFORD, M'KIRK
AND DUFFY, PAssENGERs-THE STEAMBOAT
oFBICERs ExoNERATRD-No MORE BODIES
FOUND.
/ KINGSTON NJ ", Dec 3, 1875
Coroner Mckenzie, or Port Even, commenced yes
terday afternoon hold inquest in the Of Mrs
Walker one Of the victims Of the Sunnysde disaster
The body was taken from West Park, whore II was
covered 70 kmores Corners, small village three miles
distant, where the inquest held. The following
\ jury was empanelled-John G. Grifnths foreman;
William Atchinson Daniel 1. Dubois Jesse De Croft
Joseph Kay Norman Cole, residents OF the neignbor
| hood. The first witness med was John Y Machey
| who identified the remains Of Mrs Walker; he Is q
brother in law OF her son, Mr.. Frank Walker; Mira
Walker Any six years old tho 9th OF September
last
Joseph Cornell, sworn, testified as folows:-I am
superinendenof the Citizens Steamboat Line located
at and doing business in Troy, T.; the steamer
snnnyslde belonged to that company; We always
considered her in good condition; she was heavily
coppered, and in addition that heavily
sheathed with spruce boards above the copper the
bow; she put the dry dock about two months
ago. and upon examination her timbers found to
be the very best Of order she seemed 10 be IN good
condition when she started out her last trip; the
boat left Troy at O'Clock Tuesday afternoon she
left there the freight taken of on her
downward trip; we left there earlier than usual
on account OF the weather; always
have employed careful and reliable men;
Captain Teson has been in employ since 1872;
far as know he has always been careful and reliable
man we valued boat at $125 600; the freight
down trip very light probably thirty forty tons;
the usual load is 200 $50 tons; there about
eight or passengers aboard; did not expect
have any, meant to so to New York and lay up;
| the Sunnyside built in 1866 she built for
the lower Hudson and afterward remodeled for the
which she has latterly run.
FRANCIS TESoN,
sworn testified follows IL live gburg n Y
and follow steamboating on the Hudson River for
business have followed that business exclusively dur
ing my active life have been captain OF the steamer
Sunnysde for abouutwo years; have been In the
ploy OF the Troy Steamboat Line for about forty years.
in the passenger business; | have been captain Of
steamboat for twelve thirteen years the Sunnyside
perfect order so far as know of she put in
good order about two months ago, and had superv-
sion Of the repairs while she the dry dock;
the day when she started from Troy ordered extra
attention 10 be gwen as the ico was heavy
and we had men moving through the hold
during the trip up to the time sunk SO as to
that accident should happen by the floating leo; the
first intimation had of anything wrong that
OF the men had been chopping the Inning out Of the
boat and putting blankets IN hole which had been
made by the ice; the gained very fast and
we ran the boat ashore
THE HOLE IN THE BOAT
| through the copper on the stem directed the
pilot 10 run her up the west shore OF tho river
which was done without striking rock: ordered the
to lower away the lifeboats, which DONE and
] ordered him TO run hawser from tho bow OF the
boat to the shore SO as to keep her from
after this was done ordered that all she lady
passengers and female employees of tho steamer
be put in that boat; helped four into the boat myself
aud know that three already IL; the ifeboat
about twenty feet from the when cap
sized; the men ordered to the stern of the steamer
which order they all obeycd except three passengers
who had already jumped into the hieboat; the mate
aud two OF the walters were In II before these three
men jumped in after the li!eboat cap
sized, the three passengers succeeded in
reaching the :. steamer in safety; the mate
there were five saved-one lady and four gentlemen
| the remainder were missed; Mrs Walker was of
the ladies in the liieboat when IL turned over first
discovered q man hanging the bottom Of the life
boat when 1t upset; myself and Jerry Deyo, the
second sengineer, took another heboat and went
after this man, and coming back to the steamer
when heard noise resembling groan; commenced
searching for the cause and found
floating in the ice; took hold of her. and in lifting her
into the boat the jacket which she wore slipped from
her person and she fell back water sncceedcd
in getting her into the boat again; she was taken
the hurricane deck, and from there into the wheemans
she was taken ashore; she lived about two
hours after being taken from the water;
her; was nearly frozen myself when got ashore
while in ths trouble two boats. passed us-the Wee
hawken sidewbeel towboat, and the Walter Brett,
passenger boat we hailed them, blew whistle until
nearly exhausted our steam and rang
our bell for assistance, but the signals
unheeded by either Of these boats the three passengers
that jumped into the ifeboat were James Sanford
Duny and one McKirk; Mr. Walter Dumont rendered us
valuable assistance herocally rescung nearly every
that saved and had 1t not been for him the loss
OF life would have been more serious there about
twenty passengers on board and positive that
ONLY ELEVEN PERSONS ARE MISSING.
Jacob Burhaus, sworn:-Reside in Troy have been
mate Of the Sunnyside for the last three years;
have followed river life for about thirty five
years This witness corroborated the testimony
OF Captain Teson, and said the engineer first dis
covered that the boat leaking rushed be-
low and tore one OF the waters berths away
from the side OF the vessel, and had TO
| wait out o II %
the leak but driven away by The force OF the water
as it came through the hole the water up 70 my
waist before left the hold by that time tho steamer
headed for the shore used my best endeavors to
prevent the three passengers spoken OF from getting
| into the lifeboat, but could not
Abram ParseI sworn-I live in Port Even, Ulster
county, and am an engineer by trade; arst
gneer OF the steamer Sunnyside al the time Of the dis
aster and was on duty that night one of the men in
formed me Of the fact that the steamer was sinking;
owing TO the fact OF the river being fun Of ice and dan
gerous we kept on larger number that night 70
guard against accident; the steamer commenced leak
ing about twelve O'Clock, but OF little consequence
enough to prevent the pumps from easily keeping her
clear; when wo reached Esopus Island we discovered
MAKING WATER VERY PAST
and the freight removed to the after deck as to
raise her bow further Of the water; tho moment
discovered the water was gaining on the pump mott
| fed the captain.
This witness corrooorated the statements of the Cap
tain and mate FAR as he knew
Watson butcher, the pilot on duty at the time, and
Theron Moore, OF the watchmen gave substantially
the same evidence.
Walter Dumont sworn-I reside at West Park, in the
town OF Esopus; about two O'Clock the morning Of
the disaster awakened by the ringing OF bels and
cries for help coming from the river; went to the
river, took my boat and went 10 the steamer;
the boat lying south OF my dock, in
| about twenty-five feet Of water; / went to tho
pilot house. and took In the first load six passengers
there great deal ofice and the steamer about
$50 feet from tho shore the boat had slid back from
where il FIRST lay made a second trip, and succeeded
rescung six seven more OF the colored wait
ers accompanied me on the second trip after landing
these | went 10 the Captain and helped him TO
lay his rope ferry 10 the shore; then went 70 the
with my boat with two OF eboats and
rope succeeded in getting all the rest ashore; did
not SEQ the feboat when II upset; | Mrs Walker
while going the shore the last time and thought she
alive at least she warm; brought the baggage