The New York herald., 1875-08-26
THE coLL1D1NG STEAMBOATS,.
WHAT CAUSED THE STEAMBOATS, NoRrHFIE1.D
AND TWILIGHT TO COME rTo CONTACT P
INVESTIGATION BIZ THE STEAMBOAT M

WHAT CAUSED THE bTEAMBOAID NOhAhriE'D
AND TWILIGHT TO COME ETo CONTACT p
INVESTIGATION BIZ THE STEAMBOAT IN
sPEcroRs.
An investigation was begun yesterday morning before
United States Steamboat Inspectors Matthews and
Simonson at their Offices in Pine street. to ascertain the
cause OF the collision which occurred between the
staten Island ferryboat Northneld and the steamboat
Twilight on the 18th inst
The nrst witness called John Mcguire, passen-
ger on the Twilight at the timo OF the collision He
testified that the Northneld was coming up
to tho Twilight on the latter's port side
that the Mortified ranged far ahead that the wheel
boxes OF the vessels nearly parallel and they
that way for few minutes; soon after both boats be-
gan to close when he noticed the Northneld she
dropping astern and closing toward the Twilight which
gave whistle; the Horth1elds starboard bow struck
against the guard and rail OF tho Twilight aban the
wheel; the boats then separated, the Norhned drop
ping astern; the North6eld would occasionally range
ahead and then the other would hold her but at
no time was the former ahead; the signal given
was when the Twilight began TO ahead of the
Northdcld and he heard other signals from either
boat; they collided very suddenly aferward he could
not tell whether either boat altered her course nor
whether all clear that the boats could be kept
further apart his Judgment the collision could have
been avoided by both boats and was entirely unneces
sary; nc did not the boats until they parallel
WHAT THE PILOT or THE TWILIGHT SAYS.
Elias Davis the pilot OF the Twilight the second
witness. He testified that when he abreast of
Governors Island he saw the Northhcd also heading
down the bay. His southsouthwcst He then
continued, by saying: We going along very easily
when the Northneld along and hauled to eastward
Of us; there plenty OF for her go under
stern hut she alongside OF port side she
got hauling down us, and got suction; witness
blow one whistle, but got answer and
both boats that way for perhaps five
minutes; no thought she getting too
close and blow ono whistle, TO which
the Northheld answered with two, they went
along thus until nearly abreast of the Bay Ridge buoy
the Northncd then hauled in very close, and he was
afraid would strike the Twilight when he blew one
whistle again. the Northied answered, slowed down
and dropped back apaf the Twllights wheel and after
ward hauled in and struck the Twilight in the after
the rail about forty feet: she the time about
mile away from her landing, and had to haul up the
river some, so as TO make her landing; the Northned
at time the leading boat; there was plenty of
room both sides, that the boats could keep fur
them when the Mortified dropped astern If he could
have stopped and let the Mortified go by the collision
would have been avoided there was person injured
on the Twilight, and the damage the boat sustained
would amount to about S100
oBsERyEE's STORY
W. r. Wadsworth, of No. 300 Warren street Brook
yn stated that he In a saIlboat in the bay little
below Stapleton, and the watch for the Twi-
light, expecting some friends he first noticed the Twi-
light Off Robbins Reef the Staten Island boat was on
the port side of her at that time little astern; the
next he saw Of them they were about of Quarantine
Landing; he watched them and that the Staten
Island boat ran off her course being far to the east
ward and apparently running below her landing; he
heard whistles from either boat and he far
ahead he did not see the collisions the Staten Island
boat made direct line for the island which would
bring her about line with the sawnll south OF the
landing; she then ran north to make her first landing;
he watching her all the time and noticed that she
then ran south again, and he remarked that she had
missed her andng he her run north to attempt to
make her landing; the Mortified was of her course
nearly opposite the red buoy of Bay Ridge the Twilight
steering southeast; at the time he them sheer
gcther he was mile ahead and heard whistles from
either boat.
W. Johnson, passenger the Twilight testified
that when the boats got close together they ran that
way for one and half miles or more, until the North
field bore of toward the Staten Island Shore he did not
the collision but felt the shock and heard whistles
but did not know where they from
o. b. Kenny, Superintendent of Steamers of the New
Jersey Southern Railroad Company passenger on the
same steamer testified that he first saw the bou,s to-
gcthcr at Stapleon, and they some minutes to-
gether, until the Northncld far forward as tho
hog frame of the Twilight; he heard a whistle, which
answered by the Northeld; he did the
lision but told of IL.
Edwin Hllyer, master Of the Twilight stated that
low Governors Island he noticed the Northned about
400 500 yards behind and little TO the eastward the
steamer Castleton in the position TO the
NOrhed as the latter was TO the Twilight the Castle
ton passed under the stern OF the Northheld well
that Of the Twilight the Northfeld came bearing down
hauling 10 the eastward, running alongside until her
stem with the Twilight's forward gangway;
he heard whistle from the Twilight which was an.
swered by two from the Northed the boats ran side
by side until abreast OF Stapeton when the Twilight
gave another whistle, which was answered by the
Northned; the latter was not the leading boat at any
time.
TESTIMONY oP THE SoRrHFIELD's PILOT
Charles II. Kohler the pilot Of the crryboat North
field testified as folows:l left the slip at Whitehall
the 80 trip and proceeded down the Fast River with
my boat on the regular course l happened to turn
round in the pilot house, and saw the Twilight my
starboard quarter; she came up alongside of u.s.
still my course; this little below Governors
Island; she kept gaining until she got right
alongside OF us; yet a little ahead: She
got quite close 10 and blew one whistle; |
knew | could not clear her with safety by
stopping my boat under her bows, and l blew two
whistles she kept coming closer, until was obliged to
haul of to the eastward, had been doing all tho
while; she kept following up was afraid she would
into us, and still kept bearing Off the eastward
and after got pretty well down she blew another
gave mo chance TO get away from her; If | had
stopped my engines we must have colded II she had
kept 10 the westward much kept to the eastward
should not have come together mine the leading
boat all the while; little below Robbins Reef
she blew one whistle; | thought her pilot
from him; answered the signal; he however kept
coming to me; after blowcd my whistle | slowed
my boat; put my helm starboard before l slowed
and stopped my boat; he did alter his course
but kept right and into me- II he had kept away
when he blew his whistle there would have been no
cosion this collision happened between the lighthouse
and Quarantine Landing; did all in my power TO avoid
a collision; we dropped astern and she ran across our
bows and just seemed touch us; scarcely felt any
thing, although heard sort of snap breaking OF
wood; we then separated, and landed at Quarantine;
have been pilot for four five years and have been
pilot Of the Norhhcd for about fifteen months.
The investigation was here. adjourned until to-day.