The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-05-12
ASHORE AT HELL GATE.
THE STEAMER c. H. xoRrHAM on THE noes
RACK REEF

THE STEAMER c. H. xoRTHAM on THE Hoos
BACK REEF
Yesterday afternoon the steamer G. H. Northam,
bound for New Haven, with freight and passengers,
got ashore on the rock in He'll Gate passage known
the Hogs Back, and got OF until ten minutes
to ten r ~ She did not sustain any very serious in
jury so far cond be ascerancd and sho proceeded
on her journey up tho Sound she aoated.
SIM
The c. H. Northam is OF the finest OF I he Sound
boats and is commanded by Captain Bownes the elder
She left pier 25 East River, at O'Clock yesterday ar
ternoon, with a large general cargo and passengers
She reached Halletts Point about half past three
=. NJ, and at slack water tho last OF the ebb.
She going at fair ratio OF speed,
according TO the statement OF the
workmen who her at this place. Inside the cato
there quite tide way setting the Wards
Island Shore few rods from which is tho reef known
the Hogs Back. Several smaller vessels were bound
10 New York, and coming through the narrow channel
at this me the wind being about northwest they had
TO boat through working very short tacks Just inside
the point and standing right it the sarboard tack
where the Northam steaming up was large
schooner which, according to custom, naturally
had the right OF way. The steamer and she we're
close to the point and there seemed very fair
chance Of their coliding when the pilot board the
former shifted his helm and sent his vessel
toward the Wards Island shore and athwar the tide,
which caught her nbeam and showed her upon the ugly
Hogg's Back The shock, Of course, was great and
created much alarm among the passengers. who
tanly thought that the vessel was going down At
this moment tho engines were reversed and every
effort was work her of the reef but they
Z useless She fast and II was evident she could
not proceed on her voyage unless towed
into deep Immediately after the accident it
must DO called several small tugs among which were
the Brkbcck. Fidelity Seth Low and others, to
her assistance As she appeared TO be last by the head
which at one time striving hard 10 pull her into
deep water. The pumps were sounded and kept going.
but She aid give any signs OF leaking The tugs could
not pull or the reef however, and the arrival
OF Mr. Merritt the chief engineer Of tho company.
was thought dismiss three OF the tugs keep
only two at work at her. Abou, six O'Clock the Hood
tide began to make up and II was feared that would
set her further on the reef TO prevent tins hawsers
as soon as she noated and to keep
her from settling further tho reef Nothing further
could be done, the people had To DO content and
await high water. Meanwhile the Continental, OF tho
same line passed through " the Gate" bound for New
Haven, to ill the place OF tho Nordham on the homo
trip II necessary.
4 HERALD reporter visited tho G. H. Nordham tho
reef and had conversation with tho captain, who tod
the foregoing story about the schooner but could not
remember her name Indeed, nobody appeared to
have seen or heard It The captain, who has gone
through Hell than thirty years. said that
they would not have avoided collision II he had not
sheared his vessel At any rate, the mishap was I'M
avoidabe.
When darkness the lights were hosted the
tug an their charge and Whistles kept gong
warn vessels Of their whereabouts The tide had risen
high by O'Clock ana was running up very strong.
The steamboats, were jerking and pulling at tho Nord-
ham I, free her and her fires and engines all
ready 10 move the moment she was OF the bottom At
half past nine her swaycd 10 tho sarbOard sud
denly and could be checked carried up by the
food tide toward Howc's Rock, where it seemed
10 have fastcrcd or course at his time tho
vessel could only be watched from tho government
works Hallcs Point and IRON this place she seemed
to be in a worse fix than At ten minutes ten,
however she was towcd into the channel and resumed
her passage to New Haven.