New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-07-21
STATEMENTS OF EYE-WITNEsSES.

STATEMENTS OF EYE-WITNESSES.
The ferry-boat for Staten Island. which left her
pier ut p. ~ yesterday, was the scene of animated
dscussisnGoncerning the dreadful calamity to the
Mohawk rurlors OF which had circulated III New
York. The greatest concern was expressed as 10 the
fate of tie unfortunate persons who, 1t was
stated were Oh board when she capSized The
widest stories were related, and II was believed
that at least seven persons had been drowned Tugs
were seen in the Kills surrounded by boats and
small sailing craft, aud were pointed out to eager
spectators as the boats engaged in towing the No
hawk over to the jersey iais, where she was to he
beachcd deck hand gave his account of the rising
of the souall and what be OF the accident to an
eager circle Of interested auditors He stated that
about 4:1J p. NJ, as the ferryboat was making her
up-trip 10 New-York, he observed "A black squail
coming from the eastward As it app AIRED to hun.
lie saw the Mohawk under full sail, and noticed
that while the schOoners i'll the ofing were
letting everything go by the run, the Mo-
hawk showed no intention of shortening sail.
shortly after the squall, accompanied 10y ram, shut
down between him and the yacht, and he LOST iur-
ther sight of her movements The first information
he received Of her loss was in NewYork, and he
said that he could hardly credit the story.
At the clubhouse at Stapeton a number of gentle
men were found who had been cyc-witno sScs OF the
disaster. Several of the party accompanying TIE
Canadian yacht. the Go .ntess Of Dniierin, were
seated on the balcony of the clubhouse when the
squall passed over the bay. One of these tod the
story of the Mohawk's disaster follows: " ] was
seated with some friends upon the veranda of the
club-honse az about O'clock and was watching the
various Yachts riding at anchor in the waters OF the
bay. SuGdenly the sky darkeDed and pun
Of wind rippcd the waters. The Mohawk
Law inst beyond the trading schooner foudia,
nearly opposite the clubhouse, and she
WIS evidently making ready for an evening sail.
Her canvas was all spread with the exception OF Il
lib ;opsai: her anchor trpped, and every thing
prepared for a start. As the puf of wind, accom-
panied by a dash of rain, swept down, observed
that 4 number of sailing craft let everything 90
by the run. evidently experimenting dangerous
blow. Still the Mohawk made no preparation to
meet the impending peril. Suddenly the force OF
the wind increased, and a heavy blast swept from
the Southwest and while | looking the Mo-
hawk caur5t IT, and with everything taut aud all
sail strained heced over nearly upon her beam
ends There she hung for what seemed very long
time to me- but could not in fact have been
much more than minute She hung there; ana lOr
a second seemed to right. Then her nE'stS began 10
trenble and with a sudden qavcring motion over
She went II was done in second and she lay com
pletelv over on her beam ends. AS soon as saw
her masts qulver | knew she was gone. IL
seemed to me very strange that her cap
tain did not let go the main sheet, the
topsall sheets, the jb sheets; 1t would
have eascd her off and she might have righted. As
soon as she capszcd boat put off from lie Phail-
TOM and closely following her a boat was sent from
the Countess of Duiern, and also one from the
trading schooner. In ten minutes the water was
alive with boats cruising about to save those who
were swimming in the water. There was not large
co,upanv of gentlemen in the clubhouse when the
accident occurred. ] believe the following were
present: Frederick A. Ball of Toronto, Canada;
Clarence Ball aud Mr.. Jones of the Countess OF
Dufftrrn. and Il. W. Cameron of New-York."
Two of the boats crew from.the Countess of Duff
ferin who rescued Miss May, told the story of the
accident and the efforts made by them to rescue the
passengers as follows They said they were stand
ing on the deck of their vessel when they noticed
that the sky had become overcast and the clouds had
a dark and threatening aspect George Clancy, one
Of the sailors. said to his companion, II think We
are going to have a heavy squall, and the Mohawk
over there has everything set let Us stand here and
see how she takes it," The sailor added 1t looked
like rain so | put an ol-coat on ana with that
Henry FeatherstOne shouts out, Shes over! ana
sure enonpb. when | looked round, there she
ordered the boat away, and me and FeatheIstone
and Hunt began to lower her away but we louip
that the falls was fouled, and so we cut them,
manned her. and pulled oil to the Mohawk. As we
came near we saw her captain standing amldsLlpS,
and then he jumped overheard We didn't hear HIM
cav ANYTHING. The Mohawk lay well over, and
On her side stood number of her crew, VINO
waved their hats to us 10 come on As we got nearer
we dropped under her stern, and saw an elderly gen
tleman cllnging fast, but he said, Never mind me;
gave the ladies' and the weakest We picked up
vounp lady, but as our boat was making water we
mt her Oh board the Dreadnaughts boat and rowed
back 10 our ship. But before this we had picked up
a gentleman. When we started from our SNIP
we saw five OF six persons struggling ID the wafer
and some of the crew standing on the yachts SIDE
signaling for help. The yacht settled little ana
lay with her stem and stern under water. she
hove down considerable at first, but she then nghted
little. and, as she lay, stem ana
stern under, looked as much Ike whae
ga ANYTHING ever saw IN my life. Our Work TOOK
about 10 minutes and by that time there were more
than 80 row boats three tugs, and one steam yachc
clustered about the wreck. Everybody was excited