Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-07-22
The Yacht Mohawk Disaster.
SOME THRILLING DETAILS OF THE SAD
AFFAIR.


The STAR has stated that the we'll known
yacnt Mohawk, owned by Vice-Commodore
William T. Garner. was capsized in q souaII
in the upper bay, of Stapieton, Staten Isl.
| and, n. Y, Thursday afternoon about $50
O'Clock, and Commodore Garner, his wife.
| 46 west 35th street, and three of the crew
were drowned. Coroner Dempsey yesterta ?
held an inquest over the body of Miss Han
| ter, and The jury rendered a verdict that she
| came to her death by being drowned on DO ard
| of the yacht Mohawk. The body was then
removed TO her home in New York by friends
| The body of F. Thorne, Mrs. Gamers brother,
is not yet recovered, but divers are search
| ing for 1t. All the dead are now recovered
but him. The inquest commences to dag,
aid some twenty witnesses are summoned
Captain Rawlings is still in custody but
denies that he is 10 blame, and that his or
ders 10 the crew were not obeyed. Tne crew
on the other hand, charge the captain wItb
the whole responsibility.
GRAPHIC ACCOUNT OF THE DISASTER.
The New York Times furnishes the follow
Ing account OF the distressing affair: When
the first gust struck her her vast broadside
OF canvas lay at right angles to the wind,
and received the full force of IL, keeling her
over to leeward, but not with sufficient force
TO capsize her. A moment later came
another and stronger blast, throwing the Ill
lated vessel on her beam ends, with all the
weight of her superabundant canvas drag
ping In the water, and acting as a dead
weight against her righting. Even then it
might not have been too late, had some time
n
head. sheets, or In any way to free the vessel
of the dead weight of canvas which was
dragging her every moment lower in the
water. The sailing master, Rawlings, stool
on the fOrecastle crying, Save me, save
me-" but not making single effort 10 right
the ship, which his terrible negligence had
brought to such q strait. Commodore Gar
ner, who at the moment of capsizing was
standing on the quarter deck, rushed 10 the
hstchway to rescue his wife, who, with the
other ladies' was below. He reached her aud
a hinge of ua-
ter poured down the hatehw way, Il oodIng the
cabin and drowning the brave commander
and his wife before they could reach the door.
Mr. Louis Montant, who was also belo a
the time, succeeded In dragging Miss K titn
May to the hatchway and pushing her up
the steps, while he grasped Miss Hunter by
the arm and endeavored to pull her up after
him. He finally succeeded In rescuing Miss
May, but the rush of water tore Miss Hunter
from him, and the unfortunate young lady
shared the fate OF her hosts. The ste wari
who was in his pantry for ward OF the cabin
had barely time to struggle up through the
volume OF incoming water, and reached the
deck In half drowned condition. Mr.. Crosby
al d Mr.. Rowland both had narrow escapes
from watery death, and the two cooks aud
another OF the crew, who were down below
forward, were chOked by the incoming tor
rents before they had time to maze an at
tempt at escape.
The whole OF the mournful catastrophe
occurred In less than minute, althougl il
seemed an age to the anxious spectators on
the yachts and at the club house. In another
minute the boats from the Countess of ID If
ferin, the Dreadnaught and sailing schooner
had reached the sinking craft and picked up
the exhausted survivors.
THE MATES STORY.
The MAZE OF the Mohawk was resued from
tne water In an exhausted condition by a
boat from the yacht Dreadnaught, and told
the following story OF the disaster: He said
that as soon as the unexpected catastrophe
occurred he rushed for the cabin, and seizlog
Miss Edith May, the lady who lhappenei to
be nearest the cabin entrance, made
bis way with as little delay as possible, to
the deck, which was begi inning TO be 1oOied
with water, and attempted to swim with her
until aid came from the Dreaduaught In
this purpose, however, he was frustrated bv
The rising waters, which unexpectedly
looseIed his grasp OF the lady's dress aud
separated them from eaca other, rendering
1t impossible for him to again grasp hold Of
her. At this terrible moment, when sepa.
rated nom al. aid received from the mate.
il seemed that the lady paralyzed by her
fears, and unable to make any effort for her
own salvation, must perish in the wave.
Mr.. Louis b. Montant, who had made his
way 10 the QecR In the meantime, perceI we'd
her DANGER, as well as the impossibillty Of
the mate reScuing her, and as sue struggl led
In the water in her fright, seized her and
held her out OF the water until bis eyes were
gladdered with the sight OF a boat coming
toward them with all the speed that me
young hands that grasped the oars co ia
ma Ike. The young sailor, VIM. iCarmich bel
reached the exhausted pair at length, and
helped them into the boat, In which they
were conveyed without delay to the Dread
naught. The mate expressed the greatest in
dignation against the captain of the vessel,
Rawlins, declaring with the greatest warmth
that che wasn't lit to take care OF sucl a
vessel"
THE DROWNED VICE COMMODORE AND
Mr.. Garner was thirty four years old. He
was favorite with the members OF the
New York Yacht Club, and was Familiarity
known as "Will." He was the owner OF the
great Harmony Calico Pri Mills at Coaoes
and others, and is estimated to have been
liberal minded and lavished his money upon
his friends with unsparing hands. A M sm-
Der OF the New York Yacht Club, "He was
one OF the most nterprising and keen sighted
business men ever met, and one OF the
NEST genial companions" He was bora IN
Washington Place, New York. he was one
Of the extensive manufacturers of this
county. In the panic he especially showed
that he possessed rare business foresight
While others became crippled, he did a
steady, thriving trade. He gained this re.
and buying for cash. By that course he was
always ready for an emergency. He was
elected member of the yacht club on July
dore last year. He has commanded three
yachts, the Breeze, the Magic and the
Before entering into his business life, Mr..
Garner was married to Miss Macsllite
Thorne, of New Orleans, La, who persisted
with him in the sad accident. She was ihir-
of the marriage, three of whom are now Nv
ing, the eldest being eight years Of age AID
the youngest about two. he also leaves
three sisters, Mrs. Frank Lawrence, Mrs.
Graham, and Miss Annie Garner, the latter
still residing at the old family homestead in
Washington square.
AN ACCOUNT BY AN EYE WITNESS.
The N. Y. World of Friday says:-Oae OF
the members of the club stepped into the
club rooms, on Madison avenue, early last
night, and as be was an eyewitness OF the
capsjzing OF the Mohawk, the few members
assembled were anxious to hear full particu-
lars, his version was as fOllows:-'I was
down at the clubhouse this afternoon, hav-
ing gore down by the o'clock boat, and
when went into the club rooms saw Mr..
Garner, his wife and number Of lady
friends and gentlemen going out for q sail in
the Mohawk. The Mohawk lay out In the
bay, about half q mile distant, and Mr.. Gar
ner's steam launch came up TO the dock to
take the party OF to the yacht. All were in
high spirits and full OF fun, expecting to en-
JOY pleasant sail, as the storm had passed
od. The party consisted of Mr.. Garner, Mrs.
Garner, Mr.. Schuyler Crosby, Miss Edith
May, Mr.. Louis Montant and one or two
others. II was about 4:20 O'Clock, think,
when the party LEFT the dock for the yacht.