The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-07-23
VOL. XLlll. NO. 3l4.
THE DEAD OF TIE MOHAWK
xyoUyRryG TNrO THE AWFUL Dis
asTER IN THE DAY.

The drowning Of Commodore Garner, Mrs. Mar
tellite Gam n. Mss Adele Hunter, and Peter
Sullivan. WIS yesterday talked over by every
man. woman, and child on Staten Island. and
by all who breathed the afr OF New York harbor
Unmistakable grief was apparent in the faces OF
those VINO knew the lar-e-heartcd Commodore
and his generous wife. The haes on the ship
ping were at half mast, and the pilot houses OF
Mr. Garner's line OF Staten Island steamers were
nrapei with black The public hall In New
Brighton was the place selected BY Coroner
Dempsey for tho Inquest, and before 8 O'Clock
The large room was throneed by the villagers.
Tho jurors, chosen among the wealthiest and
IN ost influential gentlemen on the Island, were
william Krebs. Thorn Melville, James Proud
OF, John @. Bailey, william X. Sutter, Cornelius
A. Hart, Benjamin Richards, Jr.' J. X MARTINI
aud Robert ID. Minturn. The latter named gem
tleman acted as clerk for the Coroner and wrote
out the testimony. The majority Of the spec
tators were seamen, aud nearly the entire or ew
OF tho Mohawk was in attend lnce.
The prisoner. Capt. Rowland. who was sailing
master OF the yacht, was looked upon with
much sfavor by the sailors. 1t was evident
that there had been some serious dislgreement
between the captain and his men. Any utter
anoes In his favor evoked condemnation from
them. The Captain folded bis arms. and braced
himself In his chair. He read In q morning
newspaper that II was rumored that he was
bereft OF reason, and he almost constantly ask
ed those near him, do look like . crazy
manH" To the reporter of THE Sun he sid.
"lsn't that terrible story about my Insanity
Commodore Garner was the best friend / had
on earth. He treated me as a friend. as his
equal. and did not put me on footing OF a sub
ordinate. He was my friend, and don't you be-
,ieve that would try to save his llfe1" Here
che Captain wept, aud muttered, &" IL hao been
insane. don't you suppose that the Commodore
would have discovered the faci7 Ho was a
nsn of rare judgment. He knew his men, and
would not have trusted himself In my hands
bad he suspected that was crazy" When the
testimony was begun the CAPTAIN eagerly listen
ed. The sworn statement Of Mr.. Gardner q.
HowlAnd, which W - taken on THURSDAY nish;,
was read. Mr.. Rowland said;
MIR. GARDNER HowLAND's TESTIMONY.
was on the yacht a. a guest. While the yes
eel VS. gettiug under way went into the cabin
owing toa shower. Nr'. Garner, Miss Hunter,
aud Mss NAV were wi h me N tho cabin. Mr.
Thorne ami Col. trb-Dy also were on board. Mr..
Mnntant WAS IN the cabin so. Mr. Garner was on
deck. Thought we were under way because
ene leaned over. The vessel suddenly careened
and igh ed again. went TO the companion way
the vessel then went over. and water usheudown
the companion way, driving Mrs Garner and
Miss hunter, who were obstructed by
the furniture. Mr. Garner and Schuy;
Ter Crosby came mo the cabin aud
Garner was drowned with his wife, ani Mr.
Crosby escaped. think everything hap enea in
hve minutes from the time OF the first careerns
until the boat sunk. When went on board the
mainsail. foresail, and main gan topsail we're
set and they commenced at once To beavs
anchor. When the vessel was riehted to-day
the staysa. jib and f,ing jb were set. Should
think II was about twenty-five minutes from
the lime they began to heave the anchor up
before sne nrst careened. Tue tide was run
cnor Gp. From my position In the com panion
way. 1T the time the vessel c.psized, saw the
were IN tie comp mon way Miss MaN reached US
end We were supporting aud assisting her there,
passed up from the saloon 70 relieve the pres
sure on Mrs. q lrner aud Miss Hunter. This
continued until we were all three wash ed
Tue nrst witness called was the quarter
master. lie was somewhat excited, and dis
PLAYED III feeling toward Capt. Rowland. He
said.
THE ouARTERMAsrER's STORY.
MY real name is Thorwald Fureessen, but /
am commonly called Thomas Thompson. was
quarterma aster on the Mohawk at the time OF
the di, asier, The weather was daik and cloudy
sheets were dat aft let 60 the main gan top
sail halysrds without orders. was trying to
keeod over and covered with water. lost my
footing and swan. l made my way int the
save hts wife, who was jammed ln, aud who
could not move. The N mainssil, foresai jbs,
CURED. don't Know whether tho jibs were SET
before the anchor was broken from the ground.
When she rishted after nrst careeDing heard
In answer to the Caetain the witnes. said; II
went forward without orders at the time Of the
disaster. You gave orders to draw away the
tbs; lgot no orders to lot go gan topsall hal
{ards. Tue vessel was much oAresned over. and
had great di1lculty to get aft. You was at the
helm. You ALWAYS told me to pass Jour orders
forward 80 that the men might hear.
10 Juror-Ihe Captain gave orders to heavs
up anchor and hoist the sails. When the party
Dame on board there was not mucn wind. A.
the lime the Captain ordered the men 10 draw
ibis the Yacht Wa Care0Qi for the nr.t
Ferdinand Palm testified: Iwas Quarteruas-
Ter of tue Mohawk at the time OF tue accident.
il was my watch below. | was trying to 20 10
sleep underneath the cockpit. ! heard the
The sail was hardly in the water then. man-
aged g. get out from where l was aslse2, saw
btif down, msin and fore sheets fiat aft. The
Esptainw holding on to the screw OF the wheel.
tacked the vessel could not have been cap
sZed IN my opinion: think the main sheet
sas quite fat ait, i saw 1t made fast to OTIS.
El.sel lot OF men.
The witness upon cross-examination said
stucs her, aud the sail went into the water.
& &tnm ,nat time until ths vessel went over TO
I0a Jdror-If the O. aptain had given me orders
20 Slack away main sheet when came out OF
tbe place under the cockpit 1t would have been
700 late to do any good, as she was SO far over.
A. DIeW strong breeze, . heavy squau.
WHAT THE BoATswAIs SAYS.
Charles Felt testified ~ was bostswain on
The Mohawk. BY order OF the Captain, who hat
gone 10 town, set mAinsail aud foresail and
tnain ran tOpsall. and hove 10 some chain ABOUT
two O'Clock. When tho Captain came aboard
bet Tore gan topsail. When Mr. Garner came
kooafd ne told the Captain to get under way.
W. manned tho apstan and hove snort. Wnen
the anchor hove short, hoisted Jib and topsail,
with both he,d sheets hauled TO wind dwrrd.
Wind was about W. s. W. When sails were set
word was again given by Captain to hsaye up
tns anchor. When the anchor we'll clear
sang out to the Captain that the anchor was
fway and when she nlied the Captain sang out.
'Draw away jib.' We drew away both sails, Ji0
and stAUail, and Quartermaster Thompson sang
put to Keep stayssll sheet to windwtrd which
va did. We then hove away again TO anchor,
bnd hove in Two or three fathoms. The Captain
lanR out, Draw away and We drew away
btaysais. Then the vessel keeled over Tor the
brst time, i sang out TO have the Captain
HHeAys up quick t. Some men Rot to the bars
quick, but couId do pothing, as she was so much
keeled over. Tho Captain sang out, " Let 20
topsail bAlyArdsF just at the time gave an
pfdeT to man the ospstan. Some OF the men
trisd TO get aft, but could net get there, AZ the
vessel was leaning over so much. when We wsie
under way l sang out, Look out for brig
ahead T. and he lunsd her up little. This was
Just when We were drawing away the st2ysail
bhe then went over. Tho centre board was two
thrds down, and think the pressure OF toe
'btrons toe on toe centre board Ia one direction,
hnd Of the wind on the sails In the opposite