The New York herald., 1876-07-21
NARROWING SCENES and INCIDENTS.
A Dark Night and a Threaten
ing Storm.
NARRATIVES OF SURVIVORS AND EYE.WITNESSES
A Thrill of Horror Throughout
Staten Island.
EXCITING SCENE AT THE CLUB HOUSE.

EXCITING SCENE AL The CLUB HOUSE.
Yesterday afternoon few minutes after four
pollock disaster occurred at the anchorage of the
New York Yacht Club, OF Stapleton, Staten Island
which in its loss OF life will send thrill of horror
Commodore Garner. In sudden squall OF wind
forecast BY sharp shower OF rain the yacht Mohawk
having on board the ex-vice Commodore his wife and
several friends was capsized and before assistance
sould be rendered, five lives were lost
The accident created intense excitement all along
The shore, and, for few moments after the stately
masts Of the Mohawk were seen to totter and
keel into the Bay seemed to what
was TO be done, sudden and unexpected
tho result of tho squaL Early In the
afternoon ex-vice Commodore Garner, accompanied
BY his charming wife, Miss Edith sybi May Miss Adele
Hunter and Mr.. Schuyler Crosby went on board the
yacht
The vessel at anchor, and supposed that the
squall being orders had beon given the sailing
master make sail and scud Judging from the state
ing master, Captain Roland. gave orders hoist the
fore sheets before he had thought of hosting his
hnchors apeak. The consequence was that when tho
squall struck the yacht she suddenly forged
nhead, and, beng tied down by hcr
anchor, capsized, her masts falling prone
upon the surface of tho water within three
seconds time. The sudden shower OF rain which
was the precursor OF the storm had driven the
cabin all the passengers. They Vice Commodore
Garner; his wife, Mrs. Garner Miss Adele Hunter,
Miss Edith Sybil May, Gardner Rowland, L. b
Nontant and Colonel Schuyler Crosby. The
cabin boy. Sullivan, also beneath decks at
the time When the Mohawk capsized all the crew,
some twenty-thre number, were. of course, on
deck, and as the vessel careened and slowly swung
round the norhward, they either climbed up tho
port side of the hull cutchcd the standing rig
gins
THE WORK RESCUE
Meanwhile the unfortunate and bcwldcred occupants
Of the cabin unable to escape TO the companion
ladder, owing TO the sudden flow OF and the
dreadful inward surge OF the sea It was
moment of thrilling horror Six persons three
Of them ladies', thus imprisoned within the mar
row compass OF the cabin and hope seemed lost
Commodore Garner had been deck whom the first
necessary orders had gone below to his wife
friends. As the yacht csrecnsd Mr. Garner seized
his wife by the hand, but the sudden lurch threw a
sofa against her and held her fast Yet he had almost
exircated her when the vessel settling, gave impulse
TO another sofa and held both husband and wifc
hard against the cabin wall Such was the agony OF
tho moment that Mrs Garner, IN cutchn her hus-
bands hand. drew from his finger his ring Then tho
surgcd in upon them ana they both at rest
In death
While this terrible scene was being enacted Mr. How
land made superhuman efforts for Miss Hunter Mss
May and himself He caught Mss Hunters hand in
desparng clasp, amid all the confusion in the mar
row limits of the cabin, but scarcely did he
feel her clasp than the heavy body OF water rushing
Ihrough the doorway, dragged her from him. At the
moment he found himself hurled against
the skyiight which gave way at the mo-
msnt and, finding Miss May by his side,
he pushed her before MIN through the shat
tered sashcs, and himself fortunate enough
TO DO able to follow her into the open water. The
boats from tho shore completed the work of rescue
and these two, the sole Survivors OF the cabin,
quickly rowsd to shore.
The yacht, having dragged her anchor before the
force of the tide slowly dred along the shore to the
Kills. until finally the hull grounded the mud
fats or Bergen Point Tho boats and divers
Of the Coast WreckinF Company were soon
on hand, and began the OF recovering bodies
Of the drowned. -Four long hours of work we're per-
formed before 1t ascertained that tho yacht must
rghted 10 enable the divers to operate successfully
In the cabin. Up to the hour OF our
going to press OF the bodies had been recovered
though one, that OF lady, had been discovered and
line fasten ed to It,
We herewith give the statements OF survivors and
eye witnesses OF the dreadful occurrence which will be
found full Of mournfu interest and graphic features -:
STATEMENT r.. W. CAMERON
Mr.. R. W. Cameron, who was in the club house when
che squan struck the vessel made the following state
mcnt:--'Mr Ball and Mr. Jones lunchng with me
ct the club. Commodore Garner and the ladies' and
gentlemen who accompanied him had been aboard the
Mohawk should say about quarter OF an hour to
twenty when noticed squall strike her from
the shore She carecned slightly and seemed to be
rightng again, when, q minute or two aftcrward,
another squai struck her and she toppled over.
She had all her sails up at the tme win the exception
Of her forctopsaiI, which Tapping though had
not been hosted fully. Commodore Garner on the
deck when the second squat struck her. and he ran
down apparently into the cabin. As his wife In the
cabin he went down, doubt, to save her The
moment she carecbed boats put out from
The Dreadnaughi, the Countess Duf
tern and sailing schooner, well as
from tho shore The assistance was very prompt