Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1876-07-28
sad Yacht Disaster in New York IHar.

The largo and elegant yacht Mohawk,
owned by Vice Commodore William r.
Garner, was capsized in a squall in the up
per New York bay, Off SlapletoD, Staten
Island, last Thursday afternoon and Conn
modoro Garner, his wife, Mrs. Garner, and
Miss Adde Hunter were drowned. Three
of the crew we're also drowned, making a
total loss OF six lives, caused by the care
lessnoSs or incompctcncy of the sailing
master, Rawlings. The Commodore made
a gallant effort 10 save his wife, and falling
in the attempt persisted with her. Mr..
Louis u. Monlant, one Of the guests on
board, rescued, at the peril Of his own life,
Miss Edith May aud two other guests.
Commodore Garner, with party of i've
invited guests had gone on board the yacht
for a few hours sail. The sky TO the west
ward was cloudy, and sharp squal was
evidently close at hand. All the other
yachts in the vicinity were making every
thing trim for the approaching gale, none
of themsshowing a stitch of canvas. To the
surprise OF everybody, the Mohawk had all
sails spread, thus presentinga broadsde If
canvas TO the wind, which could hardly
fail, in tho event Of a squall, TO capsize her
The squat was preceded by few rain
drops, and while these were falling the
Mohawk was getting up her anchor pre-
paratury to making sail. When the first
gust struck her, her vast broadside OF can
vas lay at right angles to tho wind, and re-
ceived the full force it, keeling her over
to leeward, but not with sufficient force 10
capszo her. A moment later came anoth-
err blast, throwing the ill-lated vessel on
her beam ends, with all the weight of her
superintendent canvass dragging in the
water, and acting as dead weight against
her rigging. Commodore Garner, who at
the moment of capsizing was standing on
the quarter-deck, rushed TO the hatchway
to rescue his wife, who, with the other la
dies, was below. lie reached her and was
returning, when a huge volume of water
poured down tie hatchway, flooding the
cabin aud drowning the brave commander
and his vile before they could reach the
door. Mr.. Louis Moniani, who was also
below at the time, succeeded in dragging
Miss Edith May TO the hatchway aud push
ing her up the steps, while he grasped Miss
Hunter by the arm and endeavored 10 pull
her up after him. lie finally succeeded in
rescung Miss May, but the lush of water
tore Miss Hunter from him, and the unior-
tunate young lady shared the fate of her
hosts. The steward, who was in his pantry
forward of the cabin, had barely time 10
struggle up through the volume of incom-
ing water, and reached the deck in half
drowned condition. Mr.. Crosby and Mr..
Rowland both had narrow escapes from a
watery death, and the two cooks and anoth-
err of the crew, who were down below for
ward, were choked by the incoming tor
rents before they had time TO make an at
tempt at escape. The whole of the mourn
ful catastrophe occurred in less than Il min
ute, al though it seemed an age to the anx-
ious spectators on the yachts and at the
club house. In another minute the boats
from the Countess of Duflerin, the Dread
naught, and a sailing schooner had reached
the sinking crall and picked up the ex-
hausted survivors. Miss May, the three
gentlemen, the steward, and several of the
men were taken ashore or TO the neigbbor-
ng yachts, and every attention shown
them. AT the time when the boats reached
her the stern of the Mohawk had sunk deep
into the water, and only her stem and bow
spirit were visible. The tide was running
strongly to the northward, aud before she
could he reached by the tug-boats she had
drifled nearly mile in that direction.
The verdict the coroners jury absolved
the sailing master Of the yacht, Capt. Row
land, from criminal negligence but pub
lie opinion is very much against him, for
hosting full sail in face of squall aud be-
fore raising his anchor.