The New York herald., 1876-12-21
A FATAL TUG RACE.

EXPLOSION AT SEA OF THE BOILER OF THE
TUG JACOB O. NEAFIE-rHE CAPTAIN,
STEWARD AND ONE DECK HAND Losr-THE
RACE OF rHE TUGS.
The boiler OF the tugboat Jacob G. Meade exploded
early yesterday morning OF the Highlands OF Never
sink. The crew consisted OF Ave men, including the
captain, three OF whom lost The names OF those
saved Peter u. Brown, engineer, and John O.
Cot,er, fireman. Captain Cooley. Charles Larscn
steward, and Thomas Clarke. deck hand, were lost.
! HAPPENED.
The boat IN the towing business, and at early
dawn yesterday left the Lghtship in search Of incom
ing vessel short distance the bark Abby Bacon
was sighted and at the moment anotAfr tug was
seen through mist OF the morning making her way
toward the vessel is always race with these tugs
when Two OF them sight the same vessel Steam was
increased and the boats the
the coming bark. As the Captain OF the latter said
aiterward rather spirited race, and bus for
its sad denouemont would have been fully en-
joyed by the sailors after their long voyage
When about three-quarters OF 4 milo from the
bark, the NeaGe being behind in the race, another
incoming vessel sighted and the speed OF the tug
essened with the idea taking the newly sighted
vessel The engines now going at half speed and
the engineer wen. below to the furnace room and
opened the furnace door.
As he turned to up the short ladder leading TO
the main deck the explosion took place. and the entire
upper deck OF the tug blown to pieces Graspng
lie preserver, fortunately near his hand he hurried
up the ladder, oniy TO be net by the water that
was rushing in He struggled bravey, however, and
gained the main deck Hardly had he time to look
about him. when the tug gave sudden lurch and
went down with all on board. The fireman at the mo-
ment the explosion in the engine room and he,
too graspcd lie preserver and made Tor the open
deck Botn men went down with the boat, cnging Ia
the life preservers which brought them again to the
Sur rfac0
upper deck, an old hat and one OF the lags Tho ire
man came up under the floating deck but by his own
efforts and those Of the engineer, who had already
gained the top he was brought out IN an exhausted
condition.
THE RESCUE.
been witnessed and boat was Immediately lowered
and dashed TO the rescue OF the two survivors In
few minutes they we're on board the Abby Bacon and
then IL discovered that both were severely
scalded and bruised. The engineer was bruised about
the shoulders and his face was scalded The fireman
was also slightly bruised and badly scalded IN the
lower limbs much to be unable to walk. They
were brought tins city aud cared for The engineer
went to his home and the fireman was sent tc the
Chambers street Hospital The rescuing bark, Abby
Bacon. Captain Merrill, Is just from Malaga with
cargo OF ra.sins
THE ESGINExR's STORY.
The engineer, Peter Brown, although severely
scalded In the iace was able to Talk. Yesterday alter
noon he told the following story to the writer
1--WE lett the high ship at I've o'clock A. NJ look ing TOR
a tow After little while we mado ship, and put Tor
hor. She standing in, northeast OF the lghtship
tor her pretty hard, there was another boat
looking for the job. When about mile from her we
sighted another snip and slowed down. ! went down
below and opened the furnace doors. In about a min
ute and hall the explosion took place took hold
OF life preserver up tho ladder.
The water was coming in then. was just aft Of the
einc when the explosion took place lelt kind Of
crush. didn't think was hurt. The boat went down
as last as went up the ladder. When reached the
top found myself struggling IN the water. ciutched
a lie preserver and went down with the boat. was
allowed TO carry eighty pounds OF steam had on at
the time Of the explosion seventy pounds.
a regular licensed engineer"
WHAT An xYE WITNESS SAYS
II. Gill, the first mate of the Abby Bacon, stated to
the writer that he standing forward. looking at
the tug when the explosion occurred. There was SIM
ply pun OF smoke and when 1t cleared away the tug
had disappeared. A boat was lowered and the living
DESCRIPTION OF THE LOST BOAT.
The Jacob q. Ncane was owned partly by William r.
Roberts Son, No. "a Old slip, and partly BY f. II.
Cooley, her atc commander. She was insured In the
Etna and Continental Insurance Companies Tor $l0 900
against fro only. She was butt at Philadelphia
in 1869 The hull was built Of wood. She
was oil 66 tons burden. Her engine was non-con-
densing one OF 20-nch diameter OF cylinder and S24
feet stroke Of piston. She had one return tubular
boiler. She had SIX fues, 10 II and Is inches in dram
eier made OF quarter-inch iron; 57 threencn tubes
She Was allowed eighty pounds oil steam She was In
speced the 25th OF last March, by Mr. Craft United
Inspector OF Hulls, and Mr. Caudwell, Unitod
States In pector OF Boilers. IN this city, ana both at
achcd the Board OF United States Local Inspectors
OF Steamships who pronounced her In every respect
In compliance with all the requirements OF the iaw
She was S4 inches in diameter OF SHE'LL IL eet in
length; made Of 5-16-inch iron. The boiler was built
y,
Soft patches were put on the boilers OF the J. G.
Neale the 18th OF July last
CAPTAIN II. COOLEY
The history oil the illfated captain of the exploded
tugboat is an interesting one. lie born at New
burg on the Hudson and after leaving school
ployed as cook on schooner trading up and
down the Hudson. Later in ie. when no be-
came the captain OF steamer II
used TO be his boast "hnt he forecrste captain
aud had crept In through the cabin windows In
1862 he was captain OF the government transport
steamship the General Sedgwick, and after the war
took the first steamship through the obstruc-
tions into savannah. The next position he
held was that of captain OF the Coast Wreckng Com
pany's steamer lackawanna, and many bold rcscues
OF crews and ships made by him. Having saved
up some money he purchased third interest In the
Jacob q. Neafe On the 18th Of April, during ter
ribe gale possession Of the abandoned vessel
Puritan, IRON Manila for New York, stranded
the outer Middle For this service tho Neanc
gained $1 70O awarded by the courts TOR salvage He
was about forty years OF age. His wife, who has Just
given birth to a child, has not yet been informed OF
her husbands death.