New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-07-21
HOW THE DISASTER OCCURRED.


the New-York Yacht Club, at Staplcton, Staten
Island when she was struck by SlonS
gust of wind and capsized at 1870 y. IN. All sans
were GET and the wind striking the top sails forced
tho Yacht OH her beam ends. and the cabin hiled
with water in ten minutes. There were on uoaru
w T. Garner, the owner, Mrs. CARRIER
Frost Thorne. brother OF MIS- "aIhei'
Miss Adele Hunter, daughter of>~Despl9sSeS
Hunter of Hunters Island Miss Edith May, eRId-
ner g. Rowland, J. Schuyler Crosby, L. b. M0ntal*'
and crew of between 10 and 20 men. Mr.. Garner
ond his eruests were all in the cabin. Miss May was
nnsbed up the companionway by Mr.. Crosby
and saved by Mr. IIowiand who supported
her in the water till she was rescued
nv boat Mr.. Garner lost his HE IN
heroic effort to save Mrs Garner and Miss Hunter
who we're crushed in between the furniture OF the
cabin and Mr.. Crosby, after rendering courageous
assistance to Mr. Garner, was engulfed IN the
caI,in lint doated out through the skylight, after
tearing himself from the crushed and drowning
Mrs. Garner, whom no efforts could save
There were drowned, M. Garner, Mrs. Garner
Miss Adele Hunter, a lady well known IN New-Iork
society Frost Horne the brother of Mrs. Garner, a
cabin boy, and, it is thought one or two OF the
crew Statements as to the safety OF the
latter are conflicting A large number OF
boats went to the rescue The crew
of the Mohawk seemed paralyzed and all efforts TO
got al the drowning persons before HE was eHtlhc'
moved unavaiing. Two tugs then attached nav
sers TO the Mohawk and tOwed the vessel TO the ha's
OFF New Brighton, where divers, up to late noun Oh
the night cudeavored to recover the bodies, the
task proving ditiicult one, owing to the !ach Oh
orrhapces and the confusion Of sails aud rigging
over the hatchways Great excitement was
occasioned at staten Island by the seemingly
avoidable accident, and sailors were especially
loud in tier denuncatOn of the manner III WHICH
tLe saIllng-master, Rowland, handled tie yacht.
The crew had full warning of the storm yet waited
with topsails set, and the anchor had been Only
trimmed and wa, not hauled up, the yacht with ali
sails set was the mercy of the squal, and upset as
easily as if it had b en- paper boat. The Mohawk
was a large, stanch schooner-yacht, and at
her favorable position in the harbor,
within a short distance from the shore
seaman think could have met with such calamity
only through the greatest negligence OF the Salhng-
master or crew. Other yachts with nalnsai-s Dut
not topsas set rode out the moderate storm without
indication of danger.
! Schuvler Crosby one of the five Of Nice-COlD-
modore Carriers guests who were saved, went WITH
the tug-boats towing the CapSized yacht TO TIE mats
opposlte New ghton. Seeing that the work OF
recovering the bodies of the drowned persons WOuio
be long and difficult, he dcterriped 10 e
ashore and break the news of the calamity
20 Mrs Thorne, mother of Mrs Garner, who was
living with her daughter at Nj. Gamers fine Staten
Island residence on Bard-avc., mile and half OF
two miles from the New Brighton landing. Mr..
Carriers three daughters were left in charge OF Their
grandmother. Sir. Crosby first went to tile
residence of Franklin OsgoOd, on the avenue front
ing the Kills. two blocks from the landing,
l L.. fcl, /. .r,fya nd tflH q
story of the disaster TO Mr. OSgood and his wife.
Mr. Crosby's cventful history of the calamity was
repeated by Mr. Osgood to a Tribune reporter. D.
O. Proudfut, who was OIL board the yacht Phantom
when tie Mohawk capSized was also present, and
gave history If the events of the afternoon up to
the moment Of the disaster
Mr. Proudfut said that Mr.. Garner arrived from
New-York on the 1880 p. III. boat. Mr.. Garner
his brother-iu-law Frost Thorne, Mr. Ball. two
other gentlemen from the Canadian yacht Countess
OF Duiiern and himself dined together i'll the Club
house of the New-York Yacht Club After
ward the whole party went on board the
Mohawk Mr. Garner taking occasion to show his
yacht from stem to stern, to his Canadian guests
They returned TO the shore about $3.50 p. H. In the
moan time Gardner g. Rowland ana L. b.
MOntaut had arrived by the ) o'clock boat.
At o'clock, J. Schuyler Crosby brought the
ladies by carriage from Mr. Carriers residence
There were Mrs. Garner, Miss Adele dunter, and
Miss Edith May. They immediately entered the
launch and went aboard the Mohawk. When Mr.
Proudfut went from the Mohawk TO 60 on board the
Phantom, he left on the former Mr.. Garner, Mrs.
Garner Mss Hunter, Miss May, Frost Thorne (he is
positive about the latter. who has not since been
seen or heard Of, Mr. Rowland Mr.. Crosby, and Mr..
Moutant.
j. Schuyler CrOsby's account Of what transpred
on the Mohawk after Mr. Proudfut went to the
Phantom is as follows: When the rain came up,
ten or hitecn minutes before the accident,
oil OF the party went into the cabin to get
under cover The mainsails, topsails, a d
hoadgear were all set and the crew were
preparing TO raise anchor aud get under way for a
short pleasure sail About $50 D. H. those in fine
cabin were startled by commotion ON deck
and the sudden lurch of the vessel which
did not right itself. Sailing-master Row
Land shouted to Mr. Garner, Get EVERYDAY
ont; she is over" Mr. Garner, Mr.. Crosby, and Mr.
Rowland rushed on deck TO what was the mat
ter They understood the situation at glance
Mr. Garner jumped down the companiOn-way to
rescue his wife, Mr. Crosby shouted 10 the sailing
master, "Why don't you cut away the ropes p"
and then followed Mr.. Garner into the cabin
Mrs Garner and Miss Hunter had been thrown to
the side of the cabin and by the falling furniture
were crushed in between the sideboard and the
settees. Miss May was free. Mr.. Crosby seized
htT aud thrust her up the companion-way, where
abe was assisted by Mr.. Rowland and Mr. Montant.
hr. Rowland asked Miss May if she could swim. At
That time she had entire possession Of herself and