The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-04-11
DIRT scoWs ADRIFT.
A FLEET OF THE STREET CLEANING BUREAU g
BOATS SCATTERED By A GALE-ALMosr A

A FLEET OF THE STREET CLEANING BUREAUS
SERIOUS DISASTER.
Information yesterday morning brought 10 Cap
tain Gunner, OF the Street Cleaning Bureau that o
serious accident had occurred the lower bay
OF the scows employed to remove garbage It seems
that when of Coney Island the wind blew gale, the
rose and the inch hawser which formed the
tow line parted At The moment the scows roll
ing about In tho heavy seas dashed against each other
and some OF their timbcrs smashed. Soon, however,
they parted and dred out to sea, carrying with them
a number OF Italian laborcrs. These at once became
panic stricken, and in frenzy OF excitement rushed
about the numbering craft and seemed half disposed
leap into the sea Some OF them. perched upon
the masses Of dirt made signals OF distress and
crouched together, fearful every moment Of being
hurled into the water AT length OF the tnbers
on one Of the gave way, and, heavy strk-
ing at the Same moment, half overturned it. Some
OF the washed overheard, the rest chung
tenaciousy to the stout projecting timbers and
rendered what assistance men in their terrified
dition able to The tug which had the
in tow meantime raised her signals, and kept beating
about, shrekng with her whistle for assistance
number OF tugs tho lower bay at this put out to
sea- took in tow three OF the scattered dirt boats and
rescued the who had been struggling in tho WATER
me others were Wusneu Dy the WIVES upon the Long
Island and Jersey shores This disaster, 1t is claimed,
goes show that the dumping Of the street refuse
side Of Sandy Hook is not as practicable as some sup.
posed.
DUMPER's REPORT.
Mr. David Stevens, the superintendent of dumps,
yesterday made the following report OF tho matter to
Captain Gunner
Il left with the tugboat NJ NJ. Caleb at the foot of
East Seventeenth street. ut haf-past seven O'Clock A.
NJ. Picked up tow OF tive scows on East River-tho
last two at Stanton street Ut i've minutes past nine
O'Clock A. NJ to go to The numbers OF the scows
were g. Z 80, Il, 10, and we reached Fort Hamilton at
fifteen minutes past eleven O'Clock A. NJ.
/ placed the hawser between each scow ana
had reached the point directly opposite Coney
Island, when all ut once the wind blow heavy and the
was very rough. l told the captain that II
best TO make Tor Coney Island Bay, which he did and
just were turning IN the bay the hawser broke.
and before could got the scows picked up they
outside OF buoy No. 10. We started TO go back and
for fifty minutes made Roadway suddenly the
centre timber OF OF the scows broke on, leaving
three adrft At the same time the hawser Meeting
the three parted and they dritcd rapidly
sea, with the on board, Tor about three or tour
miles. We noisted the signal Of distress and blew the
whistles for relIc and the tugs Cr0fort, William Burrs
and Gratitude came TO our rescue The tug Croiort
was the first on hand. she got sixteen men of the
scow which had capsizod The next-Wllliam Burrs--
with the her. Tho tug Gratitude made fast
10 scow and took 1t to Jersey City. This scow was
about half nlled with water, and took two men and
pump TO put on her. but the captain would
let them come aboard saying that he would
take charge himself until the charges were paid.
had two oil the largest aud twenty-five with
the tug NJ NJ Caleb and took them to Coney Islan nd
dock and made them fast with two hawsers each,
the end, the other OH the side OF the dock.
had hfty-hve men the scows brought twenty
about Ave O'Clock p. ~ and leaving the tug M. N.
Caleb to get water and coal.