The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-07-23
1rrn1- NEEDED carr rIrrrRsoM
why the Oniy Son was not Stcercd Out Of her
lnmrsc nn,an the HmN.

Passengers in the steamboat Only Son, on
tho return trip from IN" Fishing Banks on
Sunlay. sighted "a oapsiz'd sail boat half way
between Fort Hamilton and what is knOwn ~
tho Doctors Do.k ut Quarantine Three men
wor' clngins 20 the sides oi tho boat, ono Of
whom waved his hat ns u sgnl OF distress
while the othnrs shouted at Tho top OF their
voices. Tho wat'r WIS calm. and there WIS lit
tie or no wind But tho Only Son mado no
change in her course. and showed no dspOsi-
ton 10 20 to tho rrscue. This caused great ex-
element and Indignation among tho passcn-
gers. and the Captain was asked to go about
and save the drowning men, Two or three
gentlemen went into tho pilot house and
begged him tn try to rescue the unfortunatcs.
To their cntrcatics. according to Mr.. G. T..
Morse. Il painter Of % John str"rt his reply
was. know my own business Mr.. Morse
says also that one Of the pnsscngers offered to
pay the Captain IL he would save the mon. bur
the offer was rcIc tod and the Only Son kept
steadily on her homcwar1 course. Az soon as
the passengers saw that the Captain was rCsO-
lutc, and that the seemingly drowning men
were to be left 10 their fate. their indignation
Increased. and threats OF violence were made.
Before the Only Son was out Of sight. however.
u tow boat aud several small bouts were soon
going toward the cnpsizrd vessel. and the OK
cltemcnt subsidized. Such IL tho passenger
story.
Capt. Patterson said yesterday: we had
on board from l1j to 100 men and you know
what class Of persons usually 20 10 the Fishing
Banks on public excursions. They are about
az rough IA you can lnd anywhere and we
never take n load out that we don't expect trou-
bic. Our load on Sunday was no worse and no
better than the ordinary run. but as we were on
the way homo they were pretty fun of beer nd
stronger etun. | saw that boat before she cap
sized, and thought the three men keeled hor
over Oh purpose rs | saw the whole three rush
70 the leeward side Just before she went over.
When they came up they caught hold OF the
boat. and M the water WIS calm and warm, and
no wind was stirring. | know they were safe for
Two or thrcc hours. | was afraid to go over to
her. because | knew that all my pnsscn-
gers would rush over TO the side to see
what WIS going on, and that would have laid
the Only Son over on her guards. You can
sec That these are very low. so that II tho throng
behind pushed hard upon those near the side Of
the boat. some would have to 20 overheard.
felt that the mon In the suilbOat were safe but
knew that II / tried TO Rescue them il would be-
NJ the risk Of many lives. You must remember
that we had great many drunken. uuman-
hgcahle men on board. undl have no doubt that
some OF these, TO show their pluck. would have
plunged into the water to rescue the upset mon
hld We been near enough To them. The loud
est complaints | heard on board were from
those Interested in selling beer and chOwder
They had not sold out their stock and. Of
course. wanted the trip prolonged. Sometimes
these men put up all sorts Of jobs 10 delay US.
have seen men jump overheard. even 10 rfrect
this result, and frequently the cry OF Man
overheard! is raised TO stop the boat. The
TACT IL. they want all the money the passengers
have about them. and don't feel easy II they don't
get II. am glad TO say the men were rescued
10y a tugboat. with no other damage than duck
ing. Under similar circumstances should do
the same again"