The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-06-02
SUNK OFF TAE BATTERY.
COLLISION BETWEEN TUGBoAIs-rwo MEN
DROWNED.

COLLISION BETWEEN TUGBoAIs-Two MEN
One Of those peculiar accidents. which are traceabis
In most TO Negligence, but which amos, IN
varabiy attributed 10 chance, occurred Just on tho
Battery yesterday morning The steamer Terror Of
the Gamecock line, coiided with the tugboat D. r.
Whitbeck crashed through her stern and her 20
tue bottom instant, with some OF her hands I'm
prisoned board. By extraord nary excr,ions the
engineer succeeded in forcing his way the water
and reaching tho surface, but two OF the hands per-
ished In the stream before assistance could reach
them. Tho collision sudden aud unlocked. for
that those VINO witnessed the sccidcnt are at
loss 10 properly account for IT, II Is generally
understood, however, that In rounding the Battery
the Terror was brought up close TO Inc smaller craft
and, being under full head Of steam down be-
fore inc signal 10 reverse the engines could be
responded 10. The d. X. whtbeck was small boat OF
about twelve tens burden, tho Terror. North River
towing vessel Of about seventy tons The was
owned by Edward D. tChappci, superintendent Of the
Grand ana Roosevelt streets Ferry Company, was
moorcd the foot OF East Eleventh street until carly
yesterday morning. when ahe was taken out into the
stream headed for lying between p,ers aud
b. she stopped alongsde Tor moment and then msdo
Tor The point OF the Battery, around wDich she
to b. brought INTO the North River. IL was about.
five o'clock WHOM she started her trip, about
halt an hour later she Como Ia front OF tho Staten
Island Terry house. Although the rain was coming
down and thin mist was lying upon The
water, was sufficiently clear 10 distinguish
objects al quite distance and tho pios OF
the whnbecg, Mr. William Ratcire, cnancing
20 look back saw The Terror coming GU almost In his
wake. AZ that time there was aboard tho vessei and
IN charge Of ncr George N. chappeI son Of the pro-
prefer. young man oil nineteen. who was generally
regarded as quo an expert IN the running Of tug
boats. BesiIss there wa me pilot, Mr. Ratciine;
COOK, and deck hand Each was engaged In DIS
charging some Of his functions At the time, ana gave
litte attention 70 the boat which wasiolowing them
THs cATAsrEornE
just of the south Terry The Terror, which was go
s1apa,,Ss ,ns Wn,eeck sna ianpsd nar o sp W
i've icet she was iolowiog the same course. and as
she came up on the starboard side potn boats wers
hauling around the crescent shaped line OF the Bat
terry wall. suddenly the Terror sheercd. Tho turn
was abrupt she was under full steam, ana
before she couia BIO arrested tho port side
OF hcr bow struck the stsrbonrd after quarter OF tho
whibsck about six lcct from tns stern. Tho smaller
craft ycaed before the stroke carecncd over, and as
the rerrors impetus carried her along swung around
Till sho lay almost transvcrscly between Governor's
Island and the station Island terry house. Tho shock
had been SO sudden, tho injury so complete that
nothing could be done 10 save the boat. For
a moment she lay with her port side Submerged,
through her shattered timbers and rapidly ned her.
she wheeled round before the oshcr boat Tor time.
the moment when The Terror struck KaicInc, tho
pilot, sprang from the wheel, jumped on the
high 10 tho AIR. and, isaping from iha.
into tho water, no succeeded in reaching land.
jerry warren, the engineer, WIS below IN no furnace
engaged firing up the limo OF the disaster.
The suddea cafecning Of the vessel threw him down
anu when he regancd his ieet and made for tao door
the volume Of water rushing In drove him backward
aud cIosod the door. IL was only when the vessel
filled sank and tho pressure Of water was cssencd
that auIe To make hts way out OF tho place
the surface Of the water. Ae exhausted
however, that he could not long sustain himself. hut
tho tn boat d. X. Neal coming along at that moment
with some canal boats a line was thrown 10 him
which he fastened about his body, anu so was drawn
aboard anu saved.
Meantime George Chapel, who had gone alt Just
before the ACCIDENT and mad seated himself IN the
galley with the COOK, Was closed up In that apartment
whom the vessel sunk.
There was door on the port side which was forced
In when the boat cafcened, and the window on the
starDoard side would doubt have been made
available had not the vessel sunk so suddenly.
Then one Of thom rose 10 the surface, suug-
slcd Tor moment ana sank again. seemingly drawn
down by some burden underneath IL is thought that
tho cook, who was not a twitumcr, seized George
Chappcli 10 MS effort at scliprcscrvaion and caused
the death OF both.
During the afternoon . diver dsscsnoed from the
tssbcat Hsnasou 70 lovk Ter ths Asa&, M was -.
able - And The rp1iees