The New York herald., 1878-09-19
COLLISION ON YHE EAST RIVER.
A Canal Beat Cut in Two by the
Steamer City Of Fitchburg.
OTHER VESSELS DAMAGED.
Singular Conduct on the Part of the
Steamers Captain.

About forty yards norh Of the pier OF the East River
Bridge, in Brooklyn, i've canal boats fastened
side by side yesterday the inner being tied TO the
wharf. These follows In the order n which
they lay IRON the wharf outward in the
ryer:-Co!onei Kraus, laden with coal; Isa-
bella with cargo OF haxsecd; Miss Lacy,
naxseed William Porter, no cargo, and William HYDE,
1000 bushels OF wheat. The last boat reached
the mooring about three r. NJ. from the Erie wharf
in jersey City The cargo was consigned to hacartncy
Il Logan No. ~ Pearl street, in this city, and was 70
be unloaied at the Empire stores, In Brooklyn, for
shipment TO Europe. At five o'clock the steamer
City OF Fiichhurg, of the New Bedford and Now
York line, Captain Ellis commanding, lett her slip at
pier 80 East river, directly opposite the wharf where
the canal boats lying. She Kept on her way
across the river as II she about to land bow
foremost the other SIDE.
Two.
A strong ebb tide running and the steamer had
proceeded further than the middle OF tho river
sne into lsning smack with yawi
in tow and the yawl In The fishing boat
having escaped without serious injury, proceeded
her way, the loss OF the yaw being regarded Of
much consequence. But as It turned out this
only the prelude a more serious collision Con.
touing 10 her course the steamer shifted slightly TO
port, and, without any dminution OF speeu ran
directly toward the row OF canal boats crashed into
tho William Hyde, striking her on the quarter and
cutting her almost In two
SHINING boat.
The shock startled The crews all the boats some
OF the men beng thrown from their positions ny tho
urch rne captain of tho W ilam Hyde jumped
board the next boat, the William Porter, ana he
only person aboard mis- boat loss OF lifo
thus fortunately averted. The disabled boat drftod
down with tue tide Tor about three mnut when
she settled went down. The William Porter.
whose hawsors were snapped by the collision, also
crted down as lar as the Fulton Terry when she
Mean~ns the CITY OF Fnchburg, which had stopped
only two or three minutes, continued on her way.
that the pilot OF tho steamer neither gave any
ing on his approach nor oner OF assistance his
leaving.
THE DAMAGED CANAL BOATS
All the canal boats are damaged Tho cabin Ct the
Colonel Kraus partially stove In, a portion OF
her gulrdra was shattered into spiinters tho
hull was SO cru she'd that she was leaking badly The
captain, Warren Bishop, SAID he feared sue would
sink during the night.
The Lucy was leaking SO badly that the crew wsre
working vigorously at the pumps when the HERALD
reporter arrived. Her captaln James Montague said
he would 20 out and hire gang OF men tor The night
TO work tho pumps rather than risk the loss OF hM
boat and cargo
The side timbers OF the william Porter broken,
and the Captain says she damaged to the extent o
500
rne damage to the other boats with their cargoes
connot DO estimated Just now. but independently of
the curgoes will be at least 500 each Tho loss Of
the William Hyde with cargo viii not TAIL short Of
10000 The boat Is insured Tor 81 200.
CAPTAIN WILSON'S STATEMENT
A few yards north OF this OF canal boats lca
ballast scow No. IA laden with sand her captain,
John Wilson. said to The reporter :-"when saw thai
steamer crash into the boats thought they were all
| paying a aud she mad lett my child In the
| cabin below. l rushed along the dock. Jumped
ior she kept crying out. "My chila, nv chiidi" !
told her would look out tor the child. aud spring
brought ms down INTO The cabin, when took my
child III my arms and thanked G. od when found my
vile and child sale. -
uSFouspED RumoRs.
The captain OF the sunkcn boat hurricdIy loft io1
this city after tho collision report the
owners, aud AS lie nad moorod his boat tnero only
short zine previously his name was not asccrtained.
An exciting rumor was circulated IN the
vicinity OF Faiton Ferry alter tho sink:
! ing Of the boat that two persops had
como down In her. The captain Informed his fellow
bostmcn, alter his boat had sunk, that his personal
property IN the cabin including a gold watch and
cham clothing and plated ware, were valued s300
his crew ha! gone ashore Tor the evening an houi
was not TO take place TIL to-day.
an OFFICIALS ACCOUNT.
The reporter called AT the wharf OF the Now Bed
ford steamship iinc, ana had interview with
| of the officials who declined To give his name. He
seemed TO divine the reporters MISSION for no said
abruptly, by way OF an evening salu,at,on lyon
are reporter; why didn't you tell whom !
passed you across the street, follow ed YOU back
10 see VIVA. you were ai,er; bot, OF course. YOU
did not know who wasi You might MS vol
business across i6e river: know II. The r.nor,ss %
was 80 thoroughly disciplined by this summary cen
sure that he could only You have guessed Ger.
recty. l desire to obtain some inior nation the
subject"
| ''rnen,p said he assuming a moro pleasant and
communicative mood, "it happened just this way:-
Tho steamer City Of Ftchburg lett here at nvo o'clock,
in charge OF Captain Ellie. There were nftsen OF
| dock, and confess | thought 1t strange thai she
headed so directly for the pier Of the bridge. ex.
pectcd every momeuL her and strike
against the Sirons current that was running down.
saw her run INTO tue canal boat aud Immediately at
| terward two Of the boats nontcd down aud
them sank Tho river had been clear of boats ex.
ccpting fishing boat that camo Ia the way Ia the
middle OF tho river | cannot account for the
| collision, except IN ono way. The captain
must have stopped the steamer when no found
she drifting toward the boats anu then raug tho
bell TO reverse; but the bell was probably misunder
stood, as, instead OF backing out, she ran IN full
speed. But. then observe this Is only conjecture
we have means of knowing til Captain Ellis re-
turns FRIDAY. Though am connected with the
| line must cay that the affair 10 singular In my
Wow as IL is IA yours. But Il Will be iuly invests.
| gated"
| rno gentleman made no allus!ou TO the blowing OF
tho whistle, ana this would seem TO be corrobora.
ton OF the statements OF the canal boat capains whd
were UNANIMOUS In saying that tho captain OF the
steamer pushed ahead with ucu unconcern as II
ho were obivious OF the presence OF obstacles in