The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-08-14
THREE CHILDREN DROUNED.
One OF the Fall River Steamboats, Turning q
scow bottom Upward.


Mr. John A. Boxer of this city owns
twenty-five large Hat-bottomed scows. They
arc not named. but are numbered from one to
twenty five. Mr. Boxer either contracts to trans
port merchandise. sand ballast. or the debris
from blastings. or lets out the boats to others.
The scows are new and stanch, and are in de-
mand.
AT about daylight yesterday the tug boat Chief
began to tow four Of Mr.. Boxers scows. laden
with blasting debris. to be used in filling lots
near McComb's Dam bridge. up the East River.
Scows and II were lashcd to either side Of tho
tug. but Scows 8 fand 20 were towcd
by long hawscr. Scow 20 was near
est the New York side. Her Captain. Michael
Rath, stood at the helm. The doors Of the
cabin hatchway were wido apart. and Captain
Rath. looking down. could see Mrs. Rath busy
ing herself about tho sugar loaf cook stovo,
getting breakfast ready. The youngest child. a
mere babe. chung to her mothers skirts Mag
gle and Johnny. the other children. only n few
years older were asleep in the upper bunk.
AT about O'Clock the Chief and her tow were
of Sxty-second street just then tho steamer
Providence of the Fall River line rounded a
bend in the river few squares ahead Her
grent steam whistle sounded once and the Chief
piped rcply. Then the Providence came
swiftly down the river. The Chief turned her
bow to make way for the Providence The
scows trailing behind did not feel the change of
course for about "A minute and the Providence
got close upon them. A minute later her port
wheel crashed into the side of Scow 20. and the
scow turned bottom upward.
Capt Rath was seen clnging 10 the bottom Of
his scow. and the crew Of Scow rescued him.
He was frantic with grief over the loss Of his
entire family. for II seemed hardly possible
that any OF them had survived the accident.
The Pr9vldenee continued on her way 10 her
pier. and the Chief resumed her course up tho
river
At about Eighty fifth street Capt Rath and the
crew OF Scow5 who We're standing on the bot
tom OF Scow 20. fancicd chat they heard wO:
mans faint cry for help. apparently uttered
under the ,scow. Capt. Rath exclaimed, lts
Then he caught NJ IN axe and began cutting
a hole In the bottom Of the scow Just over tho
cabin, The other men assisted Capt Rath
OF Ninety third street the hole was largo
enough TO admit tho body Of q man. and. throw
h LIZ xtsei uo"n Uestue ~; 'hu, nam eaea 70
the opening. She was lifted out and taken TO
the cabin Of scow s.. she was weak
from exhaustion; but reviving presently. sho
said that when the water filed the cabin She
was carried up to the ceiling. She caught hold
Of one OF the timbcrs. and the water subsidod
until II only covered her shoulders. She held
on desperately and screamed. When she heard
the strokes Of the axes. almost above her, her
strength was nearly gone. but the hope OF de-
The Chief lowed scow 90 to the pier Mt the
1 lpft OF NlnfNN-flkfN0 street. ana tDtn went on
| her way TO McComb's Dam bridge. Capt Kath
| informed the Eighty eighth street police. and
graphing for the bodies " the children was
begun. They were found in the cabin. The
| elder children's bodies were in the upper bunk.
| whore they were drowned in their sleep. but
tho youngest child's body w6s within n few
| feet Of the spot whore Mrs. Rath had struggled
TO keep her head above watcr. 4 mattress was
obtained and the children- bodies were laid
! side by side upon IT, 4 patchwork quilt. lent
| like the mattress. by kindly disposed neighbors
WIS spread over them.
Capt. Ioomcr saw the Providence and Scow
| 20 in collision SO clearly that he drew an excel
! lent diagram Of il.
Tho Providence" ho said. kind Of slack
then she went ahead. II she had only stopped
| wouldn't have been any trouble. ! wonder
| whether she wanted the whole river 10 hers H.
Why, she ripped open the scow's side like II
| was piece of paper"
The Providence WINS about TO start on her voy-
| age eastward. yesterday afternoon. when til,
| reporter found her Captain.
The tug sheered round toward Blackwelps
| Island" he said when W. were near her
| This threw the scows that she was towing in oul
| way. just rs you would crack whip. you know
and the nearest scow got under our wheel. W.
! backed. but It was Of no use. The tide is verl
strong there and it swept the scow under ou
| wheel. did not see the Sow after she passed
the wheel house ! came on down the river be
cause did not suppose that there was any on
aboard of the scow. | did not know that tina
! kind OF craft have Recommendations for human
/ beings.