The New York herald., 1878-03-05
FERRYBOAT COLLISIONS.

CONCLUSION OF THE INQUEST IN THE JAMES
FISK MATTEE-vERDIof or cENsUEE AoAINsr
THE MATE OF TIE SCHOONER.
The inquest on the body OF Charles II. Ebert. who
was killed by the colhson of the ierryboat James
Fisk with the schooner Josie Crowley, lying at the
foot OF Thirteenth street, North RIVER during the log
on the 23i OF February received last evening be-
fore Coroner Cannon.
John Van Geder testiled:-I reside at Fort Lee;
am steamboat pilot now ou the Fort Lee have been
pilot SIX years; made two trips on the North River
on Saturday, February 23 my hrsl trip WAS at haif-
past ten ir the forenoon; 1t was then very foggy
during log shall blow norm or ring bell on
schooner, or II steamer shall blow whistle; have
known Witherwax, pilot OF the Fisk, for ten years;
consider him good man II ON what have seen Of ms
banding boat IN al kinds OF weather; woaid trust
him with boat US quickly as any man know don't
remember OF any collision with boat in his charge.
James L. Crane was examined, aud said:-l reside
NJ Fort Lee, N. j. am steamboat plot, bat not
nected at present with any line the Fort Lee
in the 23d OF February, the O'Clock
trip from New YORK; reached Fort Lee at Gye miu-
utcs 10 seven; remember passing schooner, but
heard no tog horn bell; 1t was very iosgy; my at
tcntion was attracted to the schooner that
count; don't remember whether | remarked the lact
to any one; passed tho schooner about hundred
feet 10 the east
THE SCHOONER CAPTAINS STATEMENT.
Daniel Crowley. owner Ul tue schooner josie Crow
ley, testIhcdI reside at Yonkers; have followed the
sea thiriytwo years; between four aud nine O'Clock
on the evening 0i February 20 was IN Yonkcrs; M\s
not IN Ne" YORK at all that day; Whenever leave
the schooner, Campbcl who Is my mate Is Ia charge
during my absence; nave not seen where she WAS
anchored al The kline OF the cosion stood that
the ierrybUat dragged her from her nrst moorlngs;
wDen saw her she was about Two hundrcd and hi,y
yards IRON tho shore litlie above Bank street, she
mad been anchored oil Bethune street, which, ihink
Is one block above; Tue rules governing schooner IN
ioRsy weather are 10 snow white iish's amt sound
horn; they are obliged TO auswer every signal they
hear; II a erryooat blows whistle continually
you cannot answer her every secord; We horn
rs 10 be blown every iour or hvo minutes;
the noise o ier yDout would prevcnt morn
from being heard sailing vessel would hear II more
panty II Is not necessary " have two men
chored vessel; don'l anchor in steamboat pa hs
but keep closer to snore the law allows DO
aIcaored 800 yards rom shore; NO iaid within. The
range o reuth street aud Thirteenth street PIERS u
Ter the collision; never heard oi bell on u sailing
vessel; never saw the law consider my mate James
Campbell good man; have known him for twenty.
sevcu years
Coroner Cannon then submitted two afidavits taken
bcor. United states Commissioner Belts IN New
York, and subscribed by Joshua Seaman and EphraIm
Conrad, OF tue schooner Mcriden They assert that
tney saw The lights the schooner al Inc time Of the
cosion heard the crash aud rescued Frederick
Lowe from the river; Lowe is COUSIN to the ae.
ceased Ebert aud yet confined TO his bed from his
injuries.
VERY CLOSE rAcKrxc.
Captain Crowley being recalled testified that II the
phot OF tho FISK nad not struck the schooner he
would have struck the pier he hit the schopner
the starboard bow with his port bow he must have
seen the schooner, and II he had u he
tainly would have struck tho pier, as hv was driving
east OF the schooner which was ony about four hun.
dred yards from tho pier he did not lead his ves-
Sci west from Thirteenth street, or ne would have
reached HobokeE; he was running her sOutn south.
east, half east before he the schooner; The
hess had doubt that tho steamboat captan saw the
schooner but took chances could cleur
her; vessel not In his course, tut in what
used W Call the "Poor Mans HarDor"
Aexdnder Cunningham, resident OF No. 1,062
Second avenue, New York, testified that ho was
muster and owner oI vessels nearly thirty years and
.nNun nfinI uhnnt IWAntV MAIL Iltn1
vessels; saw the schooner Crowley before the
head, between Bethune and Horat,o streets;
there Is bend the river at Thirteenth
street aud there are throo or four psrs
tending beyond ,he ola docks out to the water
line; the bend protects vessels from boats or tows
coming down Tue river; knew the course well
tween Twentyihird street tue Payonis Jerry; In
Ioggy weather man must know nothing but his
pass he will 60 asray the course about south
west, Uut the farryOoat instead must have gone to
tue eastward; the schooner was lying quarter or
halr milo OUT OF tho course oil the ferry bout
The was given 10 The Jury at half past tour
O'Clock, aud alter hve hours dcberat0n during which
question OF responsibility US between the pilot
the mate o the schooner WAS the SUBJECT OF
discussion, the following verdict was rendered 1--WE
ures sustained by collision vi tho ferry boat James
Fisk with the schooner JOSIE Crowley through the
careessnesH of tho mate OF the schooner James Camp
bell not properly sounding i0g hvrn or giving any
other warning Of danger 70 locate tho lying
at anchor"
THE GREGORY AND ERIE COLLISION.
An investigation into the cause OF the collision be.
tween the ierryboats d. S. Gregory and Erie, which