The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-07-23
stop thi. Periiou- Bont Racing before there
L. a. Calamity.

To THE EDITOR or THE SUN-lSir. In the
namo OF the thousands who almost daily 20 to
Concy Island aud Rockaway on tho excursion
steamers, desire to enter my protest against
the recklessnoss frequently INDUCED in by the
rival boats In the matter Of racing. IA u rule
two-thirds Of the passengers on these boats are
women and children. and. in the event Of a col
lision or serious accident by which a panic
should be created among them, q frightful loss
Of life would be certain. On Sunday last | was
a passenger on the steamboat Sylvester which
runs TO Coney Island via Locust Grove. Shortly
after leaving the pier in this city we overlook
tho ROckaway boat Twilight. and Immediately
a race was begun.
Tho two boats kept 50 close together FOR sew
eral minutes that biscuit could easily have
been tossed from one to the other In the mean
time the needless portion Of the passengers on
each boat ilOcked to the side of the boat nearest
the other, and chccrcd and waved their hand
kcrohicfs at each other. | was Just thinking
that In tho event 81 tho sudden breaking Of the
tllcr chain or OF either of tho pilots, in the eN
element of the moment. turning tho wheel the
the scene would soon shit to one OF panic and
death when the bow OF tho Twilight
Taes had drSppSJd fishity SsteGn
latter, and il instantly became plain that a
collision was unavoidable. Then n change came
over the spirit Of the thoughilcss passengers on
both boats. Women and children screamed
and all scrambled to the other side Of the boat,
Several women upon tho Twilight tainted. and
ono lady was thrown into commissions, from
which she did not recover for several hours
Fortunately, the collision was very slight, the
bow Of the Twilight Just touching the quarter Of
the sylvester. but the jar was sufficient 10 be
felt all over the boat. Had she struck with sum-
cicnt force To break a hole In the hull OF the
Sylvester do not believe that ono in hundred
Of her passengers could have been saved from
drowning.
Whether the pilot OF tho Twilight intention
ally changed his course 50 a. to strike the Syl-
his wheel the wrong way. |. Of course. do not
know. But the fact Of the collision should serve
as n warming and stop should be put To this
practice o: racing between excursion boats. to
the great danger Of the lives and limbs OF their
passengers. Or. IL they will race. let them keep
far enough apart TO avoid collisions. and II one
81 them bursts her boiler she will not cndnnger
the other boat. In this case 1t would have been
H. easy for the Sylvester and Twilight 10 have
kept one hundred yards apart as to have Rugged
each other as close a. they did. Will The Sun
call attention 10 this practice. so that those who
nav" the authority may put stop 10 II, to the
great relief oi the timid women and children
who 10 tQ these resorts during the heated term
in search Of pleasure, health, and cooling
brcezcs b. 4,
2is HENDERsoN STREET, JERSEY CRY.
Mr.. G. Wittenburher Of 50 East Fourth street
this city also writes 10 THE SUN complaining
~ this same recklessness on tho part Of the
Captains OF tho Sylvester and Twilight Mr.
Wittenbucher says that he and friends who
are wiling 10 say that the collision was not an
uettIauf ]