New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-06-20
DETAILS OF THE ACCIDENT.

The steamer Adelaide had landed about hundred
passengers from Long Branch at the West twenty
second-st. pier yesterday evening OH her regular
return trim from the iron pier and had started for
her berth at the Lehigh Valley Coal Docks, in Jer-
sey CITY. She was steaming down near the New
York shore when the Grand Republic was sighted
coming up on the same side. 1t was twenty mill
ntes before 8, and yet light, and il was remarked
that her lights were not up. The Grand Republic,
like the Adelaide. had landed her passengers-the
Hunday-school of Plymouth Church, with which she
had inst returned from an excursion The Adelaide
changed her course, pointing obliQuely across the
river toward the New-Jerscy shore. and blew her
whistle once as o signal to the Grand Republic 10
pass to the right of her. The Grand Repubhc re-
piled with two whistles, signifying that she woulu
do nothing of the kind, and the Adelaide. insisting
on the right of way, repeated her signal. Both
steamers kept straight on their way until they were
too close together to avoid collision. The Grand
Republic then reversed her engines, but it was too
late. As the Adelaide crossed her bow she struck
her Just forward of the wheehOuse on the port sde
breaking through her timbers and bulwarks and
crashing into her boilers.
Some of the Adelalde's crew, that numbered
altogether eighteen or twenty men, sprang on
board the Grand Republic when the collision
occurred. The others busted themselves III getting
ont one of the injured steamer life-boats, task
senger in the Adelaide was a woman who had como
from Long Branch. She had intended to get off at
the pier but had unconsciously been carried on her
way TO jersey City. In the excitement she did not
get on the Grand Republic, and was taken oil In a
small boat. A negro jumped in the boat from tue
wreck, and nearly upset it. The woman's clothes
were therefore ruined by the water, and she was
taken to Captain Fishers house and provided with
dry garments.
The accident had been observed from the shore.
and several tugboats started to the assistance of
the steamers at once; these the remainder OF the
crew and the one woman passenger of the Adelaide
were taken on board and safely landed.
The Adelaide filled rapidly and began to
sink immediately As soon as the vessels
could be disengagcd the Grand Republic backed
away few feet and lay to for quarter of an hour
Offering assistance. As none was needed. she went
on her way to her dock, apparently only slightly
injured Four tug-boats pulled the sinking Adelaide
toward the Bank-st. dock. She went under about
fifty yards from that point in eighteen feet of water
reporter who visited her in the evening found
the bow submerged and the stern ab0ut fifteen feet
above the water. The upper portion of the wheel
boxes was visible and the smoke-stack was un-
shaken by the collision. Forward of the wheels
were broken boards and splintered timbers. The
IAN in Che ste mer's side was buried out Of sight
The crew of a tug with the pilot and engineer OF the
wrecked steamer was taking stout naWser ashore 1
10 osecure the wreck in Its position III was settlng
fast in the mud so fast that tue reporter ana the
oilot were compelled suddenly to take to their boats
to avoid going down with her. The tide was rising
also. and in half an hour what had been visible of
the steamer had nearly disappeared under tne
water except the smoke-stack and the fag-stat on
the stern on which hung lonely lighted lantern
WHAT THE ADELAIDE's PILOT SAYS
After the Adelaide was towed up to the foot of
Bank-st. the officers left her, and the engineer
was the only person in charge during the evening
Shortly befere IL p III. the pilot, j. V. +. Long,
reached the wreck on large wrecking steam ting.
He refused to give any information whatever about
the disaster, on the ground that Captain FIsner
who was in the pilot-house when the collision oc-
Cured, was the proper officer to mako such state
ments
"But It il claimed that no one was in the wheel
house for several minutes before the accident ~ said
the reporter.
At this the pilot became very angry, and blurted
out "Well say that any such statement IS false"
at is said that the man in the pilot-house was
seen running aft before the collision. What have
you to say in answer to that II
81 have simply to say that stood at the wheel
Of this boat until she filed with water"
What signals. if any; were exchanged between
1--WE blew one whistle, and the pilot of the Grand
Republic blew two" a..
"Well what does all that mean 2"
"Our one whistle meant that each boat was to go
10 the right The other pilot should have answered
with one whistle, showing that he understood us,
and intended to keep to the right. Instead OF that
ne blew two whistles, meaning that he intended 10
keep right ahead"
Mr. Long then walked away considering that a
perfectly satisfactory explanation.
'' Did each pilot then become stubborn and refuse
TO change his intention ~ asked the reporter fol-
lowing the pilot to q distant end OF the boat.
fectIy right. We gave the first signal and stuck to
FL nd tdT y"n NOT see that the two boats would
""Certainiy did. said to the Captain that it
looked as if she would run into us. Ihe Cap
tain was In the piot-house and had charge"
What did the Captaipsay mi,
I" H. told me to repeat the signal, ana d1d. Inc
n;lot of the Grand Republic answered with three
whistles He then rang to back the boat, but the
two steamers were then too close together to avoid
"s The Officers of the Grand Republic say that
those who had charge g. ef the Adelaide were in
The Condition of this boat looks very much like
II. The Grand Republic struck this boat boat amid
ships. How, then, could we be at fault u
How far out IN the stream were you ~ 'ne
"Ibout one-thrd OF the way across the river. We
were going to the coalpg station at tne tO0s OoU ~
for the Grand Republic to pass to the right after she
a How tsr apart t SsTs $ the two boats when the
aWsiI, i + pretty hard to Judge. but should say
Az the time the pilot was making this statement
the hurricane deck which was the only part Of the
yesaei above water except o life-boat, the smoke
stack, stack the pilot house and q flag pole
was crowded WITH reporter; p';a, :, The The boa!
s IAN TO get on board the tug. Yes, she is goine
down. said one Of the deckhands, as he too rushed
: for the tug. scramble was then made for tue
rowboats which the reporters had hired to get Il
tl,s vessel AS the last reporter got in his boat
w@ve rnshed over the hurricane deck and in mo
meut the iifeboat was floating in the water above
the submerged deck.
.r.IK WITH THE PILOT OF THE GRAND REPUBLIC
= The Grand Republic proceeded to the dock ut TIM
foot Of Twenty -fourth-st.. North River. The cap
faiu. John A. Pease, had gone to his home In Brook
avn. soon after the steamer tied up. The pilot, Luke
a W1na niIf