New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-08-09
STRIKING A SNAG IN THE SOUND.

| sunday excursion DOat on StaflnS Glcn Islam
Line, left her dock yesterday afternoon at haf-pas
. o'clock on her homeward trip from the Island
she had about 600 persons on board an unusual
large number having visited the island. Bot
upper and lower decks were crowded. large pro
portion of the passengers as is usual such occa
slors, being women and children. When the boat ha
gone about quarter of a mile from her pier, an,
| had reached the channel between Davds Islan'
and Glen Island. two distinct shocks felt, rs
if the vessel had struck soft bottom; yet thel
were not sufficiently percepribe to cause anything
more than passing notice. In fact, it was sup
posed by most of the passengers that they were
caused by fall of some one on the upper deck. As
soon, however, as it was learned that the
steamer had sprung bad leak, ana thai
water pouring in at fearful rate
her bow was turned toward the
shore the distress whistle sounded, and in fifteen
minutes she went aground within ten feet of the ole
excursion pier at Starin's Glen Island. The St
Nicholas one of the regular line of excursion boats
which had just landed boat-load of pleasure seek
ers at the new pier soon came to her aid and took
off the greater part of the frightened passengers
Then she continued the trip back TO New-York.
SCENE ON BOARD TIE BOAT.
TIE main deck of the boat, which is ordinarily
used for freight is large and commodOus and 1t was
there that the larger part of the passengers had
collected to escape the sun which made the upper
decks and cabins very uncomfortable. They were
crowded closely together on the low benches
which covered the entre deck.
For few moments after the slight shocks were
felt nothing at all thought of the circum-
stance, as has be9n stated, aud no one was aware
of the danger which threatened. Suddenly those
i'll the after part of the boat seeing the cOmmOtion
among the firemen, and spying the water rushing
into the hold, gave the alarm. Some one cried out
She is sinkingW This sufficient to create
an instant panic and scene ot Wild excitement en-
sued. Women screamed children cried, and the
men did not do much to restore order by rushing
frantcally about and securing the besU
places for themselves if the worst came.
rush was made Immediately for the
life -preserycrs, which were piled up on
platform stretching across the forward part Of the
vessel on the main deck Three or four men climbed
up on the platform and began to throw the life
preservers to the surging crowd below, while the
shouts of some towards, who seemed 10 do all III
therpower to guily the danger did not add to the
general comfort. Men were seen rushing off
with their arms full of lfc-preservers which
they fastened to their wives and children with
trembling haste. few who were
able to appreciate the situation endeav-
children, saying that there was no imminent dan
ger. and that they would soon be ashore and safe.
These efforts, however, were apparently unsuccess-
full and even when all provided with life
preserver5 they could not get the effects of the
sudden shock which the announcement of danger
had given them.
Meanwhile the news had spread to the upper
deck, where similar scenes of excitement aud dis
order prevailed. One man was discovered in the
extreme stern of the boat in a state of intense eX-
ctemcnt with life-preserver under each
arm. He sitting on three others, and
10 all Of them he clung with the tenacity of a
drowning man. Evidently there was nothing mean
about him. Another, decidedly inclined to
obesity. lad contrlvcd to lash two preser-
vers together, order to make both
ends meet, and in this novel attire
he rushed frantically about, and finally took up a
position outside the rail at the forward hatchway,
where he would be ready to cast Oft when the boat
went down. These and other incidents. together
with terror-stricken countenances of the women
ls they gathered the little about them gave the
situation both tragic and ridiculous nature.
RUNNING TIE BOAT ASHORE.
While the passengers were getting ready to meet
their fate and all was yet exctemeNt, the Corning
had been rapidly approaching the old excursion
pier and though her pumps were all at work, she
was filling rapidly. BY the time she reached the
pier she had sunk fully two feet. but the water
was not deep enough TO float her she went aground
Immediately she surrounded by large num- |
Der of sailing vessels. steam launches and row
boats which began to take off those
If the passengers who did not wish |
o continue the trip the ST. Nicholas
which was then coming alongside Few wished !
o continue. Terror stricken. the people. men, |
women and children poured into these small boats |
many with their life-prservers still tightly fast
ned on, until there was danger of swampng |
hem.
Finally all acute fears were allayed. for the Corn
ng by this time was resting on the bottom. The |
water was within about foot of the main deck cit |
oeked unpleasantly near However rs the pros
ect of escaping watery grave opened to
he passengers they grew quiet. and or
Ter was gradually restored The greater part of
he passengers went on board the St. Nicholas and
we're brought to this city. Those who got of in tho
mall boats went back to Glen Island where they
'aited for the next trip No one seemed any the
sorse for the accident.
TALK WITH THE CAPTAIN
Captain Caspar SpOOr, of the Erastus Corning, in
rs statement To THE TRIBUNE reporter. said that
he Corning was not regular excursion boat. but
AS run on the Starin New Haven Line as passen-
or and freight boat She was expecting to make
er regular mp to Ncw-Hdven last night before the
ccIdent occurred.
She draws about eight feet OF water" said the
iptain, aud the depth of the channel where she
ruck is ordinarily twelve feet at low tide. The
de this evening was very low, bnt this does not
count for the accident, "a the vessel held It's
,urse we'll in the channel | think she must
ave struck submerged log which
as drawn against the bottom by the current and
turning over struck it again. thus accounting for