New-York tribune., 1880-06-29

EHOM. hANDALG6 1bLAdDs
GETTING OUT THE BoATs-THE CORPS OF PHYsI-
CLANS ON HAND-TALKs WITH THE RESCUED.
Afew minutes after the steamer caught fire the
doctors nurses and Others employed on Randalps
Island saw the flames. The vessel was only o
short distance out In the stream. aud the extent
of the disaster could be plainly seen All the boats
attached to the Island were quickly got into
the water, and were taken over TO the burn
ing vessel. In all there were FIVE or six small
boats in charge of keepers. All was confusion on
the steamer when the boats arrived at the fire. Men
and women were clinging to the unburned portions
of the vessel, and were screaming with
fright Some had life-preservers on. and Others In
their mad fury to escape left everything behind.
James Roach, keeper in the lunatic asy.
lum who was in charge Of one of the small boats.
picked up number of people in the water Some
persons were on board at the time and in great dan
ger from the flames, but he could not get to them
because so many cries for assistance came
from people in the. water In the same boat we're
Captain Moore, of the Harmonic, and w. +. Hanly.
They made seven or eight trips from the wreck to
Randall's Island, and saved in all about seventeen
or eighteen persons. The other boats also brought
persons to the island
The scene on Raudaps Island several hours after
the accident was very sad one. The steamer.
which was yet burning. could be seen
short distance away on Sunken Meadow.
Flames were shooting high IN the air
from the burning timbers on the waters edge The
outline of the hull could be distinctly seeu although
the night was dark and the hour late. The tug
Fidelity, belonging to the Commissioners OF
Charities and Correction, left Wards Island about
1880 H. m.>with all the dead bodies which were at
that place. It then went to Randalps Island
| to gather the dead bodies there. There was
only one, that of little child who had been
i. nhnnf in
was o number Of the persons who
were thought to be dying; others were Suffering
| from fright and exhaustion, and were slightly
| burned. Some we're sent away in the evening.
Mrs. Francis Nesbit, Of No. ITO East Seventy
frst-st., was found III one of the wards
of the Idiot Asylum, :. was travel; travel;
ing with my cH'd ISE ,a snS saa,
The deck was crowded with passengers at the time.
| Without any apparent warning heard two queer
| whIstles and then saw the men on the boat Jump
| mp. They seemed to run toward me and asked them
! what was the matter. One replied that they were
only trying TO save me, and told me to keep still;
Jnst then / saw another man got up ana
back. My sister, Miss Martha L. Bogen, was WITH
and she got iePTeSeETer & for me Rc she %tb hrss
shawl and then p9t the .b.s hde-pres.esvegT o.SCsg
ife-preaerver on my sister, aud she jumped over;
board. i saw flames coming toward where stood
| on the upper deck, and l cOul I'D see no means
of escape. climbed over the deck ana caught
Urn burn but clung to it until my hands were scorched
with the flames. then caught another rope.
NY baby became. unued on my back. |
| srcnred the baby frmer on my back. aud Just
then man caught hold of the same rope IL gave
me confidence for short time, until the man CRED
10 me III an agonizing tone, We must die,
| The secoud rope began to burn, and l fell
unconscious in the water. was quickly taken into
| boat which was close at hand. have, suffered
comparatively little. am burned mostly around
| the eyes," , ,,
| sutferinR Rfrom burns. =, :,
Beach, daughter Of eX-Judge Beach. OF
Glen Cove" she said. 81 was in the fore
part of the steamer aud the little girl was
| ON my lap. heard TWO queer whistles aud then
saw the men rushing around with pale
| fnces in tho most excited manner.
| lawyer named Nickel came up and took
| the child, and said he would take. care OF
| IT, lie put life preservers INC, himself and on
! the child and then no Jumped into the wator:
jumped INTO rho water also, and was soon pulled N
| that he lost the child"