New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-08-08
STRIKING A WRECK.


THE ExCUR~IoN STEAMER RUNS ON sUNKEN MUD
sCow OFF CoNEY IsLAND-TIE PASSENGERS
FRIGHTENED, BUT NO ONE HURT.
On the last trip of the steamboat Grand Republic
from the Coney Island per Friday night, with about
500 passengers on board, many being women, she
ran the supposed wreck of mud-scow off the old
wooden pier at the end of tho island The boat
was going ahead at full speed and received three or
four shocks from the supposed wreck, which caused
her to carcen and shudder from stem to stern.
Immediately there great excitement on
board, those ON the upper deck running toward the
stairways and crying, "Were sinking, we're sink
ingW Others below ran for the lie-pIeservers, but
as the boats speed was not materially checked and
as she steamed into deep water again, Captain
Schenck ran from the pilot-house and assuring the
passengers that the danger all passed, soon
checked the excitement. The engineers made an
examination of the bige and finding that the boat
was not making any water concluded that she had
received no damage. She has since been running
regularly the route, and is in sound condition.
Captain Schenck made the following statement to
n TRIBUNE reporter last night: 1t about ff-
teen minutes after leaving Coney Island Pier at 10
o'clock Friday night, when Oft the old wooden pier
on the west end of ConeY Island, when our boat
struck an obstruction which l presume TO be
one of the many sunken mud-seows off the Island.
The boat received three or four conclusions the
side, and the shocks crentcd the usual excitement
among the passengers. When saw that all danger
was passed ! went among them, and assured them
OF the fact and they at once became calm.
have been running oyer the same route for the
past fifteen years, and know the ground
thoroughly as any pilot There is undoubtedly
number of sunkeu mud sCows on the route
TO Coney Island, and something ought to
he done to remove them to locate them.
distractions mane by shoals which have been
formed by tho dumping of mud Scows OFT Coney
Island particulars in the yGinity Of the old iron
with any serious mishap by striking Of these
shoals the captain would be blamed for it, and
charged with being an inefficient pilot while in
reality hc would be perfectly blameless To my
own knowledge mud scows are dumped daily along
the recognized route to Coney Island and
Rockaway; and where there formerly were
from eighteen to twentyfonr feet of water,
than nine feet depth. Even the charts that were
navigators hctwecn Ncw-York and Rockaway. It
scows, which strike the bottom when loaded, in
stead Of hauling them into deeper water, to loosen
the chains and the scows are dumped on the spot,
| thus mnl ing the water more shallow. The matter
Is becoming more serious every day TO the interests
Another captain and pilot spoke of CAPTAIN
Schcnck as one of the most efficient pilots around
New-l0rk harhor, and said he thoroughly
acquainted with the shoals and other obstluctions
! as any her navigator
Henry Kimm, of, No. IS Blceckcr-ot who was on
the Grand Republic when thc steamboat left Concy
Island on iis as trip to the city Friday night, gave
to TRlBuNE reporter last evening the following
| account OF " hat be witnessed:
The boat was about half q mile from Concy
Island Point, aS near a. could Judge, when there
"A sudden luTch and loud noise, like Il roar OF
| thunder long drawn ont. The boat was stopped so
quickly that persons standing up were thrown
| down ana those sitting down were nearly hurled
| from the chairs The boat trcmbcd from stem TO
stern, and there was grating sound below decks.
! 1t was evident To everyone that the vessel had
struck against something, and most persons seeme,.
TO believe That II had run upon "A rock. There
| great excitement. Women screamed and tainted,
| children began to cry with terror, and men ran
about and pallcd down the ife-VrcscrvcrS. Ny own
wife tainted and had Gs much could do 10 keep
I.lfi ~ frpu ,lgl
! thing near pGuic shipboard before. Tho OIL
GERS on the boat did their best 10 preserve quiet aud
they at length succeeded in getting order restored.
! No one was huTt so far rs ! could lCaru The boat
| was backed way from what was altcrward told
was a Sunk"n WTcC k of some kind, and after head
! ing toward Sandy Hook for a iittic way the pilot
| stectcd Tor the city again.
| " After tho tmnult had subsidized and it
| was known that the boat had not been
| injured, there good denl OF laughter
! over the actions of some of the passengers
| was On the front part of the boat ON the lO,.cr
deck. whore the shock felr as plalnly rs any
| whore. Near me, Just before the 8cciucnt, was u
/ young mau with his sweetheart. and he was very
loving IN his actions As gOuu ds the excitement be-
gan the young man left his Comp8niOu 10 take care
| ot herself aud scrambled for hfe-prcserver lie
| got one and when everybody else had recov5 red
their presence of mind he still lrautcally try
| ni1 20 gel II on over his head,
"A soon rs The boat reached the city got off with
my Wlo. whp has been SEX since. When left
| the boat heard great many persons congratulate
ing themselves because they had not been drowned"