New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-03-01
DENSE FOG ON THE RIVERS.

| DENcc IOO ON Ehc.
PERILs OF NAVIGATION BY THE FFRRY-BoATs-sRv-
ERAL COLLISIONS ON TIE EAST RIVER, BUT so
SERIOUS DAMAGE-THE MONTANA RUNS INTO
| THE ALAsKA-BOATs UNABLE TO REACH THEIR
SLIPS.
| The fog which surrounded the city yesterday was
more dense on the rivers than any for years. ID
settled the city Sunday night and then lifted
for several hours but it grew dense at early
| hour yesterday morning that navigation became
difficult and dangerous. Ferry-boats could not be
| seen at times yesterday more than length away,
aud pilots had to be guided by compass and sound
| The almost continuous changing of bells and blow
ing of wh.stles were so confusing that number OF
accidents resulted; none, However, of q very
serious nature.
There were very few boats on the rivers except
ing those of the ferry companies, and not the full
number Of these during great part Of the day. The
boats ran at irregular intervals and with an in
creased number of passengers. At Fulton Ferry
only one boat was allowed on the river at time,
and as q consequence the ferry-houses were filed
with waiting passengers most of them business men,
who were greatly annoyed with the detention and
Outspoken in their denunaiation of the delay in
completing the bridge which has cost the two cities
so much money. The ferry-houses on the Brooklyn
side not large enough to accommodate all those
in waiting at early hours in the day, and there was
the same condition of things on this side of the
river in the early evening" The line of trucks and
carts awaiting passage the river extended from
half mile to mile back from the ferry-bouses,
Many of the wagons did not cross after waiting for
hours, the drivers concluding that the day was so
far gone that 1t would not be worth while. The
boats were so crowded with passengers that few
vehicles were allowed to take passage.
About noon the sun could be discerned through
the fog, breeze sprang up and the mist began to
disappear. The tops of the smoke-stacks on the
boats could be seen considerable distance away.
while the lower parts of the boats were invisible for
some time after. closely did the fog cling to the
rivers. The boats were able almost to resume their
usual trips at noon but after the fog thckened
and became as bad as at any other time of the
The fog at Fulton Ferry was extremely dense
nearly the whole day The river being narrow there
and the stream swift made the passage dangerous
for the ferry-boats. The ferry-boat Fulton, while
trying to reach the upper slip ON the Brooklyn side
| about a. m. struck the bulkhead and backed out
| again On the second attempt she struck the tug
| ". Fl. Bentley, iDj1rng 1t to the extent OF few
S r5s
while crossing the river in dstream, causing great
excitement among, the passengers. The propeller,
which was owned by James Plunkstead Il Co., was
slightly damaged. number Of other acct
dents and narrow escapes occurred at this
point in IN the river IN the course OF the
with every available foot of room occupied by pas
sengers all vehicles and horses being excluded was
the scene of much excitement. While In midstream
the sound of o whistle was heard near at hand and
suddenly the smOkestack of one OF the Annex boats
lOomed up. The Annex boat was out of It's course,
and bearing directly down on the FarTagut. Some
persons in the crowd the Farragut raised an
alarm, and Immediately there was a desperate strug-
gle to escape 10 the other end Of the boat The
crowd was 60 dense that not much healway could
be made, and persons clung to the chains and sides
to escape being pushed into the river Several per-
sons were trampled upon. hats were crushed and
clothes were torn and soiled but no one was much
injured. There an irrepressbe feeling of relief
when the boats passed few feet apart.
The most serious accident of the day occurred on
the East River between tho boats Montana and
Alaska, Of the Roosevelt Ferry. Tie fog was so
BrookiyII to Roosevet-st. were discontinued for
time and passengers were landed on tue New York
sidc at the foot OF Grandst. The Alaska, return
ing from this city about 1880 a. with only few
passengers on board lost her bearings aud was NOV
ing up, stream The Montana was on her way from
Brooklyn TO NewYOrk heavily laden with passen-
gers and vehicles. When IN nidsream the pilot OF
the Montana heard whistles, and he was looking
ahead listening for the sound Of bells, when tho
DuS crash i"'s seoulG not be aVsrIod ieS passei.
gers rushed To the bow and stern of the Montana
Just as the Alaska struck her in the ldde} cabin,
behind the wheel The Alaska, owing 10 her Light
load was so much higher Ia the than the Mon
tana that the latter was crushed III fof some dis
tance above the line of cabin seats; otherwise the
damage would have been much more serious. There
was great excitement for q time. Women tainted,
and men threw off their coats and shoes and pro-
yiCed themselves with hfe-DreServeTs but upOn il-
yestigation IL was found that the boats were not
materially injured and they preceded TO their slips.
Edward Taylor, OF NO. $50 South tiftl-st., Brook
lyn who was in the cabin had his leg broken. He
was allowed 70 remain on the boat for nearly an hour
before All ambulance summoned and he was
sent to his home. Several other persons were in-
the streets around the beng crowded for
some time. Passengers claim that both boats were
derelict III giving signals.
The boats ofthe South and Hamilton Ferries made
irregular trips until the wind changed a1ont
O'clock. from the sonthward TO the eastward bring
Ing hard ram ana % rpy nnabe TO reSch hsS
slip at 0:30 a.. nI., ran TO Fer NO, i, East River.
Her load of passengers was so great that the boats
guards were even with the snriace OF the water. AS
soon as she struck the pier the PASSENGERS began to
lump off anG DR.. g. w. Wells. of No. 307 Clinton
s BrCOkyn slipped ana broke ms h. 'ss f1se
aud in response to the Doctors request, procured
carriage and sent him hcne
The North River ferrybOaty were all delayed by
the fog and made irregular trps and the same
scenes were witnessed at the yhouses as on the
East River. At Exeh ange: place. Jersey City. lines
of teams stretched for blocks, vehicles being in
line for several hours. One of the Pavonia Ferry
boats crushed the fantail Of the steamer Saratoga
aQe A Cortlandt Street Ferry boat ran INTO Rler
No 10 while trying TO make landing at her slip.
h,faye IL was discovered that il had gone astray.
The Staten Island Railway ferryboat wero more
regular in their trips than those of any 0tner ier
and only missed one trip in the course OF the day
The o'clock boat from Staten Island was detalnea
by steamer lying across the slip: aud did not Teacn
New-York until $50. The North ehore fefrY
missed two trips ,r.,
The iog down the bay aud of Sandy Hook was 50
dense as to make dangerous for vessels 10 pass OUT
az come in the harbOT and the telegraph operators
renorted that il was impossible TO see more than
fitty feet from the beae The steamship Cry OF
manned at anchor yesterday uatii the middle OF the
afternoon when she came TO her pier. supcrintend-
emf Moore, OF tine steamer department. at Castle
Garden sent steamer to the City of Chester IN the
morning for tine nails, which were brought to tho
city The passengers preferred to remain on board
rather than to risk their lives IN the foe fhe esiean-
night Remained anchor until yesterday afternnon.
and reached Quarantine about o'clock. She alter
I'll 10 ha fnqt