New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-08-07
LOCAL MISCELLANY
NARROW ESCAPE FROM DISASTER.

NARROW ESCAPE FROM DISASTER.
COLLISION BETWEEN TIE ST. JOHNS AND THE
observation-disclosures WHO WE'RE NOT AFRAID
TO DIE.
Friday afternoon. between the Long Branch steamer
81. Johns and the steamer Breakwater, which runs
left her pier az about $3.50 H. H. and when Sue as
81 Pier No the 81; johns started Beth vessels
\blew one whistle although the captain OF the Long
Branch boat says that the pilot of the Breakwater
did not answer his sigoal The boats came together
passengers, who immediately rushed for the
Ife-preserverS, thinking that the vessels would
e ena boat 9Gf the ot oe e Az ton showed tSat
there only slight damage done TO the ST. Johns,
Sd sne Gn aha M ne S@
pairs to the Old D0Idinion pier. Her Prov in
iured and it will cost more than $1,000 to repair
Captain John Hupers of the Breal<water called
at the Office of the Old DomiiiOI Line yesterday,
that when near Pier No. 20 he heard The St. johns
blow whistle and he answered with one whistle,
which meant that he would pass to starbnard. He
blew another whistle, but the S.. Johns did not an
swerlt. There was tow III the way at the time
whistle but the 81. Johns continued or her way
When lie saw collision could not be avoided he
stopped the engines and backed The St .Johns
struck the Break wafer at right angles.
Captain Nogel, master of the st. Johns, filed his
report of the occurrence With the United States
Local inspectors OF Steam Vessels. The report saws
that the St Johns left her pier in tho North River
at $40 o'clock III the afternoon for Sandy Hook.
The Breakwat coming down the river and sounded
the whistle twice TO signify that he intended to pass
on her port side. The Breakw water did not respond
to the signal but kept her course and seeing that
collision was likely Ia occnr Captain Vogel sig
nailed his engineer to stop and back. He saw no
effort on the part of those board the Breakwater
to avoid collision, and there was no apparent di-
,ninution Of her speed. The Breakwater struck the
81. Johns about ten feet back of her bow. The
damage was triliing and the st. Johns is making
her trips usual.
Aboard the st. Johns were many we'll
known Wall Street brokers. Addison Cammack
the lower deck. Il was talking with friend"
he said yesterday, "wheu all at once |
saw tn big black monster bearing down on. 1t
toe late to run, although several hundred per-
Der observing that the officer charge of the other
vessel perfectly cool Pehaps that had some
thing TO do with my decision 10 stay where / was. |
watched the great mass nearing. and thought
Sl,OOO,oO0 minute There q crashing OF tim
heTs. grinding sound, and il was all over felt at
once that We lad suffered no great damage, aud
breathed once more. Young man, [ came up on the
train this morning, you bet no brny deep for me-
Russell Sage was on board and he said Yesterday:
: es III was narrow escape. Ii the propeller had
been under full Roadway aud had struck us ami d
slipS the st. Johns would have been two boats in
stead Of one. ON boat plainly in the wrong
II Is hardly the thug TO give t1ot of the whistle
and go steaming out OF the slip without knowing
What has the right of way: Oh, yes, l am going
down by boat to-day. When We lose money we
always know where to look for il, don't we %
H. ,. CambiOS occupied a large wooden armchair
on the lower deck. lie remarked IL WAS rather
sudden, but didn't see anything better than my
chain, and besides it too late to run. / con-
ended 10 take the chances where was. bnt 10 tell
you the tru1h didn't many chances for us any,
way. They talk about the discipline OF our crew
You, every one the st. Johns was terribly fright
tned, ana the captain worse than manV.D