Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-11-14
DEATH IN IHE WAVES.
STAMPING OF an OVERLOADED
SKIFF, At TROY, NEW YORK.
Seven Persons Known to Have Been
Drowned and Three Others Missing
The Swell from Racing PrOpellers Causes
the Disaster-How the Survivors Were
For.


from Troy, n. Y, says: About 6 O'Clock THU
evening large skff, owned by Giles Leroy
of Port Schuyler. drew up at Burdens wharf
on this side of the river to take residents Of
West Troy employed at Burdens mills to theil
homes. The night was dark, and owing to q
strong wind and recent rains, the waves were
OF unusual height and the river very high. As
were In the skiff when it left Troy landing;
Giles Leroy, Henry his son; Francis Reilly.
Garrett his son; Thos. Manion
and his son Thos.; John Lever,
Thos Fox, Jno. Stevenson, Jno Keys, Milo
Hatch, Geo. Hoy, Fleming Trimble, Jas
Diamond, VIM. O'Neil, Michael Mcmahon, and
three others whose names could not be ascer-
tanned When the boat had almost reached
the middle of the river Thos. Fox, who was
sitting in the stern, saw three propellers rap
idly approaching from the south. He called
to the oarsmen to stop, but they failed to do
so, and the propeller nearest to the west shore
passed by
WITHIN FEW FEET
of the bow Of the skif. The latter. which all
agree was overloaded, having its gunwalls
nearly even with the water, passed the first
swell in safety, but on reaching the second
shipped considerable water The third almost
filled the boat and the occupants became
greatly alarmed. The men aware that the
boat would sink, called for assistance and one
of the propellers, the Cora, turned around,
but the others continued on their course. The
Cora steamed slowly toward the skfff, but be-
fore she could reach it, the boat had capsized
and all the men were struggling in the water.
Thomas Fox being unable to swim, grasped
the keel of the sklff and called to his ascot
ates to follow his example Several of them
did so, and until the Cora drew
alongside. On board the Cora were
John Kennedy and Charles Pickett and his
brother. The last named, although but IA
years of age, displayed great bravery and won
derful presence Of mind. Calling on the men
who we're holding on to the capsized skiff to
hold fast, he threw life-preservers right and
left t. their less fortunate companions, and
then, bracing himself against the side Of the
tug, pulled in John Lever, who weighed about
ITO pounds. The following men were then
picked up by the Cora: Thomas Fox, John
Lever, John Stevenson, Garrett Reilly, Thos.
Manion, Jr., and two strangers, whose names
it'was impossible to ascertain.
By this time several row boats had reached
the scene and Fleming Trimb'e, M Mcmahon
and VIM. O'Neill were picked up, Trimble be-
ing almost dead. The following are known to
be lost:
Giles Leroy, the ferryman, and his son Henry
Francis Reilly, teamster, who leaves a
wife and eleven children.
Thomas Manion, ST., blacksmith's helper.
who leaves wife and five children.
John Keys, laborer, who leaves large
family.
Geo Hoy, single man, about IS years old
Jas. Diamond, a married man with no chill
dren.
Three others are unaccounted for.
Mrs Leroy, who has been dangerously i'll
for q long time, and is not expected to live
forty-eight hours, has not yet been informed
of the loss of her husband and son. Mr.. Man
ion buried a daughter only three weeks ago.
While it is admitted that the sklff was over
loaded, 1t is also agreed that the propellers
had no lights on their bows and that the tugs
Cora and Hattie NJ Belts and Linda NJ. New
man were racing when the accident occurred.
Capt. Harvey Robinson, of the Belts, and the
captain of the Newman, when asked why they
did not stop said that they did not hear the
cries for assistance and did not learn of the
accident until an hour after 1t had occurred.
SEARCHING FOR BODIES.
The river near the scene of the disaster is
dotted with small crafts searching for bodies,
but owing to the condition Of the river the
task is difficult, and at IL o'clock only one
body had been found, that of Henry Leroy
Garrett Reilly, the one-armed man who was
rescued, owes his life to Fox, who, although
unable to swim himself, grasped Reilly by the
collar as he was sinking and pushed him
towards the skiff. A few years ago two
similar accidents occurred near the same spot,
bv one of which five lives were lost, and by
the other eight.