The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-11-14
FATAL FERRY.
seven Lives Lost by the sinking OF a
BkiH-ThFee Others Missing.

seven Lives LOST ny the btnktnR OF o
BkiE-ThFee Others Missing.
N@ YoRK, November 12.-The Suns
special from Troy, n. Y, says: AT about
this evening large skiiT, owned by Giles
Leroy, of Port Schuyler, drew up at Bur.
den's wharf, on this side Of the river, to
take residents of West Troy, employed at
Burdens mills, TO their homes. The night
was dark, and owing to strong south
wind and recent rains, tho waves were OF
unusual height, and the river very high.
As near us can be learned, the following
persons were in the skitf when it left the
Troy landing: Giles Leroy, Henry, his
son, Francis Reilly, Garrett, his son,
Thomas Manion and his son Thomas, John
Lever, Thomas Fox, John Stevenson, John
Keyes, Milo Hatch, George Hoy Elem.
ming Trimble, James Dmon, William
0'Neil, Michael Mcmahon, and three
Others, whose names could not be ascer.
taincd.
When the boat had almost reached the
middle OF the river, Thomas Fox, who was
sitting In tho stern, saw three propellors
rapidly approaching from the south. He
called 10 the oNrsmen to stop, but they
failed to do so, and the propeller nearest
10 the west shore passed by within few
feet Of the bow Of the skflT. The latter,
which all agree was overloaded, having her
gunwales nearly even with the water, pass.
ed the first swell in saicty, 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 boNt would sink, called
for assistance, and one Of the propellors,
the Cora, turned around, but the others
continued on their course. The Cora
steamed slowly towards tho skill, but be-
fore she could reach II the boat had cap.
sized, and all the men were struggling In
the water. Thomas Fox, being Unable TO
swim, grasped the keel Of the skifT, and
called to his associates to follow his exam
pie. Several Of them did so, and held on
until the Cora drew alongside.
On board the Cora were John Kennedy
and Charles Pickett and his brother. The
last named, although but fourteen years Of
age, displayed great bravery and wonderful
presence Of mind. Calling on the men who
were hanging on tho capsiZed skifF to hold
fast, he threw life.preservers right and left
to their less fortunate companions, and
then bracing himself against the side OF the
tug, pulled in John Lever, who weighed
about l70 pounds.
The following men were then picked up
by the Cora: Thomas Fox, John Lever,
John Stevenson, Garrett Reilly, Thomas
Manion, jr., and two strangers, whose
names It was impossible to ascertain,
ll,Io It,,,n anttaan1 ao,,,taak. t.ul 49,. IL
ed the scene, and Fleming Trimble, Milo
Hatch, Michael McMahon and Vim.
.o'Neill were picked up, Trimblc being
almost dead.
The following are known to be lost.
Giles Leroy, the ferryman, and his son,
Henry; Francis Reilly, teamster, who
leaves wife and eleven children; Thomas
Marion, sr., a blacksmith's helper, who
leaves wife and five children; Join Keyes,
laborer, who leaves a large family; George
Hoy single man, about twenty-five years
Of age, and James Dimop, married man,
with no children. Three others were tin.
accounted for.
Mrs. Leroy, who has been dangerously
Ill for a long time, and Is not expected 10
live iorty.eight hours, has not been In.
formed Of the loss Of her husband and son.
Mr.. Manion buried daughter only three
weeks ago.
While II is admitted that the skif' was
overloaded It Is also agreed that the pro.
pellers had no lights on their bows, and
that the tugs, the Cora and Hattie NJ. Belts,
and the Linda NJ. Newlin, were racing
when the accident occurred.
Captain Harvey Robinson Of the Belts,