New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-10-28
COLLISION IN THE EAST RI YER.

SERIOUS DAMAGE TO AN IRON srEAMsHIP-RuN
ASHORE TO PREVENT sINKING-THE MONITOR
SLIGHTLY INJURED.
The iron steamship Alene, of the Atlas Line. had
hardly loft her pier ut West Twenty hfth-st yes
terday afternoon. with maIls, passengers anu
freight for Inagua and KINGSTON jamaica when
she drifted down on the formidable bows OF the
United States monitor Nantucket, at anchor OH
Iwenty-third.st., and received such injuries that
Captain Pearce ran his vessel on the Werhawken
mad. .nnts. at the foot of Eghth-st 1t is believed
that she can be readily hoatcd. The Alene had IL
full cargo of general merchandise aud sixteen cabin
passenger, when she headed out into the stream at
2:I5 D. III. Her engines were working slowly at
the time She endeavOTrd to pass between the
Nantucket and the frigate Minnesota, but was
carried down on the solid wrOught-iron stem OF the
Nantucket by the strongly running ebb'tide. Inc
Alene was struck the port sdo about thirty feet
abatt the stem, and hole was torn in the second
compartment about four toet loug and eight feet
deep-iour feet below and about four feet above the
water-no.
Every effort was made on the Nantucket to
avod the collision by yeerng out the anchor cable
and the persons on board of her ran aft to keep
ear of the 'lag-staf and other wreckaee mai Dy
the Alenn. NJ material damage was done TO the
Nantucket. just before the Alene struci, her en-
gines reversed but not in time 10 avid the dc-
Ctucut As soon as the extent OF the damage va
asrertaiGcd Captain Pearce ran his vessel on the
flats 10 save her from sinkiuS in mid stream, the
iurehOld lcu with water up - the n'lndecK aluUst
instantly. From the statements OF the passengers
aud of the officers there WAS no panic Oh board, rs
the conclusion was barely observed, aud many
were not aware of he extent Of the damage until
after the vessel was hard aground. As soon as ihn
Aene was beIchrd the tug ". l.. cheney went
alon gsido and took oil her passengers and mails
aud landed them at the pier which they had lett
only Is half-hUur before. The Cheney and the tug
Babcuck then returned 70 the vessel, and maKng
last on either side kept working their engines to
keep the Aenc ashore. Two lighters were also put
alongside, and the cargo WAS transshippcd INTO
theem The pumps of tho Airne were started 10
cleaI the foIehold of water. II was hoped that the
water would be pumped out at an early hour
this morning Temporary plate Will then ne put
over the opening, and the vessel viii 90 mt" dry,
dock for repairs. These repairs will occupy several
days; hence the passengers ana mails w'lI be lor-
warled by the AihOs. Of the same line, whlch VIII
sail OH Tuesday next M
The officers of the vessel were unwilling to en-
press any opinion as to whether the accident could
have been avoided not. rs the Alene was III
charge OFT sandy Hook pilot. ono OF the oIiGers
gave the following account ol the accident last
night on bo1td the vessel: We left Per No. %
North River shortly after o'clock yesterday alter
noon. Tne vessel was IN chaige OF IllOt James
Mccarthy, and Captain Charles Pearce was ON the
bridge. We had Oh board sixteen passengers, most
Of whom going to jamaica, fourteen bags OF
mails ami All assorted cargo of merchandIse tor
Inagua. Kingston. CarthagCna, Savanlila aud 81.
Martina. We had Just steamed out INTO the stream,
with strong ebb-tide running, and finding our
vessel drifting down on TO tine Nantucket, we trlcu
to head her up stream but she would not ouey her
helm. She swung around with great violence on
the stem OF the Mani ucket, which was only about
two feet above the water-lIne, striking her on
orr port side Immediately aOatt of the col. lsion
bukhrad and cutting IA hoIo four ieet long aud
eight feet deep. the greater palt being below the
waterliue. lhero hardly any shock felt on
board, and not the least sign of panic among the
pas7cn4eIS Finding that the iOr6hOd hlied
with water aJ once rhe vessel WAS run ashore
the WeehaNkeu fats TO keep her from sirk lng.
We found there was no danger of this aiterward ia
zone Of the other co apartments leaked. In the
fore -hod we had llour, soap. Illuminating OIL, ana
orange box materials Only the soap ana Hour III
be damaged. We now taking the cargo out
and putting 1t into lighters preparatory To pumping
the vessel ont and putting her IN dry-dock We
III probably be able TO float the vessel tomorrow.
and $4,000 will Coyer the entire damage. Tie
Nantucket ought not to he permitted 10 lie where
SHE Is. she Is right in the channel ana forces us
20 the Jersey shUre to get III or ont from
our pier She l. more tnan 800 yards from the
Naw York bulkheai. and this leaves II narrow pas.
sage for our steamers and other steamers bertbed
i'll the vicinity. Ne sent letter TO Captain john
son requesting the Nantucket TO be removed further
MP the river and out of the way of navigation :;
of order, but if we would send ug-bout TO tow
him up stream be would not object. We thought
this the duty of the Government"
rhe Nantucket is commanded by Commander
Henry l.. johnson. She suffered no material dam
age frCm the collision. The following the
names OF the passengers of he Alene booked for
Kingston: Colonel Gorham. T.. l.. Solomon, X.
Kirkland and wife, /. + Thomas, Nj Dickson,
William Dinneen, Miss HOskins and J. G. Cramer.
The Alene had seven other passengers, nnd "a crew
OF thirty-SiX officers and men. She was built in
1sSO for the Atlas Line is 292 feet long. 80 feet 2
inches beam. aud % feet inches In depth OF hold.
She is an iron vessel with four water-tight bulk-
heads, and OF 1896 tons measurement.