New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-07-08
A COLLISION BY DAYLIGHT.

RUN INTO BY THE BREAKwATFR-BoTH VESSELS
GOING sEAwARD-SO ONE INJURHD-THE PAS
sENGEEs LANDED AT STATEN leland.
The steamboat Plymodth Rock left Pier No. o,
North River, yesterday afternoon, about haf-past
9 o'clock on her regular trip for Rockaway Sho
had on board between two and three hundred pas
sengers. While going through the Narrows, under
full head of steam the steamship Breakwater. of the
Old Dominion Line, bound from NewYork for
Lewes, Del. was coming head on toward her.
The two boats were just opposite Fort Lafayette.
when the Breakwater. in attempting to cross the
bows of the Plymouth Rock, came in
collision with her, and did considerable
damage to her bow. Her stem split
from the waters edge to the top railing
on the deck, the planks badly torn off, and
other injury was done to the side of the bow. The
Plymouth Rock Immediately sprang aleak, and the
men were ret at work on the pumps
She was then turned about her course.
and steered for Tompkinsville, Staten Island,
where the passengers landed and were trans
ferred thence to the city by the Staten Island boats
After the passengers had been landed an investlga-
ton was made of the damage done by the collision
and on its being found that by constantly working
the pumps the steamboat could 90 some distance
farther she taken to her pier at the foot OF East
nty-thIrd-st., where she now lies. After tho
Breakwater had come n collision with the
then went on her course. 1t is supposed
that she sustained little no
injury. 1t was reported that when the two boats
came in collision passengers on the Plymouth
Rock in the confusion of the moment jumped to the
decks of the Breakwater, and as she did not return
to this city, were carried ont to Inquiry made
of several persons who on board the Plymouth
Rock at the time of the accident failed to coniirm
the report.
The Plymouth Rock arrived at her pier at
Twenty-third-st. at q o'clock. There were no
passengers injured, although they were pretty
well shaken up by the shock. There
was little or no confusion on board. and
owing to the promptness and efficiency
of the officers all fears of the passengers were soon
allayed. The steamboat was damaged so badly
! that she will not be able to make her regular trip
to-day. The pumps have been kept at work ever
since the accident They will have to be kept go
ing until the boat goes on to the dry dock. Inc
full extent of the damage to the boat Is not KNOWN
Owing to the lateness of the hour at which she ar
rived at her dock, the ship-carpenter could not
| examine her thoroughly. He will make an
examination to-day, and the repairing will then
he Immediately begun At the time OF the ACCIDENT,
there in the plo-house or uear 1T the captain,
pilot and three quartermasters. The flagstaff on
the bow of the boat not broken by the collision
but was slqnted considerably to one side.
At the foot of East Twenty-third-st. where tho
steamboat lay last night. TRIBUSE reporter found
one of the officers the boat, who told the follow
ing story:
"We left Pier No. 8 North River about the usual
| time having on board between two and three hum
dred passengers, bound for Rockaway Just as we
were off Fort Lafayette in the, Mar
| rows | felt peculiar shaking of the
| boat followed by a severe shock. | was standing
back of the plothOuse at the time fling the tanks
81. tsrst fhtnfr did han ha
| came was to look toward the bow. saw tho
Broakwater, of the Old Dominion Line. cutting
across our bows. 1t being my duty, fastened down
below to see if the boat was leaking. Water was
coming in pretty rapidly, so L got the men to WORK
on the pumps and tLen the engine p1mps were . ses
was little or no confusion on board, the passen-
gers all behaving very coolly.' -.
is it true that four persons jumped from the
deck of the Plymouth Rock to the deck of tho
Breakwatcr and were carried out to sea 7 inquired
well can't say positively about that although
| did hear some hing about 1t at the tme lou see,
| | was down below all the time, and even II such
| thing had occurred would not have seen It. Its
hardly possible that the report true, though tor
| don't believe it could be done by anybody"
did you hear any whistle or signal OF any sind
| previous to the collision !"
| " Yes: heard our whistle blowing but as it is
kept almost constantly blowing while we are u9der
the accident, the. Breakwater was almost
out of sight. She stopped at the iime
|
| know who was to blame and had no means Of judg
| ing, because didn't know anything about II until
| both boats had passed. We landed our passengers
| at Staten Island and then steamed up
| to the pier at the foot of Twenty-thlrd:
| st. don't suppose that We will
| make our regular trips today or tomorrow If we
don't probably some other boat will take our place
The boat will be examined to-day by the shlp-car-
| penter, and then can tell how much damage was
| done"
| one of the deck-hands of the Plymouth Rock said
that he felt the shock all of suldlnt" but did not
| have a clear idea of the cause OF the accident.
| "Who do YOU think was to DameT was asked OF
Faith an that's puzzle he replied and then
| added " it's puzz,e that knocks the stuing OUT
| of the fifteen pazzle."
A group of men sitting around on coils of rope on
| the lower deck interrogated by the reporter,
| but they had learned their lesson accurately and
| replied In chorus" We saw nothing and can't say
| anything about it, -
| Inquiry was made for the agent of the line. but
while the reporter wa talking with an obligng ON,
| Ger he had slipped out on the gangw"y, aud
| silently stolen away Captain Martin bad also
left his boat to the mercy OF the pumps and deck
| hands and had sought the secuSlon which his
| house afforded.
| Although "a large number Of passengers were
seated on the forward deck at the time OF the ac'
| cldent, no one was injured.