New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-10-16
DETAILS OF THE ACCIDENT.
EACH PILOT ATTRIBUTES 1T TO CARELEsSNESs y!
THE PART OF THE OTHER.


TIE PART OF THE OTHER.
Tho collision occurred at 6:35 p. M, about 600
feet from the New-YOrk shore, nearly opposite Jay
ST. As told by eye-witnesses on both boats the
facts are as follows: The PavOnia left her
slip in Jersey City at 6:25, and had proceeded
nearly across the river when the Wiehawken was
observed crossing her bow. Neither boat checked
her speed until too late to prevent the collision.
Each boat then backed away and proceeded on her
way. The Wiehawken discharged her passen-
gers at Hobokon and was taken to the repair
dock at the foot of First-st The PavOnia made two
trips and then was laid up for the night at Cham
bers-st. at the usual hour
So far the stories told by both pilots and by
passengers on both boats agree but when the cause OF
the accident was sought each pilot accused the 0ther
of being the responsible person and entirely excused
himself of any blame in the matter. Captain Splcer
with apparent deep emotion TeCited with the full
lest detail the story of the accident from the time
his boat the Wichawken, started from the Barclay
st. slip until he had fastened it to the slip at First
st. His emotion he explained, was caused by his
sorrow at the sad result attending the collision.
He had been captain or pilOt-identical officer
on the HobOken line for fifteen years,
and had never had passenger injured
before from such a cause; mo feryboat"
he exclaimed with emphasis, "has ever run into
me in a clear day before but in a fog we rub mp
against each other sometimes" Captain Taylor of
the Pavonia, was equally positive in placing the
blame on the other pilot who, he declared, crossed
directly in front of the Pavonia, thus preventing
her from entering the slip at Chambers-st
HOW THE BOATS STRUCK.
The Wiehawken had about 600 passengers on
board it being a tIan-boat,' although the load
carried at that hour is not large those carried
earlier in the evening. The PayOnia struck the
Wichawken coming bow on" as Captain
Spieer explained it, about fifteen feet from the
forward part of the gentemen's cabin, breaking
the guard-rail and crashing through the cabin,
throwing q part of the outer side of the
cabin into the wagon driveway. The men
sitting on that side of the cabin had all risen from
their seats, else the loss of life would have been
heavy.
As soon as the boats became disengaged the PavO-
MIA entered her slip without offering any assistance
TO the injured boat. When Captain Spicer learned
that his boat was not leaking he continued on his
way The passengers who were not injured were
badly frightened The wounded men were taken
to the police station in HObOkeny where their
names, addresses and the extent of their injuries
were recorded. DR.. HelfeT, the City Pysician, at
tended them. All were taken to their homes eX-
Captain Spicer said that be should enter com
plant against Captain Taylor with the Inspector
of Steamboats, to-day. He was transferred
panion I@IS boat boat of the WiehaWGen which ike
the Wehawken, is old boat, of the open pattern,
having covering only over opSha & OF the f,NSH drive
years ago. is 2l5 feet in length narrow at the ends
but wide at the centre. She will carry 200 Peo-
pie. A TRIBUNE reporter went on board of her last
night and saw the broken timbers scattered around
the deck. The outer side of the cabin was badly
shattered, the injury extending nearly nan way way
broken in and several deck planks and joiner work
were crushed.
LIST OF THE INJURED.
The following persons were reported injured at
the police station;
ApsESELLE, JOSEPH, age tn!ry.trcel a Belgian. He
and was his way to his boarding house, NO. 20
HoSpitS at Fourth and willow sts, suffering from
severe confusion @ on The the rght gh high 1t Y2s 1oa a0uSt En
later examination proved this 70 be mistake.
GR1SGE, GUSTAV age fOrtythrce, of No. lOi ESsexst
nloyod as a waiter at Gangbcrg's Theatre, No 81
Washngton-st., Hoboken where he was taken after
sprained and his left knee was fractured. 49,
PERE AUGU & aES Wa boncn ae sGs
tanned cut Of five six inches Ia length on the right
groin, made by splinter ana VIZ rs aao INJURED sG & Dy
dressed he was taken home.
sTUI5 IREDeRiSN age a5tys1' ~ German hsg az . no.
large family. His injuries consisted Of a compound
WOLF. He was wounded in his left hand-not serl-
Ousy, hOwevcr-and after Dr. Heller had dressed his
address.
WHAT THE PILOT OF THE wIEHAwKEN SAYS.
reporter saw Captain Spcer, pilot of the Vie
hawken, at his house, No. 40 Garden-st, HObokcn,
and obtained from him the followiIgaccOunt OF tho
accident:
IL left the slip at the foot of Barclay-st, on
time, $50 o'clock, for IiOboken, with from 500 to
600 passengers, mostly men. As soon as
i cleared the slip l turned directly up
stream and took my course about three
boat-lengths from the docks. There was
considerable current. it being flood tide, and my
boat was under good headway when saw the Pa
vonia heading towards me from the west at angle
of about forty degrees We were about a thousand
feet apart when blew one whistle, signifyiug my
intention TO keep on my course and giving the Pa
vOnia time TO turn in behind me. The signal was not
answered, and the PavOnia did not change her
course. l blew again, thinking my first blast
had not been heard. ] felt no uncasiness,
for there ample room for the POvOina to turn
back of me. Still there was no answer to my sig
nal. | couldn't understand il, and my first impress
sion that they had lost control of their boat,
aud were going TO stop for me to pass on without
paddles golng-theI showed no intention,
TO fail back; began to be alarmed harmed
could have been no misunderstanding as TO my in
tentions, for gave the same signal unhesltatngly
each time. There was no response. The boats were
nearing each other FAST and were now only three or
four lengths apart. Though had the right of way,
saw that 1t must be suicidal to keep in my
could not turn TO starboaTd because too near
the docks. My only recourse to stop. gave the
signal; thes engine was reversed aud we began Ito
back. At this moment the PavOnia turned bow on
to me and showed her other light. Then realized
the danger and ordered the deck hands TO clear the
gcntlemcns cabin; but before it could be done the
Payonia crashed into the forward cabin, striking il
about ten feet from the port bow, denolishing the
frame work and scattering splinters in all diTeC-
hons. There were no shrieks cries from the pas
sengers, and couldn't tell from my post, whether
any. were hurt OF, not. Our backing is all
That saved US. II | had continued on my
Payonia would have struck in the centre of the
forward cabin and killed hundreds of men. Her
deck was higher out of the water than ours so she
rode over us. There was nothing to prevent her