New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-12-05
WHICH PILOT-BOAT WAS LOST
CONFLICTING STORIES ABOUT NO. 8.

THE FRIENDS OF MANY PILOTS EXTREMELY ANA
1oUs-cAPTAIN MURRAY's REPORT.
Nothing was talked about at the office OF the
New-I ork and New-Jersey pilots In 5outhst yes'e,
except the sinking Of the unknown pioEn o
nv the steamsbIp Alaska on Sunday night Both onces
were filled with gloomyfaced men throughout the oaS
and many Of the relatives of pilots who were kno"H
to be at sea called to learn II the boats In winch 'ny
were interested had heard from One by one every
boat was accounted for except the Columbia, No g. NO.
was I'm donbt for some time, but 1t was learned tha al
but one OF her pilots had ashore and that the last
ono left her 800 or 400 miles east OF FIRE
Island not long enough before the collision ior
her to have sailed to Fire Island feaiS
for the Hope No l. felt also until late In the ai'e
noon when Michael Mcdonnell, one OF her pilots to
ported at the NewYork Office, after bringing the steam
sbip Persan Monarch port that his boat was sae
and sound Mcdonnell said that he thought he saw tno
figure on the sail OF plotboat on Watch nm W
the Persian Monarch passed that point Inc hsuio
might have he was not sure about IT, Ahohs '
piots there was no doubt late the afternoon that NO.
was the boat Yet may be several days peoro
IL will DO certain which boat went down.
Later Frederick Nichols, boat-keeper OF pilot boat NO
90 brought his boat into the stapeton Basin ana rc
ported that he had No 8, the Columbia ana lor
two hours Monday morning her. He said that
recognized White, the Columbia boatkeeper, whom ne
knew well, and exchanged wave OF the nat win hi
FACTS ABOUT NO. 8.
The Columbia one of the finest pOtboats ever In the
,eryjce was built at Poons yard at the foot OF Bridge
st. Brooklyn, four years ago, and cost Sl6,ooo Ihe
principal owners OF the boat are Its captain Augustus
Van Pelt OF Edgewater Staten Island; Henry Seglne'
of Summit, n. j.. and the orphan children OF BENJAMIN
simonson and the widow Of S. H. Jones, both OF
whom were pilots. The boat was insured
for $4,000. II started on the present trlp
last Saturday with four pilots and crew OF six men on
board The pilots were Ralph Noble, Of No. ia Elev-
enthst South Brooklyn Thomas H. Metcafe, OF staple
ton 8. l.; Christian Wolfe, OF No. 1i3 Rutledge-st'
Brookyp and Charles Arnold, Of Tompknsville, B. l.
They were all part owners in the vessel William White
was the boatkceper and Henry Foreblade swede was
the steward.
BENJAMIN simonson whose children have interest In
the boat was pilot the old No g. On the day When
The new boat of that number made her trial trip simon
son committed suicide and since then many OF the pilots
have considered her unlucky
REPORT OF CAPTAIN MURRAY.
CAPTAIN Murray, OF the Alaska. made official reports
yesterday in regard the disaster to the Guon Steam
shin Company and to the British Consul. His report to
the company was as follows: December .. 1888 when
twelve miles g. g. E. Of Fire Island, weather frc'h NJ W.
gale with high sea, ship steering W. by n ii ;io ,. M
from the ship with blue lights and at 1852 proceeded
half speed at 1857 slowed the engines, and at LOS
A. m stopped ships head being q & Piotboats light
bearing about g. W. by W. q W. when instead Of keeping
under my lee and boarding IN the usual manner ne ny,
tempted TO my bows observing which reversed u
sneed and obout three minutes afterward the vessel
came into collision the ptlot-boat sinking almost ih-
Ire bS @yan. We Of ropes b2oys and but without
avail steamed about the locality for seven and hali
hours, and daylight seeing nothing from the mast
! head, proceeded on our course
Josia Johnson Henry HarbinsOn. Walter Brewer and
William McGarhan pilots and members Of the Pilot
Association, called Distrct-Atomey Peckham 10 ask
whether any action could be taken against the officers OF
| the Alaska on account OF the collision The
pllots said that the night clear and that there
was no excuse for the the officers They had heard
that the captain Of the Alaska would make statement
before the British Consul and thoy wished 10 cOnnerac
by some other investigation The DistrctAttorney said
that the collision occurred more than three leagues OUT
al the county authorities had Jurisdiction. lie
advised them tO call on the United States Disrct-Attor
ncy and the pilots accordingly visited Mr.. Roots office.
They stated their case and Mr.. Root promised 10 take
the matter into consideration, though he did not afford
the pilots much encouragement 10 expect action by tue
| Government.
| GENEROSITY or THE AAsKAs PASSENGERS.
The passengers the Alaska on Monday morning
raised 81 10 80 for the families OF the whose lives
were lost. J. ". Todd and Matthew Gray suggested the
raising of this fund The names subscribed the
| following:
Voluntary subscription by the passengers OF the steam
shin Alaska toward relief fund for any destitute
yes the unfortunate lost through the painful wreck
of the pOt-bOat this morning The amounts sub
scribcd are unanimously intrusted 10 the Hon.
Robert T. Porter Of TUE NEwiORk TRIBUNE for dstr1bu-
ton as he deems best under the circumstances.
Sandy Hook, Dee 3, 1883.
The names Of the subscribers and the amounts In
American money "a great many Of the subscriptions being
maid I'm foreign notes and coin follows: