Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1885-04-09
A SAD EASTER ACCIDENT
THE C.IPSIZTNG or A aBARGE TT
THE ~. a. ". WHARF.
The .cCiaens Caused By sEie ride
striking siir side Of h, aSs.f W hsie
she WA. tfcing 'E'uEned Esawn tile
SILVER.


Striking shp side of h, asI.,s " bile
she WA. ttciny 'TuEned Esawn tne
skiIer.
FOur men, one white and three colored.
a pa,T of the barge South Americas crew.
lost their lives in the Delaware river lust
off the Wilmington 4 Northern Railroad
Company's pier Sunday afternoon.
The sad drowning was the result of the
barge listing greatly to one side and. the
men, in fear she would capsize with all
on board, jumped into the river and soon
disappeared beneath the waters surface
The drowned men are Moses Twine of
Richmond, Va, aged about 35 years
married, and wife residing in Richmond.
Andrew Brown and Thomas Randolph,
both culored, and about 20 years Of age
and unmarried, of Richmond Va, for
some time past employed ut Bellevue
stone quarriy 5.
Robert Burns, white, aged about 40
years OF Philadelphia, married. but lived
-cnnrt frn'u his wife, and the support of
two small child EN-,
The bnrge south American is owned by
r. A. MeGowan OF Hayre de Grace, Md,
and commanded by J. II. Wills of Balti-
more. On board Sunday afternoon
were a crew of 81 men and G. NJ. Hagerty
oil Richmond, Va, who represents the
interests of Colonel Andrews, one of
the firm of Andrews 4 Locke, con
tractors. TO deliver %, 200 tons of stone
at the Delaware breaBwater. The work
OF loading the barge had been com
ploted on Saturday and Sun
day afternoon everything was put
III readiness to start the barge
and her cargo for her destination--the
Brealtwater. She was loaded with T53
tons Of stone, some weighing about half
ton, little less than half of which were
piled upon the deck. About 8 o'clock
the tug Gladisfen took the barge in tow,
and steamed with,her about 300 feet, into
the river channel She then sought to
turn the heavily -freighted craft down the
stream, but in doing so the strong tide
swept full into her broadside, and the
force Of the tug Mt her PROV in over
coming the strength of the current made
the barge rift to the side and the rocks
piled upon the deck began rolling and fell
overheard into the river, the vessel sitting
at an angle of nearly 60 degrees, the
lower side almost submerged beneath the
surface. Thomas Randolph, one of the
crew who was drowned, was standing near
the edge of the submerged side when the
barge listed, was instantly swept off into
the river by the avalanche of rocks and
was not seen again. II is probable that he
is beneath the stone buried in the mud ut
the rivers bottom.
The instant the craft listed, the danger
of her sinking was manifest TO every one
and the crew was thrown in panic.
All rushed for places of safety and
stood upon the vessels railing ready to
leap into the water if necessary. Moses
Twine and Andrew Brown were frenzied
with excitement, and in their fright
plunged into the river. They were heavily
weighted with overcoats and although
expert swimmers they were unable
to keep themselves afloat; one
of the men instantly disappeared
from sight while the other arose to the
surface and kept himself afloat few
moments, begging piteouly all the time
for help. The men ON the barge as soon
MS they recovered from the shock of the
''listing, y jumped to the life boat which
was ON the high side, but so securely tied
that the hawsers had to be cut and the
craft lowered by hand Sided down
the barges side into the river.
The tide instantly struck the light
barque and instantly il filed
with water thus rendering useless the
only thing at hand which could have
been used to save the drowning. Robert
Burns was in the wheel house when the
barge careened and in fright he ran to
the side and Jumped overheard. Just as
he reached the water heavy stone or
plank from the vessel struck him ON the
head and stunned him considerably. He
4
above water and as he was drifted away by
the tide, the blood streamed over
his face and he begged in piteous tones for
help. The tug Immediately went to his
rescue and after he had drifted about 300
feet succeeded in getting him short line,
but when the men had drawn him to
within 20 feet of the boat. exhausted by
the effort and stunned by the blow on the
head, Burns hold relaxed and he sank
out of sight.
Morris Pierce of this city, one of the
engineers aboard, was knocked overheard
! by some timber, but caught friendly
| plank and WIS rescued by the tug after
| being i'll the water several minutes The
crew of the South America was terribly
excited over the sad calamity to the un-
| fortunate men, and their inability TO
render any response TO the calls for aid,
and the fear that the craft would sink,
kept the men wrought to high pitch
until the immediate danger was passed.
The two first men jumping into the
river and the celebrity with which
the tide closed in upon them
taking both to the bottom deferred others
from following them. G, NJ. Haggerty,
and others, We're ready to leap into the
water, but beholding the fate of the two
negroes they held back and their lives
were spared Mr.. Haggerty while laboring
under great mental excitement Sunday
evening related the incidents of the sad
affair TO a GAZETTE representative, and
with shudder explained how nearly he
and veral others Ind been to jumping
overload, and sharing the same fate as
the two who took the desperate chances
and lost The vessel and cargo are in
surcd for $24 900.
|