New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-11-26
FIVE LOST WITH A TUGBOAT
AN EXP LosIoN BY AN EAST RIVER PIER.



BlacSwell's Island, was shaken UP yesterday after
noon oy q steam-boilcr explosion, which blew a
tug TO atoms. stove hole big as barn door
in schooner near by and killed five men outright
In less than one second. The il-fated tug was the
sunbeam of Elizabethport, N. j., with captain
ana three men aboard-an engineer, fireman ana
deck hand. What was thought to be the body
OF the engineer was picked up an hour or two
later, and toward evening another body, badly
scalded, and probably that of the fireman, drifted
mp against the sea-wan OF Blacllwells Island. No
trace has been found of the other two men from
the tug, and they are probably at the bottom OF
the river.
The big schooner whose side was partly broken
in' is the James II. Deputy, of Bath, Maine. She
is lumber coaster and was dischargng cargo
OF latls at the pier at East Eightieth-st One OF
the crew, the cook William w. Hodgkins, Of
IIunnewells Point Maine was killed by the ex-
plosion, and another, Edward Bradshaw Of Par
Ser's Head, Maine was badly injured about the
LETT arm and head. The captain mate and one
other sailor, though all on deck escaped unhurt.
The rigging Of the ship was riddled with Tying
scraps of iron and splinters and the masts were
almost carried away by the shock OF the debris
The schooner sprang a leak and began to fill
steadily with water. She is uninsured and the
loss will fall upon her captain and owner. George
W. Stacy, of larker's Head, Maine. This was to
be the James H. Deputy's last trip south and al
most the last bundle Of laths had been got of
when the unfortunate tugs boiler bursted.
HOW The ACCIDENT OCCURRED
As far as Captain Stacy could recall the facts
last night, the accident happened much as follows
Ills schooner had lain up day or two ago at the
Eightiethst pier to discharge her cargo of lumber
consigned TO Nathaniel Wise, a dealer near by
Between her and the pier proper were two other
schOoncrs, both loaded with stone. the j. ). In
graham OF Maine, and the Gladys, Of St John,
New-Brunswick. 1t was rather tedious process
carrying the laths ashore, and though the captain
had expected TO knock of work by Thanksgiving
Day. some 10000 laths were left on deck Wednes-
day night anl all hands were put on duty yester
day morning to clear the cargo for sailing today
The wind blew a good-szed northeaster across
the river and the rain began to fall in sheets
about noon The men put on their oilslSn coats
however. and kept working The fog and wet
made things nasty and slippery from stem to
stern, and the soaked lumber became harder and
harder to handle.
The captain had hoped to take a tow over to
Hunters Point before noon, but that was found
to be impossible. At half past twelve the SUM-
beam steamed alongside and offered its services.
The captain OF the tug came aboard, and after
some bargaining and haggling on both sides price
was fixed for the trip across to Hunters Point
The Sunbeam was ready 10 start at once, but Cap
tain Stacy said that he could not get ready before
o'clock. The tug TO return at that hour
The captain however decided not TO cruise about
the river in the rain and tied up alongside of the
Dcputys bow.
There were only few thousand laths left en-
deck at o'clock. The engineer Of the Sunbeam
had gone ashore for o few minutes. but now
hurried back The captain. the deck hand and
tho 6rcm,n were oil sitting in shelter in what
e,ycs ON small tugs like the Sunbeam for both
cabin and engine-room. Captain Stacy had been
ashore, too and was making his way back across
the Ingraham and the Gladys to his own vessel
w. W. IIodgkins, the cook or steward, and Ed
ward Bradshaw, q sailor, working up near
the foI enast the side of the Deputy toward the
tug. Augustus II. Ilodglins, brother of the
steward standing near the malnmast, and
John Cresscy another sailor, working further
forward but over against the shore side of the
vessel and partly sheltered from view by the piles
of lals themselves.
EFFECT OF The SHOCK.
Just as Captain Stacy was clambering up the
side OF the Deputy, the explosion came.
1t was sudden puff and roar and
then dark cloud of flying bits like hail of bull
lets and broken shells The first whirr and shock
seemed to sweep everything fiat; then came the
dull sound of the big fragments of iron and lead,
the cracking of the plinters and the sharp cries
OF agony and terror. 80
of the Gladys, safe, though for moment
unconscious. Augustus Hodgkins the maze Iay
near by, also safe and sound though Dlown twenty
feet through the air and lighting on the stone,c4v-
cred deck. Cressey, the sailor. was crouched pc
hind the bales Of lath, which had luckily protected
him. All three had their wits again IN moment
nd ~ IN fee n
the tug aud the two men nearest the polht Vi
danger.
Where the tug had been was nothing but seeth-
ing mass of water. Tne river az far across as the
lowering fog would let one sec was flecked with
bits of debris, wood, brass and boiler iron now
floating for a moment, now sinking with swash
and bubbling into the disturbed and angry waters.
The deck Of the Deputy was litter OF scraps OF
iron and wooden splintcrs The pine lath oales
bling still and the ship rocking from the sudden
blow. The hole In the side showed black, ugly
mouth, into which the water had beguG to pour
The two men who had been working 3y the lore lore
mast had disappeared. Of the starboard bow,
where the tug had lain waiting for tho cargo 10
Discharge. broken and mutllated body could DC
seen dimly half sinking in the foamy waters. it
foated for moment longer and the mate thought
he recognized his brothers face and clothes. NO
one else was sure and soon the llfelsss man pungeu
out of sight.
Closer In to shore the other sailor Bradshaw,
was soon noticed coming to the surface lie had
an ugly cash on his forehead. from which the blood
oozed freely, and the clothes had been torn from
his left arm and shoulders, showing wounds and
bruises there. He was plainly alive, however;
though crippled. The water was still whirling and
covered with foam and something had to be done
at once If the struggling sailor was to be saved.
The mate and the unnured seaman lowered the
ships yawl and started for both the drowning men.
Bradshaw was picked up safely and car
ried back to the schooner, but the. body
face again, though the yawl waited on the river
some fifteen minutes for it to reappear. NO trace
Of the four men on the tug could be found for more
than an hour. Then a mutilated body was thrown
up on the shore just below the Deputy's pier, and
some time afterward another scaided trunk was
driven On the north end OF BlackwelPs Island.
DAMAGE TO THE SCHOONER.
Captain Stacy ran below to examine the hole in
the ships side. lie found the leak rather
threatening, and took steps to have 1t
stopped as far as possible The damage to the