New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-09-11
REALTH OFFICERS PRAYING.
THE FRANKLIN EDsoN ASHORE IN A FOG.
NIGHT OF TERROR AND sUFYERrNG-THE MEN
LANDED NEAR LONG BEACH.

LANDED NEAR LONG BEACH.
Ofncials and employees of the Health Depart
nent wero much disturbed yesterday on account OF
accident to the Franklin Edson the department. steam
boat which carried number OF clerks aud inspectors
out past Sandy Hook to witncss the yacht race on
Thursday. Rnmors that the boat had been wrecked
tho Long Island shore were floating about Police Head
quarters carly In the morning IL was asceraned later
that the boat was aground of Rocksway Beach, but was
not In danger OF breaking and the voyagcrs
on her had boen taken of by the of Life c-savus
Station No. SO. When some OF tho clerks appeared
at Sanitary Headquarters they were haggar and worn
with fright and discomfort They declared that they
had spent long night In mental and physical suffering.
having experienced of tho fright OF shipwrec and
that nothing could tempt them another yachs
race
The Franklin Edison is . staucn propeller. drawing
niue feet OF water II is used for tho transfer OF psr
tents and supplies from the city to the departments
hospital for contagious diseases on North lrother
Island General smaller thought the boat might DO used
to give some members OF the departs
ment an outing on Thursday. particularly
as the present dearth of contagious diseases
in the city had left tho department hospitals without
patients When he gave permission for the excursion
he gave directions that Sandy Hook pilot should DO on
gagged TO steer the boat to the and that all possible
care must be taken to keep the boat out OF dangerous
water His Instructions wero observed so far as tho
pilot concerned and the blame OF the accident will
helpless on the way home. Chief Clerk Goterman and
Inspector Chaplin wero u command OF the party, which
numbered twentyseven mon. Assistant Sanitary
superintendent James went as far as the Battery and
decided not to venture any further. tho weather
looked threatening and he had been Ill recently
All went well on the outward trip. Each man had
provided himself with luncheon and able to make
himself comfortable in the rain. On the way nome ths
boat pitched about In the rough and many OF tue
men became sick. Fog aud darkness closed In anu n-
creased their discomfort II not long before tho
pilot was unable to light He steered by guess
work until about p m., when the boat came 10 SUI.
den stop en sand bar and lay rolling az the mercy OF
the wavee Vain efforts were made 70 back tue bosE
irt0 deeper water and the whistle sounded signals
OF distress without any answering sound. Tho thdmP
lag of the boat the sand bar scared the o. board
until they thought their last hour had come some OF
them knelt In the cabin and prayed loudly for deliver
auce one inspector VINO had not Doen noted Tor Ms
devotions cried out III his agony 10 LORD IL hust
| 90. take me right away! Take me- now !!
The also avaled themselves OF other means OK
safety. They strapped epreservers about their waists
fe-raft out Of the tables. chairs aud
loose boards about the boat The night Wore on, with
the whistle footing signals OF distress and the prayer
meeting In the cabin still In progress. IL was ABOUT
o'clock yesterday morning when lifeboat anNwered
the whistle There was room IN the llfeOoat Tor Only
one-har OF the men the Eds0n AMI two trips were
needed to convey them ashore. They were landed be-
| tween Rockaway and Long Breach anu had 10 Walk
four miles TO the nearest railroad station was aoOut
when they got back 10 tho city. Dr. Chapln dil
leave the steamboat with the other mon lie SENT
kilograms later trom Manhattan Beach, stating hat tla
| boat was not leaking ana couid DC pu"ei
General Shaer said late IN the afternoon that Tug was
expected take the Franklin Elson off at p n lie
sorry that the accident had occurred, but he did noe
think could be blamed for 10 aud the prospects
that the boat would not be damaged In tue least
In sending the boat give the employees OF tho de-
partment an opportunity to witness the rla' be s.t
| lie merely had followed ci-tS.i oas ago estaOlSnel
| by the heads OF other departments