New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-02-04
FIVE AUSTRIANS DROWNED.
THE DoNAUs CUTTER RUN DOWN BY A TUG.
MIDsHIPMAN KERsEH AND POUR SAILORS LOST
IuG,s CAPTAIN ARREsTEp.

MIDsBIPMAN KERsEH AND POUR SAILORS LOST
THE TUGS CAPTAIN ARRESTED.
An accident occurred in the North River off
Twenty-ffth-st. last evening by which midshpman
and four belonging 20 the Austrian rgate Donau
lost their lives. The Donau arrived from Havana
last MondIy and anchored off Twentythivcst., North
River Since then the officers have been enjoying them
selves much possible In visiting the many places
OF interest and amusement in this neighborhood
Among the officers Of the frgate are number OF
the sons OF the Austrian nobility. who are serving
on board as mdshlpman When the snow began to fall
yesterday morning it lightly at first, but grew
thicker until it made it impossible to any great
distance on tho river and when the sun
set and darkness shut down over tho
river is was impossible TO see
boats length In any direction from the ship About
G:30 p m the steam launch of the Donau, which had
been ashore at Twenty ST., came of to the ship
| and the passengers who were in her hurried on
board OF the ship The in the launch attempted
to run it around under the stern OF the ship In order to
make her fast in position in which she would ride
safely until morning.
They just bringing her up to the ships stem when
the engine became disabled and she drlfted helpessy
away up the river in the darkness Lieutenant
Szende, who was in charge Of the ship,
ing the danger OF the launch sent MIdsbpman
Kerseh and ten IN OF the ships cutters To her
assistance The cutler out Of sight OF people
the Donau and they waiting for her RETURN eI-
disabled launch in tow, when they suddenly
beard the cries Of their shipmates and al
most immediately came the crash. All was
excitement board the ship, aud the order was given
to lower away boat and to the rescue. Just then
the tug Richard Garrett along With six Austrian
sailors board, and the officers OF the Donau
learned to their horror that the cutter had been
run down and the rest Of Eor crew
were lost. 1t that just the cutter
putting of to the assistance of the disabled lauuch
the tug Blanche Page came up the river with r tow
loaded with freight She did not the cutter,
and those the cutter did not see her
until 1t was too late to avoid collision.
The cutter was run down and the thrown into
the icy water One OF them was rescued by the Pago
and five others were rescued by the tug Day. which
happened to he in the neIghborhool. The tug Richard
Garrett happening along the all transferred
to her aud carried to the Donau.
As the Richard Garrett took the men from the
and put them the Donau the captain of the ship,
after hearing the accounts OF the men,
sent Lieutenant Szende and Midshpman Ram
berg on board the tug, which steamed
the river and put them board of the police boat
Patrol. They told Sergeant McDermott, who was In
command OF the accident and he imme-
diateIy sent out two o: the police rowboats
to the Page and the captain He also sent
men to the captains home in Hoboken, and roundsmau
up the pier at which the tug generally ties up.
Soon after the officers left the ship Cap
Greene the agent the boat, and Captain Miller, OF
the tug American Eagle, went on board Of
the Patrol aud reported the collision TO
Sergeant McDermott After hearing Captain Ierberrs
account sergeant put him under arrest and sent him
to the Churcn Street Police Station, In charge
OF an officer where he locked up. Captain
Herbert well known among Steamboat men aud
is regarded as a skful aud experienced man. lie has
been IN the towing business for over twsntyfour years.
ard for a number Of years in the employ Of John
ii. Starin on his boats
Captain Herbert of the Blanche Page. which the
boat down. seen by o TRIBuNE reporter al the
Church Street Police Station. I'VE were going up the
North River" he said, with float with ten cars on
board belonging to the New-fork Central Railroad
lashed alongside We were bound for tie railroad pier
at Thirty third-st IL was about hair-past
and so dark and thick that could not
see tue length of the boat ahead. The
tide was running up the river strong at the tiule
had man lookout the float aud one in the bows OF
the tug steering the boat myself ana trying TO
see ahead but could scarcely tn" man on the BARGE
II was so dark We about of Twenty y-hfth-st when
sud eny heard cries which seemed to come from the
water almost under our bows. Immediately rang 10
etop and back the and BILE the whistle, bu 10
tide was pushing up the river, and before the N gos
strrnway on htr heard the float strike something
one OF my uen cried out that lt boat told tho
men 10 throw lines to the men IN the water ana try
To save lives ran out On the upper deck OF the
tug ana saw ny drckpands pun two men out Of tho
water from between tue bows of the tug aud the h0at
called out to the men aud asked bow many they had
saved, and they said ten. The tug Ken,
ard Garrett was by and PICKED
nm one man and then ran alongside
OF us and took the had picked up and SAID
that she would put them on the DonLn ,
81 went mn 10 Thirty lhirl-si. ana landed the Goat
ard then ran ont alongside OF the lrgatc and asked
them how many men IN the BOAT Ihey
answered me- hut | could not understand tho8I.
then ran back to the wharf and reported tne
cvli,on To the agent. James Green. He SAID
had better come down and report it 70 the captain
OF the Patrol We down aud reported the
accident to him, aul he put me under arrest dd h3t
see the boat uhtil after her down. 40 not thlnk
maj She had a light board. Captain Charles Miller OF
tnc tus American aglc, came down here with me- He
told me that when he was gong up the river aoous
HTtprn minutes ahead OF me lie nearly ran down tho
lnI,pcI which was coming from the Ncw-lork shore
without "A light He said lie only missed her By few
fret"