New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-05-20
CUT IN TWO IN THE FOG.
PILOT BOAT SUNK AND TWO MEN
DROWNED.
STRUCK BY Ia HoRMANDrE EIGHT MILES OFF
SANDY HooK-THE STORY AS TOLD
BY A SURVIVOR.

|
SANDY HooK-THE STORY AS TOLD
BY SURVIVOR.
Among the many shipping casualties reported
! from the Lower BAY, which were caused by the
dense fog which has prevailed for the last two
days, the most disastrous the sinking Of the
pilot boat Charlotte Webb by the French Line
steamer Ia Norrnande at II 40 o'clock on Satur-
day night, eight miles east OF Sandy Hook Light
Two lives were lost, and the boat sank in three
minutes after she was struck by the steamer,
which was on her voyage TO Ilavre, for which
port she sailed on Saturday morning
The two men drowned were Pilot Albert G.
malcom, captain and part owner Of the boat, who
lived at No. 2s9 South Fifth-st, Brooklyn, and
Charles Fitzgerald, the boat keeper. The names
of those saved were Pilots James Ilenes, -
Hammer, IT,, and Alexander Scott; Steward Ansel
Freeman, and Seamcn Dagbert Olsen, Samuel
larsen, John Andersen, Z. Bradley and - Green,
friend OF Captain MOcoms, who was his guest
and was making the voyage for pleasure
The story OF tho disaster was told 70 q Tribune
reporter by Pilot James IeineS, one Of the
survivors, on his arrival at his home, No. l26
Nanderbilt-ave., Brooklyn, yesterday afternoon.
Pl HCnes is typical old sailor, about sixty
years old. He was much excited over the disaster,
and blamed the officers and crew OF the French
steamer
PILOTS STORY OF THE ACCIDENT.
His story was as follows: Our cook left
Ms on Saturday morning and the boat was
anchored of Staten Island, waiting for new
man 20 he shipped Had it, not been for this
delay Captain Mnlcom would have been left
behind, as ne failed TO join the boat at sailing
time We sailed in thc afternoon from Stapleton,
and the weather wnS foEgy al the way down
10 Sandy Hook, when we put PotJames Kelly on
board the Steamer Richmond Hill at about p. IN.
and She continued on her voyage up the bay
We then beat 70 the eastward, and were from
six 10 eight miles OF the Hook, with light
breeze blowing At rhat time thr fog was
thickrnng, and Pilot Hammer, who Inns an
rghtcrn-toot liGnsc WAS on deck and told
me that IT was my next turn on deck, and
went below and partly dressed myself
When returned on deck the wind died out
and the fog became dcn~e. We hove 10 and
kept our fog-horn blowing, find rockets and usrd
flash lights md torches
Shortly after II p. m. WAS on deck with
MalcGm, vhrH wv beard u steamers fog. horn, and
| SAID wc had better 60 below. rs she whs close
upon u, and | thought should be killed by
our syars falling ! Sturted 10 go below when
the steamer crashed into us Just forward OF the
fOrerigEng and almost cut our boat in two
| called - Malcom, who WAS an Ori mau and
amc: Look OUT She's going down, old
man, how first; let us Jump over the side
together.
TRYING TO SAVE THE CAPTAIN.
We lrnped into the water, having scarcely
any clothing on. and supported Macom on my
back for what seemed hours, but WAS really less
than hnlf hour, and he clung 10 me untll WAS
nearly drowned. lie let 30 his hold, and saw
D. t,t,v nf alfl 4
for long while. I did not the hoatllrcper.
Fitzgerald, at all nnd / Supposr he went down
with the boat. After being In the water nearly
an hour, | was picked up by one OF the Nor
mandc's boats, and the first man | saw on her
deck WINS young pilot named Ilnll. He had
turned the ship 20 the captain, being ont OF
tho pilot grounds aud told mr THAT he was below
when the collision occurred. and rushed on deck
and threw the end Of the main brace, which was
coicd down on rho behaving pins over the side,
but did not see any lines thrown over the ships
SIDE
Hall woulA have been carried 20 Tlavre on tn
the station 10 be seen. Some OF the OF the
N0rmandic gave NE an undcrshirt gnd uniform
coat and cap Tho Nornandic was put about. and
ran up 10 where the kfrura WAS anchored, below
Quarantine, and At a. m IN Sunday We wcr"
transferred 10 her, where we received every kind
ness ana attention. When the ktrurih arrived az
quarantine "r were taken ashore III IN" doctors
boat and we MI came mp 10 the city except Ham |
mcr and Scott, who remained ~ Staten lsland.'
DESCRIPTION OF THE LOST BOAT
The French steamer proceeded on her voyage |
and sustained damage. The Charlotte Webb
WAS known rs no In the pilot fleet, md was -
schooner II feet long u feet q inches beam, and
10 feet draft and WA about Scycnty-nvc tons |
burden She owned 10y Captain Natcom and !
man named james Sullivan, the Inter having
the lnrGcNt sharr ~ her.
Pilot lrincs said that he lost clothing worth |
S2UO and u gold watch and chain The other |
men also lost ali thci- clothing The Rev Father |
Nrtcaltr of Boston, who Was passenger on the |
Etrura. took up u collection on tho steamer and |
secured = pounds sterling. which was divided |
among the scamcn saved from tho unfortunate |
pilot boat. Captain MalcOnl wDs over sixty years |
Old aud was one Of the oldest and bestknown |
nil I'm This