Morning journal and courier., 1890-09-06
nI.n1Inn noArs COLLIDE.

OLD LINE BOATS COLLIDE. The c. HI. Northam and Continental |
 Collide in East River Yesterday Al.
 ternoon-The Northam Damaged l
 Proceeds as Far as He'll Gate l
 TOwed Back and Passengers Trans-
 ferred-The Damage Not Serious.
 Yesterday afternoon the steamers O. H. Northam and Continental of the Old line of steamboats came in collision in the East river, off Twenty-sixth street, and for some time much confusion prevailed among the passengers on both boats, which was allayed by calming announcements from the officers of the boats after an in- vestigation had been made. The accident happened owing to the crowded state of the river, which was unusually alive with shipping and steamers at that point. Pilot Waldeman, who is temporarily in charge of the Northam, and the captain of the Continental both made most strenuous ef- forts to avoid the collision, but were un- successful. The Continental struck the Northam on the port side, just forward of the wheel, carrying away the guards and crashing into the Northam, damaging the wheel house and freight room. The Con tinental sustained but slight damage. The boats lay to, near each other, for half an hour at the. scene, after which the Northam proceeded on her trip. She vent, however, only as far as Hell Gate, when some damage to themachinery being apparent, it was decided to go no farther Boats were signalled and the steamer Min nehaha responded and took off the 200 or more passengers of the Northam and brought them back to New York, where most of the messengers took trains for their destinations A number of the passengers of New York The Northan's passengers were largely for Hartford, Meriden, Mid dletown and other places north and east of here. The Northam was later in tho day lowed back to New York. Telegrams re- ceived here state that the damage to the Northam will be rep aired in few days Meanwhile the Continental will take the place of the Northam service as usual The supervising engineer of the boats happened to be at Belle dock last evening shortly after the news came concerning the boats. He at once pro- ceeded to the end of Long Wharf where the Elm City was lying and the Elm was at once got ready for service. She made the trip down for the Northam. There was, of course, no boat from New York last evening on the old line and the pas train to take the Northam made as nearly a bee line as possible for the cars. Pilot Walkeman of the Northam is acting for Captain Fred J. Peck, who is at home with his father. Superintendent Peck of the old line, whose health has been impaired and who had just returned from a Journey for recuperation. The Conti- mental after the collision proceeded to her dock.
 The steamer Elm City will tomorrow make her last Sunday trip of the season to New York, going down in the morning and returning leaving New York at mid night.
 Purser Rowe of the Elm City, who for a few days past has been acting for Purser DeYoung of the Northam, who is away on his vacation, arrived home last evening and resumed on the Elm City.
 Later information received here by the steamboat officials is that the Continental is all right and will make her regular trip to this city this morning. The Elm City left for New York at 3 o'clock this morn ing.
 At the time of the accident three walters employed on the Northam were sitting smoking. The shock tumbled them in heap. Three were injured: The first three walters; the last passenger. William Smith, cut on chin, sprained thumb and confusion of chest; Samuel Lewis, struck on the neck by piece of the flag pole, severe wound; William Bresco, scalp wound; Joseph Stamford, aged fourteen, passenger, injured about the back. Taken to hi1 eome on East One Hundred
 and Thirty-ffth street. The three walters
 were taken to hospital. The Northam was obliged to beach, as the collision had
 thrown her shaft out of alingment Many | of her passengers left for New Haven at
 il o'clock on the Continental.
 NEW YORK, Sept. 5.-Captain Stevens
 of the Continental would not talk when
 asked the cause of the collision. He merely ! said: 'I run my boat and the other man runs his boat. I have nothing to say" Captain Fred Peck of the Northam was on the Continental coming to the city when the accident occurred. He could not
 be found by the reporters Some pas sengers on the Northam said that the Con- tinental was to blame for the collision. A passenger on the Northam said that the | accident was unavoidable. After the Northam's passengers had been taken off
 she returned to the pier at the foot of East Fifth street and tied up,
 Later-The Continental left on her re- ! turn trip to New Haven at Il P. m., and shortly after midnight it was rumored that after she had gone some distance it was found that she was leaking so badly as to
 be in danger of foundering and she was
 run ashore and beached. This rumor
 could not be confirmed at o'clock a. m. PRESS DISPATCH.
 NEW YORK, Sept. 5.-The Glen Island steamer Mohawk, while on her way to this
 city this afternoon was signalled at about
 4:30 by the steamer c. H. Northam, of the 1 New Haven line off Oak point, on the sound The Mohawk went alongside of 1 the Northam, when it was found that the 1 latter was beached in shallow water with 6 1 hole stove in her side and portion of her l wheel-house carried away. The Northam l which left New York at three o'clock for | New Haven had been in collision with l the steamer Continental, of the same I Line, in the East River. ~The Continental was bound from New Haven for New York After the collision the captain of the Northam did not think that his boat was so seriously damaged sthat he could not l proceed, and he resumed the trip for New Haven. The steamer, however, soon be- gan to list to larboard and the machinery did not work we'll, which induced the cap tain to run the steamer aground. The Mohawk took the 200 passengers of the Northam and brought them to this city, | where they took the first train for New Haven.