New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-08-13
CRUSHED ON THE DECKS.
FOURTEEN KILLED ON A BARGE.
NEARLY FIFTY OTHERS INJURED BY FALL
ING BEANS
THE HURR1cASEDEcK TORN FROM A VESSEL IN
GALE IN OYSTER BAY FALLS UPON A
PARTY OF PLEASURE SEEKERS
on BOARD.

n
PARTY OF PLEASURE SEEKERS
on BOARD.
A horrible accident befell an excursion party
on the Long Island Sound during the thunder
storm yesterday afternoon Fourteen persons
were killed, and, according to the best reports.
teary fifty persons were injured. The dead
comprised twelve adults and two children. Only
two Of the number Of adults were men.
The excursion party composed the employees and
friends Of the drygoods store of Theodore Kayser.
No. 1917 Graham-ave., Brooklyn. There were
500 pleasure seekers, and the start was made
from South Fifth-st. Brooklyn, at 10 80 o'clock.
The steamer Crystal Stream and barge Republic,
which had been chartered for the occasion, took
the party to Cold Spring Grove. The trip was
made in safety and the grove was reached at
o'clock. All the plcasure-scekers left the barge
and steamer. As. they did so they scattered,
some taking rambles about the woods and others
dancing the platform.
At 3 80 O'Clock the heavens began to be over
cast and the wind began to blow hurricane. The
party at once began to collect on the barge.
While they were clustered together to
avoid the storm the high wind caught the hur-
ricane deck of the barge and raising it several
feet dropped it with a crash on those who were
on the upper deck. Over $50 people were pinned
down by the crashing timbers, and the scene that
followed is beyond description. The dead. as far
as could be learned late last night, are:
THE KILLED.
GEOTz, Miss Kuntunber nineteen years old, No. 200
pRINTz, Pauline nfty.two years old. Drlggs.ave.
sCHERAiERHORN, Lizzie nine years old, No. 1872
Craham-aye.
Unknown woman, twenty years old.
SCHNEIDER, Mrs. Charles, No Ala South Fifth.st.
HOFFMAN, j., forty years old.
SCHUYLER r. pilot OF Crystal Stream. forty years old.
RAUTZ Katie four years old, No. 1872 Graham-st
RHODES, Miss, Maspeth, skull fractured.
SALLER, Mrs. Kate thrty.nlne years old, NO. n
Boerum-st
sALLER Jane six years old, No. II Doerum.st.,
KRUPS, Lizzie
SCHOENH nut Lizzie, nine yeors old
LIPENFINGER Mrs. forty years old, No. l93 Graham.
The names of the injured could not be learned
last night as they were removed 10 the Cold
Spring Grove Hotel. The shrieks of the dying
and wounded supplanted the music of the band,
and a scene of horror ensued. those who were
able crawed out from under the broken timbers
Willing hands were ready to receive them, and as
speedily as possible send them to the hotel
Work was at once begun to clear away the
wreck and axes, butcher-knives and other APP
plianccs were used in the work. Some of the
wounded were taken TO Oyster Bay and the
Others were left at the Cold Spring Grove Hotel
Their injuries were too serions for them TO be
removed. Many of those who escaped injuries
returned to Brooklyn by train, while others came
in by the CRYSTAL Stream, which reached South
Fifth-st., Brooklyn, at IL o'clock. The bodies of
the dead were also brought in by this boat and
removed TO the Fifth Precinct, in Bedford-aye.
Coroner Lindsay was informed.
THE CAPTIN's STORY.
Captain John Gibbons, of the Crystal Stream,
said last night:
Il saw a storm coming from the west. The
clouds were exceedingly black and the lightning
heavy. There were probably 600 people on the
hurricane deck We were lying with our bow to
the south The wind struck us on the starboard
side 1t seemed to he n perfect tornado. IL
carried away flagstaff and drove us against
the barge. We were preparing TO start, and,
anticipating the approach of the storm, had low
cred all the curtains of the barge. The pleasure
seekers ran to the port side of the barge and she
tipped. The wind tore the curtains 10 shreds
and raised the roof Of the barge 1t fell with
crash and imprisoned more than half Of the
pleasure-seelSers
Those who were on the lover deck ran ashore.
Two women and man jumped overheard One of
Immediately after the falling of the roof
the ten men who composed my crew began cutting
about the tmbers One of the first killed the
pilot He was on the roof giving instructions
for the casting off of the ropes. lie was thirty
five years cid and lived in Brooklyn.
Il believe the lightning struck the boat. !
consider the Republic a stanch barge
and can't remember when accident hap
pened to her before. The wind was so
strong that it tore the sign from the pilot house
and carried il 500 yards on shore
Lena F1eig, Of No. % Boreum-st, one of the sur
vivors, when seen by Tribune reporter, said
;. The captain of the Crystal Stream said
that storm was brewing and at once
began 10 cast of the line for his
trip. When the accident occurred
most of the people were Oh the upper deck l
stood in the centre Of the hurricane deck of the
barge when the crash came The thai
followed were terrible. The cries from
the wounded were pitful to hear
managed to get to a place Of safety, and while
| was meditating what 10 do, | saw woman
throw her sX-months-old child from the barge
TO the steamer. The child was caught in the
arms Of a man, and the mother jumped after her
child ! then made the leap myself in safety.
% When the accident occurred policeman on |
board the barge closed the doors |
crossing the stairway leading to the
lower deck. This shut the people |
in on tie upper deck and their only escape was
by jumping into the water Had the stair
way been left clear, think many peo-
pie could have escaped readily ! saw two
women and man dead on the deck when left
he barge. believe that the accident was caused
by the lightning striking the barge the left
side. We were compelled to pay our passage to
The city. Some were charged 80 cents to be con.
yeyed 10 the railroad depot, and 60 cents
10 reach Brooklyn. There were many poor per-
,ons who >Nyere without money and were unable
10 obtain transportation by the railway company.
Mr. Goodman, drummer for Mr.. Kayzer's
lryaoods houe paid as many fares 10 the city
s lac had money for, but compelled to leave
many behind. They pleaded with him TO assist