New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-06-16
SUNK WITH TWO ON BOARD.
THE YACHT AMELIA RUN DOWN IN CLEAR
WEATHER
SHE HAD TAKEN OUT TWELVE PLEASURE
SEEKERS - TEN ESCAPED - THE TUG
r. W. nEvoE CRASHED INTO

+. W. DEvoE CRASHED INTO HER.
When the sloop-yacht Amelia slipped away from her
anchorage at IIoboken on sunday morning with her
party Of eleven pleasure aboard 1t typical
North River summer yachting weather. soft wind
from the south blew Just strong enough to drive her up
tho river. which laughed and shone In the sunlight as
far the eve could reach Yesterday the only vestige
OF the handsome little vessel her topmsst project
ing above tle surface Of the river the middle OF
tile channel of One-hnndred and tenth-st., whore she
had been sunk in thirty five feet Of water, carrying
down with her two OF her passengers.
The Amellh was a centrcboah sloop.ngged yacht,
with 4s feet Of keel and 1916 feet BEAM She had been
built In $780, and for the last three years has been
owned by John L. Eccles. Of No 90 Vandamst., this
city, steam contractor and engineer The captain
was Charles Van Wart who has had much experience
as sailor on yachts. Owner and captain were both
aboard the yacht when she started on Sunday morn
ing for Nyack Besides them sho carried the following
guests: Dr. Thomas S. Bahan and his sons Chester
T. and William II. Bahan; Frank jenkins, Michael
T. Sharhey, lawyer Of No A MacdOugast; David
j. Cushing, Of No. 322 West Forty -second-st; William
Condor, Of No. 165 Tenthave.; Harry Campbell Of
No. ia John-st.. Brooklyn and william Morgan, OF No
160 sands-st., Brooklyn
The party arrived at Nyack without any accident
and stopped there for short time AS the wind had
rather light coming up the river, 1t was late when
they landed and night set In shortly after they started
all objects plainly visible, and the vessel slipped
easily down the river aided by the ebbng tide in
beating against the soutlery wind which still pre-
vailed AT first the breeze fairly strong but
when she got of Fort Lee barely enough wind re-
malned to keep way the craft,
The captain had been tacking to the Jersey shore,
and when of Fort Lee went about on the starboard
tack, toward New York City. 1t then about half
past II. and Frank Jenkins and William II. Bahan
were sleeping in the cabin. Michael Sharkey and David
Cushing were also In the cabin while the rest OF the
party deck
Suddenly. when the yacht had reached the middle
Of the river, off nehundred- dtentst the power
ful tug F. W. Devoe looped up. under full head OF
steam, bound for Newburg, and then followed dis
astcr which Is set TO be explained Despite the fact
that the river bright with moonlight and that
besides this the Amelia carried the proper lights at
least her captain and surviving passengers asserU
che tug bore straight for the yacht Seeing that there
would be collision, those board of the illfated
vessel shouted to the pilot Of the tug but 1t too
late. The next instant the great prov hurled Itself
into the starboad bow of the yacht smashing the
timbers to bits. The Amelia sank almost Instantly
and carried with her the two unfortunate passengers
who were sleeping In the cabin-FTank Jenkins and
William II. Bahan.
Most of those who were on deck had seen the ad-
vancng tug in time, and she crunched her way
into the yacht they leaped and clambeyed aboard.
DAVID CuSnlnR ha0 0OZth OH III tnc CtiDlN Dul WIS
startled by tho crash. AS he leaped to the top OF the
deck II was only by lucky spring that he saved his
life as he cannot swim. lie jumped for the tug and
seized the stern. and after being haued along for
short distance he was pulled aboard. Captain Van
Wart stuck the yacht unti she sank, and proved his
presence Of mind by casting loose small yawl which
the yacht had In tow. This act saved the lives of Dr.
Hahan and his o;h son. Chester j., who jumped aboard
Of the boat while Mr. sharkey clung to the stern The
lin surt
shortly afterward pulled up on the tug, which re-
mained around tho Of the accident I'LL all hope
of saving the two missing ones was gone.
Mr.. Eccles Immediately put the pilot Of the tug
Thomas Walsh, under arrest, and he was taken 70
tho police station at Onehundcd and twenty -hfth-st
and Ninth-ave The yachtsrnen were naturally much
excited and charged the pilot with being drunk Tho
surgeon who examined him at the statlon-honse sad
he had been drinking, but that he was not drunk
They also asserted that he had his wheel set This
he also denied. lie brought before Judge Weldo
Yesterday morning and charged with homicide. Judge
Wclde remanded him until this morning
The tug F. W. Devoe which went on to NewDurS
after the accident formerly belonged to the Standard
OF Company but is owned by Robert Rogers, OF
No. 30 sOuth-st
The W. J. Garlic lay over the spot where tho yacht
was sunk all yesterday afternoon, and diver went
down twice to search for the two bodies, but he re
turned without them. He reported that the cabin
was so full OF wfeckagc that he could not penetrate
forward in The cabin and that the bodies were not aft
Up t. Iate hour last night they had not been recov-
The Baxter Wrcclng Company will probably raise
the wreck this morning. 1t then be whether
the acht carried her lights as claimed , Ut
william 4. Bahan fifteen years Old. Frank
Jenkins was about forty years old and was business
manager Of the Art Embroidery Company, at No lo1
Sprlng-s where lie lived with his wife. Mr. Shartey
Is in bed at his home in critical condition, being
wildly delirious.