The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-10-12
A SUNDAY OF DISASTERS
Young Hugo Rau Drowned
in His Brothers Pres
enCe.
IMPOSSIBLE TO SAVE HIN.
Yachts That Sailed From Com
munipaw and Have Not
Returned-Sad Tales
From the Sea.
IMPOSSIBLE TO SAVE HIM.

yachtsman, was drowned yesterday. He
and his brother Otto owned the smart
catboat Leader of the Pavonia Yacht
Clubs fleet. The boat went out of COM
mission yesterday and the Rau brothers
concluded to take trip up the Hudson
to wind up the season. Harry Jeffrey
was with them. They made a quick
run to Fort Lee where they
had dinner. On the return Otto was at
the helm and Hugo WAS attending the
heet. About three O'Clock they were
opposite One Hundred and Twenty-fifth
street. The yacht gibed to get out of the
course of tug boat towing barge. The
tow was astern Hugo was reefing the
backward. He caught hold of the
sail, but the loose canvas went with him.
Hold on for moment, Hugo"
exclaimed Otto as he moved toward the
sail. "All right, Off," was the reply.
The resistance of the water as the yacht
was moving briskly forced him to release
his grip on the treacberous canvas
and in an instant he was struggling
the water for astern of the
yacht. Otto dragged the small boat
from the cockpit and halloed to the
crew of the tug. Had the tug moved
q uickly it could have reached the drown
lug man. 1t was slow Ia leaving its tow
and then had to turn about. Ten min
utes elapsed before 1t was steaming to-
ward young Rsu. 1t was within nfty
feet of him, when, chilled and powerless,
he sank, out of sight. Fate was against
him. In releasing the small boat the
painter caught in the rudder of the
yacht and held it SO long tnat Otto, who
had the oars, was fifty yards away
when the water closed over his luckl ess
brother. Hugo WAS strong swimmer,
but he was burdened with the heavy ap-
parel. which weakened him, and the cold
water and chilling atmosphere quickly
rendered him helpless. He WINS twenty
years old, was unmarri ed, and lived with
his parents in pretty cottage at No.
1873 Forrest street His mother had
made ARRANGEMENTS to have happy
evening when her two sons. her only
children returned and several friends
had been invited to tea and were at the
house when Otto arrived. He could not
saw his mother. Mr.. Raw, who has q
large machine shop in Centre street. New
York, was absent In Connecticut on husi-
ness. The sad intelligence was com
municated to him by wire. The de-
ceased and his brother were well
known and popular. They built
and rugged the Leader, which has been
invinciblefn her class for two seasons.
They were enthusiastic. skilful and cour-
azeous sailors and accompanied the New
York Yacht Racing Association on its
cruise this year and last season and gath
cred in all the honors. Frequently it
was the only boat in it's class that made
were deferred by storms or threatening
clouds. In the regattas in this vicinity it
was invariably the first boat home in its
class. Otto is member of the Pavonia
and Newark Yacht Clubs Hugo was
only restrained from joining by the fact
that he had not reached maturity and was
not eligible.
MANY BOATS WRECKED.
The gale yesterday developed rapidly
so quickly that the small craft was
unable to escape its fury. Many boats
were wrecked or abandoned, narrow es-
capes were numerous and several lives
were lost The full extent of che damage
will not be known for several days. A
score of boats are out from this city.
1t is hoped they reached q
safe harbor. No definite intelligence
has been received from them. IL was a
clear, beautiful day. The atmosphere
was bracing and there was just breeze
enough to make a yacht skim briskly. 1t
was an ideal day for sailing. The season
has closed, but the weather was SO invit-
ing that scarcely yacht owner, whose
boat has not gone out of commission,
could resist the temptation to
take a skim, or go out on fish
ing trip, The bay was covered
with small boats about three O'Clock,
when the sun was suddenly obscured by
clouds and the breeze began to freshen.
In a few minutes the gale prevailed and
the alarmed yachtsmen and oarsmen made
for home or t he arestshelter. The larger
boats were double reefed and ran hither
and thither to pick up the crews of small
+c ,ho n pt do Gan-
tain Alexander Roe, of the Jersey City
Yacht Club, was down the bay and res
cued three men who were in a skim They
were drifting helplessly and all were
bailing out the boat. which mad sprung
aleak, to keep her from going down. In
the storm they could not long have Kept
her afloat. The skiff was abandoned.
as Captain Roe had diff cult task
in keeping his sranch yacht
even when double reefed under
control. The men rescued were safely
landed at the yacht clubhouse, where
they received attention and their clothes
were dried. A small catboat containing
party of three voung men
from this city capsized off Bedloe's
island. The men were out fishing, and
were homeward bound, when a spas
modic and strong gust sent their boat
over. They clung TO the keel. Suddenly
the wind caught the sail which was float
side. The three men are swimmers and they
managed to extricate themselves from
the sail and again caught hold of the
keel Commodore Roome's naptha launch
was near and although rocking badly and
n lmcst uncomfortable, succeeded In push
ing the overturned boat on the rocks.
The three men were taken off by the crew
of stout boat that was making for Com
munipaw. The men on the yacht Three
Sisters had close call. The yacht is
owned by Captain Brown, who had
charge of the powder magazines at
Ellis Island. 1t is strong, seaworthy
boat and has been used by fishing parties.
IT, had party of seven aboard yesterday.
When off Sandy Hook the gale
began. They tried to put about
and reach the Horseshoe They
could not stem the tide. The waves were
running nigh and 1t was evident that the
boat could not long live in the sea. as the
wind had torn their canvas to ribbons.
LIFE SAVERS AT WORK.
The crew oil the Sandy Hook Life Saw
ing Station had been watching the strug-
gle OF the little yacht. They ran their
iifeboat into the surf and started for u
rescue.
Il was hard task. The wind was
blowing sixty miles an hour, and
the seas were terrific. Drenched with
the cold water. it was plain the men
conId not hold on but few minutes. At
the same time it was almost impossible TO
get close to them without running the
risk of being smashed to pieces by the
Yacht.
The life savers had first terrible