The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-05-30
PANIC ON A STEAMBOAT.
THE SMOKEsTACK OF TIE ANITA
TOpPLES OYER.
Two Hundred Men, Women, and Children,
who Had Conn Down 10 the Fishing
Banks Gre ntIy Ex cited, but No One II Hurt

who Had Conn Down TO the Fishing
Banks ,tsrentIy Excited, but NJ One IL Hurt
The excursion boat Anita left Newark yes
tcrday morning for the Fishing Banks. When
she started she had about 200 passengers on
board many of them women. Tho voyage
down the passaic River and through tho Kill
van Kull was pleasant enough. although tho
water in tho Kills was lumpy in consequence
of the high wind. When the boat reached tho
bay and turned toward the Narrows the waves
increased in size. and the boat began to rock
so violently that many OF the passengers be-
came seasick and wished they were home In
the lower bay the boat heaved and tossed in
the high sea. and there were not more than
fifty Of the eycursionists who were not sick.
When the boat reached the Fishing Banks
scarcely any one on board had any inclination
to fish. While tho vessel was at anchor the
smokestack. loosened by the violent rocking.
toppled over and fell with loud crash.
Tho accident created n panic among tho pas
sengers. The Captain whistlod signals of dis.
tress which attracted the attention of Capt l.
d. Potter OF tho ocean tug W. A. Lcvering. He
steamed UP and took the disabled excursion
boat in tow. He brought her UP through the
lower bay and the Narrows. anu was turning
into tho Kills south Of tho Robbins Reef light
house when the CAPTAIN OF tho Anita told him
that now they We're in smooth water no further
assistance would DO required. He said he
thought he could reach Newark without much
difficulty.
The Anita. which. is; small side:wheel
steamer. got back to her wharf in Newark
about o'clock. She had Il badly scared lot OF
passengers. and w to late last night somo of
the women were quite sick.
Tho wind. the passengers said. was blowing
pretty stiM from the southeast all tho way to
the Banks. hut when she anchored it increased
in fury until it was little less than Il south
eastern gale. She rode well or the big waves,
but as the velocity oil the wind was momenta-
rilv increasing. she began to toss like cork
on the foa N crested swclls.
The women chung to the men and the latter
to each other. and with every lurch Of the yes
sci they went from side to side. This caused
tho boat to tip in an alarming manner and the
excitement reached the panic point
During IN unusually heavy lurch one OF tho
smnkestnck chains broke and almost in
stantly the stack was carried into tho sea by
the wind. As it fell it struck and broke the
whistle pipes. and the steam rushed out with
roar.
The crash completely unneyved many OF the
passengers. and With the thought that the
vessel was laundering number Of women
tainted. Others. shriekcd and cried. and hut
for the efforts Of the Anita's officers and the
cooler men OF the passengers some would have
gave signals of distress. which in n few min
u;es were answered by the Lexington.
Despite the hard shaking UP and tho
nervous pro,tration Of the women. no ono was
injured. After landing her passengers at the
Newark City Dock the Anita went up the Pas
sale to Fourth avenue. whore she will be re-
paired to-day.