The evening world., 1893-10-11
Mr.. Astor's Yacht Collides with
Ferry Boat Washington.
Passengers Frightened, but Nobody
Was Hurt.
Both Crafts We're Damaged About
tho Bow.

t'sA'h sshAN hA'o h"S Ia la
Railroad ferryboat Washington in mid
this lorning.
Although neither craft sustained seri-
Gus damage, what might have been a
calamity attended by great loss of life
was narrowly averted.
The Washington had left the Jersey
City slip. at the foot Of Exchange place,
and was bound for the Cortlandt street
slip In this city. with several hundred
passengers aboard.
The Nourmahal was seen eoming down
the river under full head of steam.
When the Washington was about half
across the river. the .Nourmahal. was 80
In charge OF the latter, Capt. Benjamin
X: Tinsler. blew his whistle twice.
This, gave notice to the Nourmahal
that the Washington conceded the right
or way to the steam yacht and that she
expected the yacht to go ahead and
cross the ferry-boat's bow.
The Nourmahal. according to the
attention to the signal. and came down
upon, the Washington so fast that. Capt
Tinsler sounded the danger signal.that
and reversed the ferryboat's wheels.
The yachts pilot. instead of putting
the Nourmahars wheel to starboard
turned It ii port and tried to pass astern
The Nourmahal had too little steering
into the Washington on the port side,
just forward OF the ladies' cabin.
The passengers were .panic-stricken by
hands seeing that the collision was in
aft and out Of immediate danger.
the mh sp sGw dsst Of q the ise MasnInsson. st tssas
ing the rail into .,plinters. Her razor
edged stem pressed md cut through the
guards. and into the hull for a distance
Had she truck the ferryboat amid
ships. the loss Of life might have been
great. and. with the best of fortune,
many passengers must have been injured.
Capt. Tinsler thinks that the WASH
ington must have been under sternway
at the time to nave been truck so far
The Washington reeled to starboard
under the impact of the Nourmahal's
bow. and the ferry-boats passengers
screamed or shouted In alright.
From the Nourmahal's cabin rushed
many ladies and gentlemen. for the
yacht bore a large party of Mr.. Astors
guests.
The yacht was on her way to the
lower bay to follow Vigilant and Val
kyrie over the course in their third race
for the Americas Cup.
When the Nourmahal's engines were
stopped and she extricated her bow
from the hole IN the W~ashington's deck.
it was seen that the bowsprit hade been
broken off short and was hanging over
the yachts port bow, which was also
Uttered with wreckage from the ferry
boat.
course down the river, apparently but
slightly damaged.
The Washington resumed her trip
across the river, and landed her pas
sengers in New York.
When It was ascertained that the lower
portion Of her hull had escaped injury
- 49,. 10 ,vn, ,@t Aaltn Eha aNNls
another. load of passengers across the
North Rive, to Jersey City, and was
then relieved from duty. being replaced
Can't. Tin.ler tok the Washington up
the river to the Hoboken dock of the
Pennsylvania Railroad. where she will
be repaired.
The damage. the Railroad officials say.
will he anywher from $500 to 1000. :
At the time of the collision the wind
%as northeast ss ana ana IN the Ssa rSv r ,,nad Is
against. AS the ferry-boat was proceed
Ing on an angle to both river and tide
she had the right OF
The Nourmahal is likely to become
known as the Jonah yacht.
TN Sept, IS last she was beached at
re east side of the Hudson River, near
Van Rensselaer's Point, just north Of
no New Hamburg Railroad tunnel.
About 10 O'Clock that night, she was on
her way up the river. and off what Is
kr, wn as the Damskammer. She was
a little west of the middle of the river.
There Is a jagged line Of rocks under
water there known as New Hamburg
Reel.
Without warning the NourmahaI
struck on the reef with great force and
bounded oft.
Capt. Daley Mt once decided to beach
her. She lay in a bad position. with
only five feet of water under her bow
and twelve feet under her stern. She
had a strong list to starboard.
tight %bulkheads were closed and her
pumps set at work. There was Ii
ten feet OF water in her hold rr,s p,s,n
Brooklyn, where 1t was found hat a
large hole had been stove In her bottom
about mldships.
rhe mushroom, several staterooms
and the uIning-rocm were badly dam
aged by water. Work was hurried, 10
get her ready for the yacht races. but
to-day was her first trip.
on Aug. rs the Nourmahal went ashore
on Blue Rocks, Il. l., during a gale.
Mr.. Aston had sent out cards for a
reception to be held on board his yacht:
owing to the extremely high winds II
was deemed advisable 10 move the yacht
from its anchorage in Brenton's Cove to
the wharf. Mr.. Astor directed the WORK
She started to move outside Goat ISL
and for the long wharf, and when she
turned the lighthouse she became un-
manageable and grounded on what is
known as Old Elm.
She cleared from this n then cast
anchor near the lighthouse, but the an
Choir dragged and the yacht drifted In a
n~ortherly direction and struck. broad side
on the Blue Rocks. 1t. was pulled on by
the combined efforts of three tugs.
The Nourmahal was launched In the
Spring OF 1854 from the yard OF hei
builders. the Harlan & Holingsworth
Company, of Wilmington, Del. She was
designed by Gustav Hillmann, of City
Island, and he superintendent her recon
~struction from first to last.
Only SIT to the Worlds Fair.