The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-10-08
AN EXCURSION TUG AFTRE.
ExurExESr IN THE sIGHTsEEINe
FLEET AFTER THE RACE

The Mercedes Caught Fire and Three Hsr-
Dor Policemen Were Almost Drown-d
While eoinr 10 the Rescue-The Burninr
Tus'- Passengers Taken or Were by
students OF the Brockiyn Polytechnic.
Three Of the finest OF Capt Copeland's har-
Dor policemen came very near losing their
lives by drowning shortly after the yacht race
yesterday afternoon. BY Direction OF lnspec-
tor Williams the police poat Aurora loitered
around the lightship after the race. to be on
hand In case Of accident to any OF the hundred
and one excursion boats. Most OF the big
steam ers made for homo as soon as the race
was over. but great many tugs. having on
board private parties, loitered around. hoping
to ges good look at the big racers.
Among these was the Mercedes. powerful
little ocean tug. She had large crowd on
board. They were sitting around on the roof OF
tho cabin. In tho bow. and mt the stern. when
suddenly tho door leading from the engine
room burst open and out rushed one OF the
flremen. As soon rs he reached the open air
he gave shrek that made the hnfr OF the
Mercedes's passengers fairly stand on end.
Out OF the open door behind tho excited man
poured avolume OF thick. white smoke Imme-
diately the cry OF Fire" was raised. The pas
sengers rushed around panio-stricken. while
tho crew. hardly knowing what they were
doing. began to pour buckets Of water through
the door The smoke grew thicker. and the
pilot Of tho Mercedes blew his whistle for help.
Few boats had up to this time noticed the
tugs predicamen emit. but as soon as the whistle
sounded everybody's attention was drawn
to her.
On the Mercedes's starboard bow. but some
distance away. was the ocean tug Willie. The
latter was loaded down with college boys from
n. nj. -l~-t- liza hnrA
down on the Mercedes. At the Same time the
tug r. J. Barrett. which was AWAY of to the
port. started to the rescue. The Willie reached
tho burning tug. first and the college boys
swarmed all over her deck some help,ng the
ing pail after pail Of water into the burning
engine room. :. ,. -,
des's fires. aud In a few moments the tug lay
helpless. The smoke continued to come IN
t thrill Il. the s2e a0S Ct the hSTsvf snS
water into the engine room that the last trace
The passengers Of the Mercedes hadn't any
desire to return to the tug and as the Poly"
rsturneS to the city sni the %e It
e gst Up steam sain on the
Mercedes into port. An investigation showed
that the ,lre had started IN the engine room
work there. The oily and greasy condition OF
The Shst t Says
sauted all the way home By the tugs and
steamers that followed. for their gallant
Whom the fact that the Mercedes was on fire
first became apparent. tho police boat Aurora
was some distance away. inspector Williams
steam to IT, o rescue Wien Il was seen that
tho Willie was doing al ths rescue , S WORK
men In iifeboat to help nut out the ire One
Of the boats was quickly lowered and Police:
men Neil sullivan JThn Bryan ana and Edw r,sd
IN some insxplicable way the davi. sings
found themselves being dragged along beside
the Aurora in nomentary danger Of being CAP
hs Ths sns ba cs MADE in %s.rs
against the side 81 TIE steamer: inspector
knew that anything Was wrong With The ne.
%hsa s ths
5v:hsd TSsls "a III sSsss sss% sd
the goIleensn were nowhere * be seen go
the boat and grabbed It the Aurora swerved
all disappeared: There was not sound from
the men. and all that could be heard --ns the
steady churnine sound OF the Aurol" twin
My. God" cried Inspector Williams.
they'll be Killed S I they pear those serews
Ina second dozen policemen had boat
ready and we're preparing. to lower It Tho
Captain OF the Aurora had in tho mean time
stopped the engines. There was no need to
lower the other lifeboat. for In another minute
the uupturpsd craft appeared withithe police
men cliiging to II. here was shout of APP
plause from the Aurora. and then the tug Ben
steamed mp. brew the men life preservers and
ropes. and hauled them on deck: The llfekoat
was also recovered. The Captain Of the Ben
signalled that he would take the policemen
back to Pier A.. and. as the policemen were
willing to remain on the tug. Inspector VIII
liams steamed away without them.
There was great excitement on the Aurora
and other boats around over the narrow ss-
cape of the policemen. Inspector Williams
seemed proud OF the gallant way in which the
men acted. They never once called for helm"
he said. Those are the kind Of men we have
on the police force OF New York" Every ono
agreed with the Inspector that the officers had
acted very couragoously.
PREPARATIONS FOR MANHATTAN DAY.