New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-08-05
THE PILOT BLUNDERED.
4 DISASTER ON LAKE GEORGE.
NINE LIVES LOST BY THE SINKING OF THE
LITTLE STEAMER RACHEL.

AN INEXPERIENCED PILOT STEERS THE BOAT
IN THE DARKNESS OF NIGHT UPON AN uN-
USED WHARF.-THE VESSEL GOES DOWN
IN TWENTY-FIVE FEET OF WATER
NAMES OF THE VICTIMS.
IBr TELEGRAPH TO THE rsIBuSE.l
Fort William Henry, Lake George, Aug A.
At o 40 o'clock last night occurred the
worst drowning accident that has ever befalen
this community The little steamer Rachel,
owned by d. w Sherman of Glens Fails, had
been chartered for the evening to carry party
of guests from the Fourteen Mile Island House 10
a dance at the Hundred Island House Inc
steamer was sunk within 100 yards of the latter
landing. nine lives being lost The following is
q list Of the drowned:
THE DEAD.
HARroN Mis-. Henrietta NJ. Jersey City
BENEDICT, Miss Bertha, Monteer N j.
BI.ACK Miss Clara Burlington, VI
CLARK Miss Lizzie Bridgeport Conn.
CoRLEY Miss Lizzie, Burlington W.
HALL Miss Hattie l., Brooklyn
HARDING. Miss Edith, Roboken n J.
NrNHELI. Frank, Burlington. VI.
MITCHELL Mrs. J. H., Burlington, W.
The boat was not III charge OF the regular
pilot. who had been allowed to 60 home, nut
WA in the care of Claude Granger VINO mas
heen emploved for several seasons in the neigh
pilot. was supposed to know the dangers OF this
mart Of the lake The accident occurred on the
re,urn trip The navigation of bOlts in the
Esrrows is always extremely dangerous, ana az
No time more than on dark night. so 'ha'
A. is not surprising that the unframed pio'
lost the chs1ne But il is exceedingly surpris'
ine that he should run the boat on TO an OH
unused wharf that extends seventy-hve feet
nut from the shore. and is situated about mu-
wav between Pearl Point House and llundre"
Island House
Immediately after striking the wharf the ooa'
becan TO sink and in a few minutes was eh'nci!
cut of sight, lying in twenty-five 1eet oil water
So quickly had the accident occurred 'ha' '",
nassrnrers did not know what had happened
until the boat was nearly full of water. In the
Aarkness and confusion following the suuueh
calamity it was almost impossible TO learn ho"
MANY of the passengers were saved put as SUM
as possible aid summoned from the TWO no'ri'' ,
which were only few steps from 'he hceue Vi
tha disaster and every possible help was rendered
Those who were engaged IN the search olu ho'
oivs I'D their quest until nine bodies hau "e'
recovered Among the drowned was MISS Ier,n"
Benedict, of Montclair, \. D., daughter oi WI
FP BENEDICT. well-known jeweller in New-iork
Mr. and Mrs Benedict and their son, Hsrdine
BENEDICT, were also on board, and the young man.
.vbo ia an eypert swimmer, carefully searcn-
tro for his sister when he told that she mao
Non seen going ashore in a rowboat. ARnost en-
G.us,ad himself. Mr. Benedict sought the shore
.rd only TOO late learned that his sister was
not among the saved. !,
Two Young women who were drowneo hau
con,e TO the island only in the afternoon; ana ha1
30. va, reoistered when they went out In the H.
1ated boat.
The boat was valued at $500, and was launched
a.. .u.aar ,,e;no considered one of the prettleSt
steamers on the lake. W.
Frank Mitchell aged nineteen, lost Ills h,e
,rrino ~ save his mother, who was also drowned
The women on board were laughing anu sing
inc The boat sank so rapidly that no time
80 ,ven N the ill-fated plessure-seekers TO uteI
nrsver Some of the passengers were oaugh'
nnder ,he shade deck and died quickly IL seeihel
hours before help arrived, though dozen men
ro an tho water in rowbOats almost pelors
,ba smo.estack of the Rachel sank out OF slgh'
That so many lives should be lost at s"oii al
earlv hour of the night and wlthh Spc"Aii-
distance of two large hotels can only pe accoun'r'
for nv the fact that the night was unuo . -,
dark and the boat sank rapidly after hi''ihs "
pier.
rd,,h Harding the Young woman drowned NJ Lon
xzAorcs lived st No. s23 Garden-st.. HoDoRen' nv
brother Frank +. Harding said last hien. ~ w y,
had gone TO Lake George on TUESDAY WIN '
" BARTON and sent telegram announcnie 'n
arrival. lie had not heard from ei'ner Vi ~ ool
u,s narents were utterly prostrated Dy 'he 'i
na,tnr irst heard Of Miss IIardng's death 'irout
The evening papers They still cung 10 the nope ''
the story might not be true Mr. haiudne @ hui sh
family knew nothing about MIS- bar'o"' '"'' ~
lived In Jersey CITY,
JyDI4N4POLTS PENSIONERS SUSPENDED