New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-12-27
SWAMPED BY BIG WAVES.
TUG GOES DOWN IN THE EAST RIVER,
AND THE FIREMAN IS DROWNED.

WRECKED PILOTHOUsE-A CANALB0AT CUT
ALMOST IN TWO BY THE STEAMER
NUTMEG STATE AND CARRIED UP
THE STREAM on ITS PROV
OTHER ACCIDENTS FROM
THE HEAVY WINDS
The miniature gale which howled across the
harbor yesterday made things decidedly unpieas-
ant for the harbor shipping The sea ran hign
ALL day and showers of spray saluted the
venturous captains of tugs and all such small
craf; Occasionally ii caused damage to vessels
attempting to land and portions OF deckwork
were carried away.
The tugbo at Brilliant, owned by the Standard
oil Company. was sunk off Fcrtieth-st., South
Rroollvn Yesterday morning, and Ii is believed
that the fireman. known Patrick Ryan, Oh
Craennoint was drowned Four Of the crew
of the boat were saved by floating ashore on
the pilothouse Of the wrecked boat. The body
of the fireman had not. up to a late hour' peeh
recovered.
OVERWHELMED BY THE WATERS.
The tug had in tow barge Nc. 10 belonging 10
the company and was trying to make LANDING
at Fortieth-st. The wind was blowing gale AS
soon as the hawser was loosened the barge be-
again get out Of the way the two came To-
gather with a terrible crash. The collision tore
awav the doors leading to the engine room,
and an immense wave broke over the tug.
large quantity of water poured into the hold
And the engineer and fireman hurried TO the
deck The engineer caught his mate by the
collar as he struggled up the companonway,
but another wave struck them and he was forced
to let GO The fireman swept away ana
was not again The high waves tossed the
laundering craft about so that II was impossi-
BILE even to launch the small boats. A heavy
wave tore away the pilothouse. All hands were
thrown into the water. but they clung to the
wreckage They were either rescued by en-
ployes on the wharf or hoated ashore. The
Brilliant was valued at about $1,000 and was
considered one Of the best tugs in the service
of the Standard Oil Company.
The steam propeller Nutmeg State, Of the
Bridgeport Line crashed into empty coal
canalboat at $3.50 o'clock yesterday afternoon,
just after she left her pier at Catherine-st.
She was starting on her usual daily trip up the
Sound, and had a large number Of passengers
on board. She had hardly left her pier and
swung into the river when she met the tug
Monitor. which towing six empty canal
boats There We're three boats on each side OF
the tug. The tide going out, and the cur
rent was rushing along swiftly. The captain
Of the Nutmeg State that collision was
inevitable. and he rang for reversed engines.
Before this order could be obeyed the current
sent one of the canalboats almost onto the bow
Of the Nutmeg state. With crash that almost
cut the boat i'm two. the canalboat struck the
propeller and stuck fast on the sharp prov.
THE PROPELLER ESCAPES INJURY.
The passengers the Nutmeg State were
alarmed by the crash, and they ali ran forward
to see whether their vessel had sustained any
damage. Fortunately this was not the case.
After being pushed almost a quarter OF mile
up the river the Monitor succeeded in pulling the
wrecked boat off the bow Of the Sound vessel The
Nutmeg State proceeded on her way apparently
unharmed while the smashed canalboat was
towed to the Jersey Flats. where she was
beached. Two men aboard the canalboat es-
capped to the adjoining boat
The Ellis Island ferryboat Shackamaxon had
stormy time on her S:25 trip from the island.
While trying to make landing at the Barge
her out into the stream. 1t taking her
all steam and managed to steer up the East
then hugged the shore and crawled down to the
Barge Office.
A tug while towing barge up the Bay yes
terday morning became disabled near Rob-
bins's Reef. A strong northwest wind was
scurrying across the Bay. and II drove the dis
abled tug down on its tow. The tug blew long
blast of distress. and another tug went to its
rescue and towed 1t and the barge into ST
George $, l.