The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-08-05

of New Yoik City; Miss Lizzie Cnrley
and Miss Clara Black of Burlington,
VT, and Miss Lizzie Clark OF Bridgeport,
Conn.
Fourteen Mile Island, Hundred Island
House and Pearl Pniut are but fe w rods
apart. Between Fourteen Mile Island
and Hundred Island House there is u
stretch of lake, aud the distancs across il
not over quarter of mile. Running
out in the lake from in front of tine HUI
dred Island House grove is the old sunk
an pier. The Richel swept along in tue
darkness, suddenly the pilot discovered
that he was too close to the shore. He
put his wheel over. but it was too late.
One of the gentlemen said, in telling
the story of the wreck, that the r achel
struck hard against the sunken timbers
of the pier, pitched off, and then settled
back on an even keel. filling and sinking
almost Immediately.
In few seconds the steam yacht was a
wreck and lying on her side with a hole
stove In her port bow and seven feet of
water above her smokestack. Twenty
nine persons, encumbered with their
finery, were struggling in the dark waters
of the lake for their lives.
The men In the party did their best to
save the women. Mr.. Hannibal Allen
had a narrow escape. aud was rescued
with difficulty.
The guests at the Hundred Island
lug, and in clouds of summer drapery
hurried to the pier. 1t seemed hours to
those In the waters of the lake. but it was
only two or three minutes before a dozen
men in boats were at the scene of dis
asler.
Pearl Point emptied itself, and EN-
ployees and guests rushed to the scene.
II was reported at first that only three
were missing: then the number was in
creased TO five. then to eight. and finally
to nine. Some OF the women were caught
nder the sha de deck and sank with the
boat. although when their bodies were
found they were several feet away
from it.
It seems strange that so many lives
should be lost at such an hour and within
speaking distance of the land, where
stood two large hotels. 1t can only be
accounted for by the fact that the night
was dark. and that the boat sank at on ce
after striking the pier
Young Mr. Benedict, son of Mr. E. P.
Benedict. the wealthy jeweler of No. III
Broadway, New York. who was on board
with his father. mother, and sister, and
who is considered an expert swimmer.
dived for his sister, caught her by the
hand and brought her to the surface.
He tried to dfsencumber himself of his
trousers. which had fallen around his
feet. and it was only through the efforts
of others that he was saved. His sister
sank to the bottom, and did not rise
again.
Frank Mitchell. only nineteen years
old. tried like brave boy to save his
mother, but buth were drowned.
Robert Sims Of Gleus Falls perseverel
IN the work of searching for the oaad un-
til the nine missing ones had been
brought TO the shore. The names OF the
drowned are:-
Miss Hattie L. Hall, Brooklyn, N Y.
Miss Edith Harding. Hoboken, N J.
Miss Bertha Benedict, Montclair, N j.
Miss Henrietta NJ. Barton, Jersey City.
Mrs. j. H. Mitchell, Burlington, VT.
Mrs. Mitchell.
Miss Lizzie Coriey, of Burlington, Vt.
Miss Clara Black of Burlington, VT
Miss Lizzie Clark OF Bridgeport Conn.
The scene as the dead We're laid out in
the grove was pitiful aud heartreuding,
Women were sobbing for their dead, and
men who had shown their bravery iii the
time of peril. gaZed with fearful eyes
upon the nearly half a score of forms
lying cold and silent on mattresses hast
lily snatched from the beds in Hundred
island House. Seven lovely girls, fond
of life and pleasure, with evening cos.
tunes clinging about them, were iu a
row. The rescued ones were taken to the
hotels and put to bed.
Coroner Streeter of Glens Falls reached
the scene of the accident and gave the
bereaved friends and relatives permis-
sion to remove the bodies of their dead at
once.
One result of this accident is to show
how necessary Is the legislation which
was attempted few winters ago by
gentlemen interested in steam naviga-
tion on Lake George. A strong effort
was made to have law passed to pro-
hibit piolts and engineers from taking
charge of steamboats, on the lake unless
they passed a satisfactory examination
before board of experts; also to have
all boilers tested at regular intervals.