The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-06-25
Tho Tug James D Nichols Goes
Down or the Highlands
on Sunday
A Heavy Sen and Panic Stricken
Passengers Caused tho
Disaster.
OF soventy-Fivs Persons on Honrd Flfty-
-Four Are Accounted for, iaoiud.
Ing Three Dead.

Ngw YoRH. June 2i.--Tho tua James ID.
Nichols, with sixty three eIourslonista hnd
n crow Of tea OF twelve. sank thia afternoon
three miles on the Highlands. Rifiy-four
Of those on board have bsen accounted for.
the others we're probably drowned. The
tug Ief, Fifth street and East river AT 1880
this morning for lhs fishing grounds. She
had, IA Ia said, a license 10 carry hfty pas
ssngers but slIty-thrse tickets were sold.
There was a bar and lunch counter on
hoard. whose attendants. with tho crew,
made the total Number on board seventy
| Eve. The tug reached the bnnks ON time.
but the fishing was poor aud the sea too
foneh for comfort. and about noon she
started back. When about three miles
east of the Highlands tho waves began 10
break heavily oyor the starbohrd rail. To
dodge the water and wind the passengers
began 10 run around TO the pos, side and
climb on top the deck house. The boa,
careensd aisrmineiy TO port and the water
swept over the rail The terror stricken
men rushed back 20 the starboard side and
she tug swung deeply down on that side,
Al the same moment heavy breakers struck
the boat in quick succession.
Capt. William Hyatt stuck pluckily 10 biz
post and sounded the whistle in = pro
lonsed scream for help. Even as he did &c
the tug hlled with water that poured intC
her from both sides and sank out Of sight
She went down like q stone. carrying mani
passengers with her. The water ohoked th'
cry OF the whistle. but not before IL hst
been heard and needed. The Clyde steamer
Algonquin. a mile swAy. heard IL ant
swung around 10 90 10 the rescue. Tb'
tuRs Wallace, B. r. Flint. II. ]. Morgan ant
Governor also hurried toward the spot
The Algonquin picked MP ten men. one ol
whom died q few minutes later. The tug'
rescued others who remained afioat. Som,
few had life belts, but most were clinainl
10 bits of wrseksRe. The lifo raft sup
ported dozen aud the top OF the pilo
house 40 many more.
The AlgoLquin bronght those abe haS
picked up 10 the city. The living dis
psfsed 10 their homes aud the dead body
which bas not been Identified, was sent 4
the moreue. All were people bearing Gsrmsi
names. rome of the tags. not wishing II
come TO the city. transferred the men thel
had saved to other togs The sayre
broupht up thirty-four Survivors an
landed them on the east side. The @. T.
Evarts brought up two bodies and severa
survivors The Governor IL supposed "a
} have landed several In Brooklyn. Alto
gether hfsy-four out OF tho seventy
have been accounted fo'. Three OF then
we're dead. The officers Of the Flint hsv
for some unknown reason denied havinl
rescued any of the men OF knowing any
thing about the matter.
John A. Msgels. who was rescued by IN,
Algonquin. says hs was caught under thu
awning OF the tuR when u sank. lie man
aged 10 crawl out and ssiz, q table whicl
, kept him ahoss. Finding his ohun
Frank Gaiser. In the water. be let HIN
have tho table. which would not support two
and started 10 swim. soon after he wa'
picked mp, but 6aisor has not been ssel
eince.
The names OF those savsd aud landed b.
the Algonquin are. Edward Cape, Chas
Dsusiuget Charles G.ookmer, Geo. Il. PITT
II. Il. Wood, John Msgele. Charles Eiber
hardt. Jerome Crftes and Jsmss Gilmore.
A few hours after sinking the tua val
pretty we'll broken up and ihs wrsckag
began TO come ashore. Before dark th
entire beach was strewn With H. Forty
. tn go lunch baskets were washed up. n
bodies have come ashore No yet.