The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-07-23
JERSEY CITY YACHT OAPsIzEs.
A Stranger, Whom the Owner Took
Relieved to be Drowned.

Aboard. Believed to be Drowned.
One death is probably the result of a plea
sure trip on the yacht Emma J, which began
at nine O'Clock Saturday night and ended in
the capsizing of the yacht early yesterday
morning down the bay.
The four men who planned the trip grant
ed the request of a youl.S man whom none
of them knew to be taken on board. His
name they did not learn. He aoated away
clinging to a life preserver when the yacht
went over. The others chung to the yacht
mt picked up. and then no trace could be
found of their self invited companion.
Thomas brow of No. 30 Aston place, this
CITY. told the story of the trip and its disas-
trous ending.
'sThree friends and myself" he said, cleft
C~ommunipaw at nine o'clock Saturday
night in the two-ton sloop yacht Emma j.,
intending to go to Report to spend Sunday.
The party consisted of George Mitchell of
No. Ill Storm avenue, Charles Thomas of
No. 318 Paramount avenue, this city; James
Waters of No. 9 West street, New York, and
myself.
"a well dressed fellow, apparently about
twenty-one years of age, just as we were
putting off, stepped up and said:-'Wm you
give me a sailg AS there was plenty of
room, we told him to jump aboard, and he
did.
1.-THE boat was in charge of Mitchell, who
owned her. There was a light wind and not
much sea, and everything went nicely till
we reached the outer Romer Shoal, when the
boad grounded. Mitchell jumped into the
water and showed the boat into deep water.
1t was then about fifteen minutes past eleven
and we decided to put into South Beach and
wait for daylight.
"We put out again at fifteen minutes past
five O'Clock Sunday morning and tackled to-
ward Fort Wadsworth against a strong
headwind and tide. Opposite Bay Ridge a
sharp puff of wind from the east struck the
Emma rs sails, and she instantly capsized
and fioated keel upward.
1--WE were oil struggling in the water.
We were about three or three and one
fourth miles from shore, and a bad sea was
running.
ut was every one for himself, and / must
say / never expected to put foot on dry land
again. I managed to reach the capsized
boat and chung to the keel for dear life. One
by one the others got hold, all but the
stranger. He seized a life preserver that
foated from the boat. / saw him once, a
short distance away. He seemed to be all
right.
1.-TWO yachts that were lying at anchor
near the fort put off small boats, and q pass
ing schooner, the Seacus, stood by and gave
us aid. Some of the men in the boats
trimmed the sails of the Emma j., and when
she righted we baled her out, and, after
being nearly five hours in the water, started,
with the assistance of our helpers, to tow
her into Tompkinsville, where we finally
tied up in Ferguson's boatvard.
ssWe were all completely worn out and
shaking with the cold. The young fellow
who wanted a sail and who went out with US
| had disappeared. He drifJed out of our
| sight while we were clinglng to the over
turned boat. 1t was impossible for any of
us to give him any assistance, for we had all
we could do to keep our hold in the heavy
coce +l,a4 xuoohad oOp,nloro1u nroY- III AT
Waters and myself came up to the city,
leaving Mitchell and Thomas to look after
the boat. 1t was too rough this afternoon
to think of trying to sail the Emma j. There
were no small era It on the bay"
Brow is employed as a clerk at Pier l,
North River. Waters corroborated his
story. &
All four men were familiar with the man
agement of boats and had often made trips
down the coast.