Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1894-06-29
Is MEN DROWNED.
A Fglghtful Catastrophe
in New York HarbOr
Gallant Work of Steamers Saves
Many Lives.

As the steamship Algonquin OF the Clyde
line, from Charlestown and Jacksonville,
was OF the Atlantic Highlands. and
about four miles southe Ist OF the
Scotland lightship, New York Harbor,
the scream of tue whistle reached the
ears OF Captain Platt. who was standing on
the bridge. II was signal OF distress. The
captain observed about a mile away big
tug rolling and pitching on the waves. With
the aid OF his glasses he saw the craft was
crowded with people and that see was close
to the point OF laundering. He signallel the
engine room. A moment later the ship was
up in the face OF the wind, rolling easily on
the big waves.
Before the screws OF the ship had ceased
their revolutions an order had been issued TO
lower and man the lifeboats.
When the work OF lowering the boat wasac-
complished the people on the Algonquin
looked over the water to where they had seen
the tug. As they did so the little vessel
careened way over to the starboard. her
smokestack almost touching the crest OF a
passing wave. just at this time, however
another big whitecap came rolling along and
striking the tug, sent her over the other way.
Thus the waters played with her for minute
or more. and then she went to the bottom.
AS she sank out OF sight, the top OF the
wheelhouse, together with raft and a life
boat, remained floating on the water. To
every particle of wreckage clLng one or
more OF the drowning throng. The life raft
was the most sought for, and those who were
so fortunate as to make 1t were saved.
When the Algonquin reached the scene OF
the accident and commenced the work of res
cue. she was joined In her labor by three.tugs
the Governor, the Wallace B. Flint aud the
K. J. Moran. All Of these vsssels had been
cruising In the vicinity and had responded to
the whistle OF Distress and reached the
drowning people at about the same time as
did the Algonquin 4 crew.
Together they commenced to take the peo-
pie from the water and from the raft. In lesa
than twenty minutes from the time the rescu-
ers arrived, those who had been on the
tioundered craft, except those who had gone
to the bottom. had been rescued.
The lost tugs life-boat was found floating
aimlessly about by the Algonquin's crew. 1t
was full OF water and had evidently been
overturned many times. In the bottom OF 1t.
however tangled in ropea, was found the
body OF u man. The man had probably pre-
pared for plunge into the sea
His coat was on and his shirt sleeves were
rolled up to his shoulders. Efforts were
made to revive the spark Of life that was at
first thought 20 be within him, but they were
unavailing. In his pockets was quantity OF
lin = and hooks
From the survivors II was learned that the
lost tug Was the James d. Nichol, and that
she was owned by william Reeves OF New
York ~. The people who were aboard of
her wero members Of an excursion party
which was gotten up under the direction of
the Herring Fishing Club, a social Organiza-
ton of Germans and having headquarters in
Now York.
As near Us can be aScertained twenty-five
people or thereat'outs were drowned. These
figures are secured by estimates OF the num-
Der of persons who were aboard and the num-
ber who were saved
When the crew from the Algonquin had
picked up about all they could carry in their
metallic llfeboat nine living and one dead
they put back to the vessel, which, In the
meantime, had put about. and was lying not
far from the point where the accident oc-
Cured. 1t was far too rough to attempt to
bring the rescued on board the steamer, so q
line was swung to the lifeh1at and she was
towed to quarantine. At the latter place they
were brought to the Algonquin deck.
so far as ascertained only three bodies have
been recovered Estimates us to the number
of those on board tue lll-iated tug vary from
75 to IS.