Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-25
THIRTY-SIX MISSING
Story Of the Nichols Disaster Told
by Survivors.
THE BEACH FOR BODIES
Adjournment OF the Coroner's In
quest.
THE IDENTIFIED DEAD

HIGHLAND OF NAVESINK, N j., June
25.-Coroner VIM Morris of Long Branch
arrived here this morning to hold an inves
tigation in the case of the sinking of the
tugboat James d. Nichols having on
board seventy-four men. members Of the
Herring Fishing Club. whose headquarters
are at 81 I'd avenue, New York.
Coroner Morris took charge of the body
Of a man which was washed ashore at this
place this morning, impanelled a jury, adj
journed the inquest and had the body re-
moved to the morgue to await identifica-
ton.
An undertaken from Long Branch has
men stationed along the coast between
Atlantic Highlands and Sea Bright on the
lookout for the bodies of the victims as
fast as they are washed ashore. The coro-
rer will remain here until night, he ex-
poets that more bodies will be washed
ashore during the day.
Those known to have been drowned are:
John Dunn of West ADD street, New York !;
body at the morgue.
Frank McAleer of % Washington street.
VIM. Moore, bartender; residence I'M
known.
Herman Everard. residence unknown;
body recovered.
- Keyser residence unknown; body re-
covered and is at the morgue.
hdSSOu, 10 DE GIaW street,
Brooklyn; body recovered and is at the
morgue.
Walter Bucgridge $50 Halsey street,
Brooklyn; body recovered and Is at the
morgue.
The story of tn, disaster, as learned to-
day by the coroner from the survivors, is
to the effect that the sea was running I'M
usually high when Capt. VIM. Hyatt
broke over the tug, and the crowd on
board. to try to escape getting wet, shifted
TO one side of the boat. which caused her
to careen. While In this position the tug
several feet OF water In the engine room
some one cried out that there was danger
OF the boiler exploding. This caused a
panic and general rush for life-preservers.
The tug was righted by being struck by
a big wave but she had taken in 50 much
water that she serk in a very short time
Many Of the men on board had fishing
lines out at the time. and II Is believed that
some OF the drowning men got caught In
the fishing lines.
Mpny of the survivors censure Capt.
Hyatt and his crew for mismanagement of
the boat. This will be thoroughly investi-
gated by the coroner.
1t will probably never be known just how
many persons were on board the Inflated
tug at the time of the accident. Few Of
the pc ssengers were acquainted with each
other and the only way in which the names
OF the lost can be obtained Is from the ap-
plications of their friends and relatives for
information at police headquarters. The
passengers came from all over the east
side. from College Point from Brooklyn,
and even from Hoboken. and 1t is probable
that some of those drowned will never be
reported or heard from again.
The list of the missing men has been
swelled to thirty-six. and 1t Is believed that
this number will be increased to fifty or
more when the names of the strangers who
were on board become known.
Capt. Hydc's Story.
Capt. John Hyde, commander of the Ill
fated tug, was seen at the office Of The
owner of the tug. He is a young man,
twenty-five years Of age, and says that he
has had a masters license for the past four
years. Hyde told the following story:
Il could count but fifty-eight passengers
on the tug when she left the second stop
ping place at pier 3, East river, the first
being at the foot Of 5th street. East river.
There were FIVE men in the crew, making
a total Of sixty-three all told.
THE sea, when we started, was not very
heavy. and hardly any spray came on board.
The passengers. thinking that they might
get wet, all crowded to the port side. / ask
ed them to divide up and part take the star
board side, but no attention was paid to
my request The sea was somewhat choppy,
but not what would be called heavy. Out
side. some distance from shore, 1t appear
ed much calmer than In shore.
Il thought II We ran out for some distance
we would make better weather We were
in no apparent danger. except for the peo-
pie crowdng to the port side of the boat.
l suddenly saw heavy swell or sea bear
ing down on us, closely followed by q Sec
ond one. / called again to the passengers
to take the starboard side Of the boat. but
as In the former case, this was not Gone.
The first sea boarded us clean over the
bow and rushed aft. The second followed
closely, also boarding us over the bow and
washed down the port side. This was caus-
ed by the heavy load on the boat When
the first wave hit us. cried, For Gods
sake get over to the other side! I pulled
the whistle rope then as a signal of distress,
and. seeing the great danger, tied 1t down.
1t kept blowing until the Nichols went
down. After the boat had careened under
the second swell AL. Hammond, a deck
hand. and myself climbed through the
starboard windows of the pilot house and
went overheard. There were a number Of
people struggling in the water all around.
The life raft was near the spot where the
tug sank and 1 made for 1t. There were a
number of passengers on 1t and hanging to
1t, and their struggles soon capsized It. AS
IT went over l was struck by 1t and went
down. When l arose to the surface / man
aged to grasp 1t again.
Il was at the wheel from the time we left
the dock until the accident occurred, except
short time while at anchor, when 1 went
below for dinner.
1T has been stated that l was intoxicated
1 wish to say that l am not a drinking man
and touched no liquor whatever. The life
preservers were nearly all on the upper
deck. but how many were used cannot say.
! did not see anybody entanged by fishing
lines or ropes, as was reported.
II did not lose my presence of mind, but
acted at the time with my best Judgment
There were thirty-four l think, taken on
board the Sayre, including the crew.
Il do not think the boat was overcrowded
and had the passengers acted as told them.
think We would have come through all
right, as / think We would have rode over
he had nm
even keel. I did the best could under the
circumstances"