The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-06-25
CAPTAIN'S 'SSTORY
He Was Not Intoxicated Nor
Was His Boat OvercrOWded.

NEW YORK, June 25.-Captain John
Hyde, commander of the iu-fated
tug, was seen this morning at
the office of the owner of the tug.
lie is young man, % years OF
age, and says that he has had masters
license for the past four years. hyde told
the following story:
II could count but SO passengers on the
tug when she left the second stopping
place at Pier 3. East River, the first being
at the foot of Fifth street, East hiver.
"There were five Den in the crew, max
ing a total OF 90 all tod.
" We lad been lying off Seabright at
anchor, about three quarters OF mile
from shore, when the wind began To
ireshen. We soon raised anchor, intend
ing to leave.
" The sea, when we started, was not
very heavy and hardly any spray came on
board, Yet The passengers, thinking that
they might get wet, all crowded TO the
port side. / asked them to divide up
and part take the starboard side, but no
attention was paid TO my request.
Outside, some distance from shore, 1T
appeared much calmer than in shore. L
thought II we ran out, we would be able
TO make better weather. We were in no
apparent danger, except that the people
crowded 10 the port ride of the boat.
81 suddenly saw a heavy swell or sea
bearing down on us, closely followed by
a second one. called again to the
passengers to take the starboard side
of the boat, bat as in the former case,
this was not done. The first sea boarded
US clean over the bow and rushed aft.
"The second followed closely also boardss
ing Us over the bow and washed down the
port side. This wBs caused by the
heavy list on the boat. When the first
wave hit us / cried 'For Gods sake
get over TO the othe: side l pulled the
whistle rope then as a signal of distress,
and seeing the great danger tied it
down. After the boat had careened
under the second swell, Al Hammond, a
deck hand and myself climbed through
the starboard window OF the pilot house
and went overboBrd. There were num-
ber of people struggling In the water all
around.
''Ibe life raft was near the spot where
the tug sank and / made for It. There
were number OF passengers on IL and
hanging to 1t and their struggles soon
Capsized 1t. AS it went over 1 was
struck by it and went down. When
arose to the surface / managed to grasp
il again. The members OF the crew of the
boat, Pilot Raymond Kelley, Engineer John
Farrell, Fireman Lewis Hockeim, Al
Hammond and Steward James Fleming
were all picked up by the tug Sayre.
81 was at the wheel from the time that
we left the dock until the accident
occurred except short time while at
anchor when ! went below for oin-
ner. IL has been stated that / was
intoxicated. j wish 60 say that | am not
a drinking man, and had touched no
liquor whatever.
81 did not see anybody entangled by
fishing lines or ropes as reported.
81 did not lose my presence OF mind,
but acted at the time with my best judg-
ment. There were thirty four, | think,
taken on board the Sayre, including the
crew.
al do not think the boat was over
crowded, aud had the passengers acted as
told them think we would have come
through all right, as / think we would
have rode over the two swells il the boat
had been on an even kecl.'