The Portland daily press., 1894-08-16
CARELESS GUANERY.
Narrow Escape Of a Crowded Ex-
eursion Steamer
FROM DESTRUCTION BY A DYNA
MITE SHELL OFF SANDY HOOK.

The Shell Was Fired From the Govern
ment Proving Grounds and Exploded
Along Side the Steamer-A Little
Nearer and Terrible Loss of Life
Would Have ResuIted--This Was the
Second Marrow Escape the Steamer
Has Had.
New York. August 14.-The big fish
ing banks steamer j. B. Schuyler, with
more than 800 passengers on board, es-
capped by hairs breath being blown
to pieces yesterday afternoon by dyna-
mite shell fired from the government
proving grounds at Sandy Hook. THE
huge projectile struck the water and ex-
ploded right alongside of the steamer,
and by little short OF miracle no dam
age was done.
This is the second time within six
weeks that the Schuyler has narrowly
escaped destruction by missiles reckless
ly fred from the Hook.
The Schuyler left the city as usua
early yesterday morning on her regular
trip to the2banks, and after rounding
the Hook ran down the coast and
cruised from one good fishing ground to
another off Long Branch. The day was
line, and she carried larger mum ber of
passengers than usual, among them be-
ing, nearly 100 women and children, who
took the trip to. get.a Whit Of salt air.
1t was shortly after 2 O'Clock when
Captain Andrew Lund hoisued anchor
and turned the boats head homeward.
The passengers lounged about the decks
packing up their tackle and swapping
v7o1 bnr1 Ia. fr1, = / l.
In the cabin many OF the children were
asleep.
BY THE EXPLOSION.
The boat was about two and one-half
miles to the south of the point of hoo k
when there arose right alongside of her
almighty fountain of spray that lowered
as high as her smokestack and then
there came a muffled explosion and q
shock that made every tim ber in the
old craft quiver.
Those who saw the wonderful sight
were unable to account for it and not a
few imagined that whale had sudden
ly risen to the surface andperhaps struck
the vessel in his gambols but as the
course of the boat was not checked tneir
fears were quickly allayed
Probably not half a dozen persons on
board knew what a marrow escape they
had. Had the boat been struck the loss
of life would have been terrible Tor at
the time there was no vessel near enough
to render the slightest assistance, the
other fishing banks boat the A Foster
having just isappearedsaroundt the point
of the Hook.
Pilot John Simmons who was in the
wheel house at the time described his
experience last night.
can tell you said he at was just
as close call as you ever saw We
were making for the Hook and | should
from it, and about mile and half
off the beach. 1t was about 8 O'Clock,
and | was trying to make out buoy No.
l."
ONLY A FEW FEET AWAY.
The sun was in my eyes bit, and /
was dazzled and could not see the buoy.
Suddenly saw dark object rushing
right at us, and apparently coming fout
OF the sky For an instant thought i
was fishhawk making dive, but the
next moment it struck right alongside.
| should say not over so feet from the
port paddle wheel. 1t made big
splash and disappeared and the next
moment there was an explosion that
threw up the water like a torpedo. and
shook the boat from end to end.
Then l knew that the thing was
dynamite she'll. 1t was all over SO quick
that hadn't time to be scared, and as
the boat didn't seem to be damaged we
went right ahead. Very few of the
passengers knew anything about it, and
as little as possible was said so AS not
to scare the women.
Il tell you it is terrible the, reckless
way in which they fire from Sandy
Hook. They'll sink a ship load of per-
sons some fine day. Why. only about a
month ago they sent a shell right over
the Schuyler We were inside the Hook
and were going up the Swash Channel.
heard the whizz of the shell dis
tinctly and saw it strike the water after
it passed over us. We were in full view
of the Hook this afternoon, and 1 dont't
see how they could help seeing us.n
A schooner was instantly sunk about
two years ago off Sandy Hook by
12-inch she'll, which blew her stern to
pieces