The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-12-10
DROWNED II SIGHT OF AID
Ferryboas Newbnrgh Trses 10 Save =
Man Too Weak 20 Catch a Line.

Wan Too Weak TO Catch a Line.
The West Shore ferryboat Newnnrgh
was coming down under the Jersey shore.
just Off Castle Point. on its four O'Clock
trip to A.ess 4 .s morning, when
something out of the usual happened.
Captain Frantz on the lookout in the
pilot house. spied something ahead tina
looked like a wreck. 1t lay directly in
the path of his vessel. Even as he rang
the bell to back water. he made it out
to be an upturned boat with a man
astride or it. sitting bolt upright on the
keel.
Save me. save meF' a cry came UP
from the water.
What's the matter?' shouted Captain
Fraptz. forcing the nose Of bis vessel
round so as to get the wreck on the port
side, where it was safe. and the answer
came back: Sprung a leakF'
Deckhands James Higgins ana Herman
Etzol had run on deck by this time and
were already getting out a lifeline. The
boat was drifting with tide, but within
reach. They tied a life-preserver on the
end of the line and threw it with sure
aim. Ii fell on the broad Of the wrecked
mans back, the line dangling over Ms
shoulder.
He did not stir. They shouted them
selves hoarse telling him to seize the line
and tie It about him. He never spoke or
turned his head, only chung with the
grip Of despair to the upturned BOAT. At
last they hauled in the line. Higgins tied
one end Of It about himself and gave the
over and swan to the wreck.
h line let him approach to within
three feet, but though he splashed and
shouted and beseeched the stranger 70
a he Hdnn HE nari1rfac l-I TA4 49,
self fall over so that he could pup him
up. he never let go his grasp. Z hiking
straight ahead, he sat there and CT no
his death without 50 much as &C. e. 8
1t seemed as If he was utterly be{iumBsd
by cold and fear, and he probably was.
The deckhand made him out to BID a man
OF Lhirty-hve or forty years. but could
out the cut or texture Of his clothes, wet
as they were. The few words The had
spoken when first seen betrayed his Irish
birth. Nothing more is known OF him,
or probably ever will be.
Worn out and nearly frozen himself.
the deckhand swan back to the ferry
boat and was hauled on board. Efzol. his
mate, threw the line once more, and this
time the wrecked man did let go OF his
grip and seized it. They hauled him up
to the vessels side. and were about 10
take him In over the rail when he let
slip the line and sank. He was not seen
again.
The boat drifted away on the tide. Il
was not picked up on either shore, as
far as the police know, and probably
went out to sea before daylight came.
The Newburgh went on to New York
and reported the loss to the Leonard
street police. On its return to Weehaw-
ken word was sent to the police there.
On both sides Of the river the opin on
was expressed that the man was probably
a river thief who had escaped after 1
fight in which his boat was shot fuil 81
holes and 20 came to death. But no fight
on the river was reported by the police.
The hour of the night makes it hard to
understand what lawful business any man
could have then on the water.
The man sank and was drowned in ffty
or sixty feet Of water at least. Whether
his body lies in the mud till the warm
spring sun brings it up-long past recog-
nition-or was carried out to the deen
by the tide, nothing more will probably
ever be known Of him.