New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-10-17
DROWNED IN A SINKING TUG.
THE NIAGARA LOST IN A COLLISION
WITH THE STEAMER MAGENTA.
FIREMAN AND TIE CoLoREp COOK co DOWN
WITH HER-THE CAPTAIN AND THREE MEN
REsCUED-A SENSATIONAL. SCENE

FIREMAN AND TIE CoLORED COOK co DOWN
WITH HER-THE CAPTAIN AND THREE MEN
REsCUEp-A SENSATIONAL. SCENE
IN TIE NORTH RIVER.
The excursion steamer Magenta which runs
daily from this city to Keyport yesterday after
noon ran down and sank the tugboat Niagara
belonging TO the Rogers Towboat Company. in
the North River. Two of the Niagara's men
were drowned. three others were rescued by the
tug Lewis Pulver. of the New-York Harbor
Towboat Company, and fourth was taken on
board the Magenta.
The Niagara left the Hoboken coal dock. where
she had been coang. shortly before 3 o'clock
to go to Pier No 4. East River. for orders. Cap
tain John Moriarty OF Brooklyn. and five men
were on board She passed down the North
River near the New-Jersey shore un.l about
opposite Pier No. II, where she headed diago-
nally across the river for the Battery. The Ma
genta. under command Of Joseph NJ. Wilcox.
who, II Is said has not had an accident since
he was made a pilot. twenty live years ago. LETT
her pier near West Washington Market. little
earlier. She had only few passengers on board.
As the boat was off COrtlandt-st. the ferrypoat
Cincinnati came across her path. The Magenta
slowed down, and wnen the Cincinnati had
passed started ahead again. No sooner had she
cleared the ferryboat however. than the tugboat
Niagara appeared on the other side Of the Gin
cinnati and directly under the Magentas bow
There was no time to avoid a collision. ana the
Magenta struck the tugboat on the port quar-
ter. cutting such a hole In her side that her
deckhouse was scraped by the Magentas nose
The Magenta backed out after the crash. and
within two minutes the Niagara had sunk in
mdstream. Captain Moriarty stood by his
wheel until the water was waist deep In the
pilot house Then he plunged through the
window into the river. The engineer. one hre-
man and a deckhand also jumped. The en-
gneer, Thomas Hyland. OF Brooklyn. was picked
up 10y the Magenta one of whose boats had been
got into the water with great difficulty lie was
subsequently transferred 10 the Pulyer.
one Of the fremen known as Jimmy the
Tinker" and the coored cook. John Simins OF
Nashville, Tenn, went down with the tug. II
is supposed that the fireman was asleep In MS
bunk at the time Of TIE accident, ana mat the
cook was drawn under by the suction Of the
sinking tug. The Lewis Pulvcr, which was near
the scene Of the accident. waiting 10 dock the
American Line steamship St Paul, rescued
Captain MOriarty. the second fireman. whose
name is Johnson and the dcckhand. Later
taking on board the fireman rescued by the
Magenta she carried the four men to the Ameri-
can Line pier where dry clothing was given TO
them in which they departed for their homes.
The Niagara was ~ feet long ID feet beam
and IS feet deep. She built I'm Buffalo In
1854 The Magenta is l91 feet long. 80 feet
beam and = feet deep. She was built In lN"'
In Albany. She runs in the summer months on
the Bay Ridge Ferry route The boat was taken
on that route on september !, ana mas since
been running to kcyport.
Captain Wilcox. OF the Magenta. was seen by
a Tribune reporter last evening when h" reached
keyport but refused 10 make any statement
about the accident