The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-07-30
TIE KELLY 'SGRHAq DAY
Leading Politicians Distinguish
Themselves in the Col-
lison Was Anyone
Alarmed 2

to College Point yesterday was an event.
full affair. The standard bearer followed
by four hundred friends, left the city ear
ly yesterday morning in high feather.
With them were Leader Robert Davis,
Sheriff William Heller and the leading
politicians of the town.
The big steamer Chancellor had been
engaged for the occasion, and the excur-
sionists anticipated lively time. There
was no lack of excitement, and many of
the men are glad that they are at home
alive and we'll. All in the world that
saved the Kellys from being naked up in
a big river disaster was the action of
Commander C. D. Sigsby of the battle
ship Maine, who to avoid crashing first
into the Chancellor and the steamer Isa-
bel, loaded with the members and friends
of the Alligator Club of Newark, ran his
ship PROV first into Pier No. 46 of the
East River.
A float and ten loaded freight cars were
sunk and the end of the pier torn away.
Otherwise no damage was done,and for
tunately no lives were lost.
Had the Maine held on her course there
is no telling what the result would have
been.
Chancellor with the Kellys aboard reached
the East River Down the stream at
half speed came the big battleship
Maine Men rushed to the side and bow
of the Chancellor to get a view of the
big ship. Between the Chancellor and
the Maine were two loaded car floats,
which were being propelled down stream
by tug.
,od
running at full speed, and to accommo-
date the Kellys he steered a course close
to the floats. Suddenly the floats shifted
with the tide, and the bow of the Chan
cellor crashed into the port quarter of
the floats. The cracking of wood, flying
splinters and the smashing of glass occa-
stoned a small panic.
Men ran from one side of the boat to
the other, and many were only prevented
from springing into the river by cool
headed men and deck hands, who seized
them and held them until quietness was
restored. Robert Davis, James Kelly.
Louis Meyer, Sr.,-and Sheriff Heller were
the coolest of the men aboard the boat,
They ran here and there giving instruc-
tions to the men to remain quiet that
there was no danger.
rushed to the upper deck and were MAX
ing frantic efforts to unloose the life
boats which were there as much for orna-
ment as anything else. Others had
ripped away the strips holding the life
preservers in place and had securef them
about their bodies
The band was playing when the crash
occurred, and it was Robert Davis, who
;,,ir, hot INN
ate danger, directed the band to continue
playing For ten minutes pandemonium
reigned and then order was restored.
When the Chancellor cleared from the
floats it was found that hole had been
rail and section of the paddle box had
been carried away. The Captain of the
Chancellor made sure that everything
was all right and then he proceeded slow
ly to College Point.
John Kelly, a brother of the standard
bearer who was sitting near the lower
guard rail when the crash occurred, had
his left leg fractured He was brought
Shortly after the Chancellor docked at
College Point, Robert Davis, Sheriff Hell
crash had destroyed, returned to this
The Chancellor was not in fit condition
to return, and the ferryboat !; NJ J.
Kelly arrived home at half-past ten
o'clock. There were thousand or more
people waiting for them the a. at the 1.euSdtI club
About one-haf of the party returned on
the James. There were fireworks all
along the line of march. The collision
marred the days. pleasure. The boys
say they had a fairly good time notwith-
standing. From their conversation one
would be led to believe no one was
frightened. Accounts differ greatly in