The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-20
EXCURSIONISTS IN PERIL.
THE FAToRITE GOES AGROUND
ON WHITESToNE POINT.

The -Four Hundred Persons on Hoard TaLcn
or in Small boats from Her stern-Ths
Captain said TO Have Becn Drunk
Tho steamers Bottom stove AmidahIp.
WH1TEsToNE, J.. l., Oct. l9.-The steam
boat Favorito with 400 excursionists on board
ran ashore on Whitcstone Point shortly after
z O'Clock this evening. She lies high on the
rocks within $50 feet of the lighthouse which
Is situated on the upland.
The steamer had been here all day at the pic-
MO ground OF John Stimmel, with tho Evans
Association Of tho Fifth ward of Brooklyn. Al
z O'Clock the party boarded the boat for the
homo trip. People on tho shore who saw the
steamer leave the wharf said she was headed de
rectly across tho river, which Is an unusual
course. When near midstrcam sho turned
west and proceeded down the river. When she
neared the Point tho boat was headed directly
toward shore, and without any apparent at
tempt to change her course having boon made
she struck tho beach under full Roadway.
The tide was half up. The steamer lies on
the beach with her stap0oard side to tho land.
Her bow Is poked upon the extreme point of the
beach in q line with tho monster white rool9
from which this place takes its name. At low
tide there will not be moro than four feet Of
water under the stern of tho steamer. There
arc W large rocks, under her about midshipS
and her bottom is stove in.
AS soon as the steamer struck the excursions
lists were thrown into a state of frenzy. Some
OF the men ran to the pilot house to see the Caps
u revolver and threatened to shoot the first
man who dared to go near him. After striking
nal of distress. Small boats put out from the
shore and all the picknickers were taken OF
with q single boat, says be took 175 men ashore.
Tho engineer. Charles Lezatte, says he know
nothing about tho accident except that he had
she struck. He received no signal, he said,
until the steamer stopped on the beach:
said IL captain whose name Is frank Burns
One Of the members of the party, I don't
know his name, was in the pilot house with me.
He asked me to get his coat, which was in an
adjoining room. He said he knew the course
him. hin 'S and W WhenS I i retu n3Ssi wiz lli' the hns S eoSt we SS
were headed for the beach. / signalled to re-.
S srgss II the ,t engine nn, but We grounded before the
The CAPTAIN said he went ashore as soon az
possible pc 3h, to telephone to tho owners of the YES.
P EsH'Sff him S' th lev k RiSa1fS R9h5 iSS DOWN ES9 H and 9 reSbei
OF his statement he showed where his trousers
ieg was ripped near one of the pockets. The
river for many years, and had never before had
an accident. He Is apparently about 40 year1
feet : inches broad, p aEd 3 feet ia 8 incl es" deep.
She is OF 399:sl gross:tons. She was built in
1894 at Tompkins Cove, y. Y. She is owned
York.
With tho Evans Association. which had the
steamer chartered for, tho day. We're a number
of politicians of Brooklyn, among them being
Alderman John ,Gilfoyle.. Alderman Martin F.
Bridgies.. Alderman Gilfoylc, who was in
charge of the party, said that before leaving
the picnic grounds he noticed that the Captain
was intoxicated and asked him il he had y
mate on board. The Alderman said he wanted
TO be sure that the party would be safe. He
says the Captain replied that he had a pilot.
If he took one OF our party in the pilot house
to assist him" said the .Alderman, 'of course
he assumed the responsibility. ! did not know
that there was no wheelsman aboard besides
the Captain until after: the steamer went on
the beach"
The excursionists chartered three cars on
the Long Island road and left for Long Island
City shortly after 10 o'clock.