The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-08
RUG CUTS DOWN POLICE LAUNCH.

TUG CC1S DOWN fOLICE LACNCh.
Tug Wa tho Nieoi. which Has Been ut the
Botfom ~Hersen-Nobods Drowned
Launch 1 Of the feet belonging to the harbor
police was run down and cut half in two yester
day afternoon by tho tugboat james D.. Nicol.
The Ave men OF her crew were thrown into the
water and one OF them, being caught by the
strong food tide, was carried up tho river and
nearly drowned before q line was got to him.
The launch suffered damage to tho extent OF
1925. and RoundsmAn Thomas Mccormick lost
Sl75 out Of his trousers pocket
No. 1 is one of the 35-foot naphtha launches in
troduced in the Police Department by Fred
Grant. With her crew Of ifive men she left Pier
A at l O'Clock for her regular tour OF duty up
the East River. Her crew was composed of
Roundsman Thomas Mccormick, Policeman
William p. Shcehy, pilot; Policeman Charles
Kelk, engineer, and Policemen Thomas A.
Meade and John c. Rutledge. The launch skirted
the Battery close in shore and started up the
East River. As she neared the slip between
Piers 1 and &. of Moore street, Pilot Sheehy
heard the warning whistle Of the tug Emma j.
Kipp, which was backing ont of the slip.
Sheehy blew one whistle and sheered to star
board. toward the Brooklyn shore. in order to
As the little launch darted out OF the cluster
of tugs that abide in this part Of the river
Sheehy saw coming down on him. buckilg the
strong tide at fun speed. the James d. Nicol.
which had also sheered on toward the Brooklyn
OF the outcominR Kip. The tide was carrying
the launch swiftly ppstream: sheehS gave an.
OF the Nicol that the launch was going to the
right. The police pilot says that the Nicol paid
unsiackened speed. She struck the launch on
the port side. just aft OF the Sompanionway
The launch keeled over toward the tug and half
Roundsman Mccormick had been sitting on
tho port side OF the launch. not more than
eighteen inches from where the tug struck her.
He crawled out of the window Of the deckhouse
and jumped into the water. The Ntcol had In
the mean time come to a stop. and he swan
around until a line was thrown to him and he
was hauled on to the tug; inc launch sank BY
manned up in the air. All tho other men but
Sheehy got out of the launch without difficulty.
Sheehy got stuck in the window through which
before he got out. The Sicol was standing by,
and all the men except Meade scrambled on
board. Meade. who was not SO strong q swim
fore a line could DO got to him. and when he was
finally hauled on board he was nearly ex-
The Nicol took tho launch In tow and fotohed
her 10 the sip at Pier A, where, she was hauled
out Of the water for repairs. When an examina-
ton was made 1t was found that the sharp stem
OF the tug had made a clean cut through the
outer planking of the launch from the gunwale
to the keel. Capt. Schultz said that Il would
cost 1928 70 put her into shape again. Pilot
1.-THE blame for the accident, rests on Capt.
Bryan Of The StE g l.N we 4 F9 aII. him 9nr hi our course
the engines of the tug. A delay OF a half q min
ute would have prevented the accident
og LH SH the 4 S Mss ehHS0o Of the derrick kew thai mon Mss
raising her TO tho dock. The Sicol also has
been in several accidents. the worst Of which
hf nap%SsSsa to OF h Sandy oa }Hnii ana and i tslrsy M msS u sas
drowned.