The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-02-17
TWO DR0wNEDIN THE BAY.
TIE GALE CAPsIzEs THE TUGBOAT
FRANKIE OFF THE ERIE BASIN.

-
Eer skipper went Down with Rrr-pfer En-
aireer. who wal Also Her Owner. Also
Lcst-Oiher Tugs ana small Craft Met With
Mishsps-St. Iouin Came Near Grosnd,uR.
The harbor was dashed into turmoil yestor-
day by n gale that tore out Of the frosty west
Mt times at n hfty.mile rate. Spoondrift flew
along the crested waves, drenching the desks OF
all low-lying craft. Few small boats ventured
out, and most of those that did got into trouble.
The weight and persistency of the big.blowskept
down the high tides and blew tho low tides n
few feet lower than usual. The little tuRboat
frankie was capsizcd in the bay of Erie Basin
and her pilot, Capt. Nicholas Frank Of 1919
President street, Brooklyn. and her engineer.
Frank Crockor. who was also her owner, of 1o3
Third place. Brooklyn, were drowned.
Tho Frankie left Jersey City for Cartorot,
n. j., with the t~hree-masted schooner May in
tow. Just after passing Governors Island
the frankie began making leeway. Her en-
,gtneH were not powerful enough to keep her on
her course. She drlfted broadslde TO the blast
and heeled away over to port. The swell Of q
big tramp steamship. outward bound, added to
the heavy sea, which swept clear across the
little boat. Capt. Frank Braisted Of the Statan
Island ferryboat Castleton, which was on her
way to the city, saw the plight of the frankie
and headed for her. She :was .then almost
oh boh Oan CIus w thV ~
get alongside her the frankie went over and
sank. Her skipper had not time to leave the
pilothouse and he vanished with her. Capt.
Crockor and Deckhands James O'Brien and Ar
mold Petersen were seen struggling in the
water. Capt. Braisted lowered a lifeboat,
which picked up 0'Brien. The boat was
swamped by the high waves and the three men
who had been in 1t were rescued by lines low
cred from the deck of the Castleton. Petersen
drifted near tho Castleton and was hauled
aboard at the end of a life line. Engineer
Crocker sank before another lifeboat could be
launched. He was last seen swimming toward
a lot Of life preservers which the passengers and
deck hands of the-ferryboat had thrown inshis
direction. Crocker was AS years old. Capt.
Frank, who was O veteran harbor navigator,
was 90 years old.
The Battery b~oatu1en, who know rough wea-
ther when they see 1t, kept their stanch and
buoyant craft tied up in the basin. That Is,
most of them did. Billy Quigley decided to
brave the harbor tempest in the best boat Of
his fleet. He got mixed up with wind and sea
In a jiffy, and then he had a sensation that he
had never felt before and does not want to feel
again. It.wns the shock of plungink head first
into the icy water Of the East River. He says
that he felt as il he had had the current of a
powerful electric battery turned into him. He
was so bonumbed thatsw INNING was impossible.
He chung to the keel OF his boat until a tug that
CHANGED 10 be near picked him up. He dried
himself in the boiler room and went on shore
duty a few hours later.
Three tugs, the WINS. the r. J. Moran. and
the F. H. Wise, each with two dumping scows In
tow, started back from the dumping grounds
off Rockaway before daylight yesterday: When
stern bumper Of the Wins broke adrift. The lvins
| continued on her course and anchored the first
after the other dnmpcT. which had anchored.
Meanwhile the Moran had broken her rudder
T Ike 1S ans p piehe aet up ro the G dum npens,1 q tn as! Moran
and brought them in. The Wise. which took
her lows to Staten Island, went cruising for
Tho Moran, found her, and towed her into harbor.
The tug John A. Bowkor picked up the scow that
had anchored and brought her up the hay.
foot o. Fulton street, North River. Bound for
Southampton, at 10 o'clock In the morning.
81 she sh s.1 SaIs TO Of Ie Inc FOUR mat fnRs turn turin her her S ScaS Say.
ward. She might have brought up on the shoals
Of Governors Island II she had not had the tugs
Transfer tug NOT of the New Haven line, towing
two loaded car; floats, one on each side, while
was driven BY wind, and current over to the
Blackwen's Island shore and grounded on the
starbosrd side Of the tug was far inland 1t is
mander, Wallace B. Flint. and Three Brothers,
outer float off at high tide. It was feared that
an attempt to haul of the tug would eapsiHze
inner float until the tide served.
Capt. Wilson of the British bark Chipperkyle
was pleased with the big blow. Some Of his
friends told him no was foolish In leaving port.
| before he.got out of sight of land. He said he
| did not care q damn. He wanted q westerly
gale to help him along on his voyage to New
South Wales. Four tugs got the bark out of her
berth, at Pier IL East River. and helped her down
to the lowor bay. whence she scooted for the
open at tramp speed.
The little brig Robert Diolon, just in from
Brunswick, Ga, dragged her anchors and
| grounded at Red Hook.
The fishing sloop Elizabeth L. Roosevelt part.
ed her cable while anchored in the lower bay
| and drifted in near the Sandy Hook life-saving
station. Her skipper and two men took refuge
at the station. The vessel will be hauled of a:
high tide.