The San Francisco call., 1898-03-15
NOTED FOR DISASTER,
 MUTlNY AND MURDER.
Thrilling and Unlucky Career of the Iron Ship That Is Ashore in
 Halfmoon Bay.

'''The New York is hard and fast on the beach at Halfmoon Bay" said Captain Gilbert Brokaw of the. tug Re- liance last night. "As soon as l got there yesterday morning I saw there was no chance of saving the vessel. She was sunk eight feet in the sand, there was nine feet of water in her hold and the sandbar is being formed outside the vessel that will do away with any chance of ever getting her into deep water again.
 When the New York went ashore she was under a jib and foretopmast staysail, foresail, lower foretopsail, up- per and lower main topsail and mizzen lower topsail When the Reliance got there the jib and foretopmast staysail had been run down, the mainsail was half set and the sheets and tacks of the foresail had broken and that sail was flying out to the wind. The vessel must have been driven ashore bow on and then turned broadside to the shore by the force of the wind and the waves. Both the anchors were at the bow so there was either no time or probably no thought of dropping either of them. So "The crew had run line from the ship to the beach when I got ashore, and they were working one of the ship s boats between the wreck and the shore by means of it. It was calm between the ship and the beach, but the waves which swept around the bow and the stern made a very strong current which sometimes capsiZed the boat during it's journey backward and forward. Dur ing one trip with Captain Peabody the boat capsized and the great bulk of the captains effects, including his wife's sewing machine, was dumped into the water The men that were in the boat were saved, but at one time it looked as if the boat would drift out to sea. One of the crew, big Kanaka, took a rope however, and swam out to the boat He made the rope fast to it, and then getting astride the ehalf-submerged craft was pulled ashore. All Spanish town took holiday to view the wreck. The school children were marched down to the beach in body, and after gazing on the scene for a couple of hours were marched back to school again.
 Captain Peabody was very reticent as to the cause of the disaster, but the men say that Mate Kerr, who was on watch, called the captain half an hour before he showed up on deck. From what I could gather the ship had been on and off Halfmoon Bay for three days and once had been very close in shore She stood off ten or twleve miles, but in spite of the northwest wind that was blowing she came right back to her old stamping ground and much to the surprise of everybody went ashore. Captain Peabody planes the strong currents. He says there should be light on Pillar Point.
 "The British ship Clan Galbraith from San Francisco for Cork with a cargo of wheat, had a narrow escape of laying her bones alongside the New York She was within three miles ot the beach and just when in the most danger she managed to head off on a starboard tack and just cleared Pigeon Point by a hairs breadth. For half ar hour it was touch and go with her, and I delayed my departure for San Fran cisco, thinking that every minute il would require my assistance. Captain Hodgman of the Life-saving Station al Fort Point did every thing he possibly could for the crew of the New York He took all kinds of chances in saving