Evening journal., 1898-08-22
ONE CENT.
EXCITEMENT REIGNED.
0randywine Runs Into a Boat.
Drowning Three Men.
YAWL IN CHANNEL WHEN sTRUoK

A'~@ tihAtf fhNED-TlffE
MEN WE'RE ON A FISHING
CRUISE
The steamer BrandywIne. OF this
city ran down a yawl in which were
nve young men. in the Delaware river
near Philadelphia. late Saturday n,sbt
Three Of the occupants Of the boat wero
drowned. They were:
Harry J. b. Smith, 22, married or
No. l4S2 South Twenty-third street
Philadelphia.
James Barr, unmarried, 20. OF No
1880 South rwenty-thlrd street phila-
delphia.
James G. Lynch, 21, unmarried OF No
2loi Ellsworth street, Philadelphia
The two who were rescued wers
Hugh coyle. of No 1888 South Tween
ty-third street, and Charles Bradley
Of No. 741 Grays Ferry avenue, Phila-
delphia.
The party OF young men had lefb
Ellsworth street wharf at 7 O'Clock. in
tending to row to National Park. TO
stop there over night, and to spend
yesterday in fishing. All were expert
swimmers. They took the row down
the river leisurely and at Q O'Clock
were OF the mouth Of the schuylltilI
Suddenly they saw the Brandywine
speeding toward them, less than a
quarter a mile away. According 10 the
story told by one OF the survivors. both
lights OF the steamer were visible when
the young men first became aware ct
their danger. They began to row tc-
ward the New Jersey shore to clear the
steamer, and thought they were safe.
when II ran into them. The yawl was
crushed, and all five Of the young men
were thrown into the water.
The steamers propeller at once re-
versed. There were 300 passengers on
the boat, and until the shock there was
no lmowlellge OF the proximity of the
yawl, 50 that the accident created
panic. Cries for help were heard from
the water, and number OF life pre-
servtfs and lines were thrown over
board in the hope that some would fall
within reach OF the drowning men,
William Mccarthy, OF worcester
Mass. who was a passenger on the
boat, tied one end of rope around
him, and, handing the other end TO
another passenger, told him to hold il.
He then jumped overheard, in the hcpe
Of giving assistance to the men in the
water. The passenger who was holding
the rope believed that Mccarthy had
told him to hold It only until the leap
overheard was made, and as soon as
Mccarthy struck the water the line was
tossed after him. He was rescued only
after a hard struggle.
The calls OF the drowning men for
assistance grew fainter and fainter, and
after nearly half an hours struggle in
the water they sank. bradley caught
one OF the life preservers thrown from
the steamer, and was dragged aboard.
Coyle caught the bow Of the steamer
and managed to keep his hold until he.
too. was pulled aboard the steamer.
Dragging for the bodies began early
morning and continued
the day.
Coyle says that at the time OF the
accident the lantern OF the boat was
lighted, and was on the bow seat Of the
yawl.
Lynch. who. with Bradley, owned
he boat" he said, lighted the lantern
about an hour after we left the ELS
worth street wharf. when we first
saw the steamer, both her lights were
Visible, and We pulled across toward
he Jersey shore, to clear her. AS soon
Is we saw only the green light, we, OF
curse, felt sure that we had cleared
he steamer. Suddenly, however, we
,ould see both lights. and knew that
he steamer was coming straight to-
ward us. / believe that she must have
made very quick change Of her
curse. l thought OF waving the Ian
ern, but that would not have done
my good, and we all stood up and be-
.an to shout. The next l knew was
brown in the air, and when l came
Iown managed to catch the bow OF the
3randywine. Someone reached down
nd helped me on board. AN have
o say is that the lantern was lighted
Vhen we were struck, and was in plain
lew. We all knew what we were do
ng, having no liquor aboard, as none
+ us drink"
Coyle believes that IL the Brandy
gine had dropped down the river with
he current, as the young men and the
lie preservers did. the chances OF the
Ives being lost would have been les
ened.
1t is stated that neither the captain
( the Brandywine, Charles Moncreif.