The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-10-31
A FERRY BOAT CUT IN TWO
SERIOUS ACCIDENT IN NORTH
RIVER EARLY THIS MORNING.
An Old Dominion Line Steamer Runs
Line and the Latter Sinks In Seven or
Eight Misunderstanding as to the
Loss of Life-About Forty Persons
Aboard and Som0 Swim Ashore.
'Ed and Somo Swim Ashore,

/
! Aboard and somo Swim Ashore.
New York. Oct 31.-The Pennsylvania
ferryboat Chicago was cut In two by a
steamer of the Old Dominion Steamship
| line at 1885 this (Tuesday) morning on
| the New York side of the river. The
| Chicago went down in seven or eight
minutes There were between thirty
and forty persons aboard, four being
women. There were a dozen horses on
board. 1t is supposed that several per-
sons We're drowned, though there is no
positive proof of this assertion.
In spite Of the seriousness of the ac-
cident there was no panic, Most Of the
people went out on the upper deck and
only half dozen persons were on the
lower deck. Most of the persons man
aged to obtain life preseTVers. Some
others who could not obtain them, about
half dozen in number swan ashore.
These persons started from the lower
deck and assisted each other in getting
ashore. One or two were without life
er and succeeded in getting to the pier
safely. There was considerable shout
ing for help, the people on the boat call
ing for small boats to come to their as
sistance. No small boats were launch
ed, however, probably owing to the brief
period of time which elapsed between
the cutting in two and the sinking.
The Old Dominion liner was evident
ly coming up the river at the time of
the accident, while the ferryboat Chi
cago was headed straight across from
the New Jersey shore for the New
York slip. The Old Dominion liner
stopped after the accident. but appar-
emily no boats were launched and in the
brief space of time which elapsed moth
ing was done to assist the persons in
the water. Estimates made by the per-
sons who succeeded in escaping vary
widely. Some think it possible that no
loss of life resulted, while others be-
lieve that at least a score of persons
were drawn into the whrling vortex as
the ferryboat sank.
August Windeborn, Jersey City, was
one of those in the mems cabin. He
had just time to catch up a life pre-
server and leap overheard before the
boat went under. He said that men
and women and some children We're in
the water all about him. He succeeded
in making the best of his way to the
Liberty street dock. The following pas
sengers are known to have been res
cued: Oscar Watson, Manhattan; r.
Carl Hehenroth, Brooklyn; Irwin bort,
Brooklyn; John Casperfield, Brooklyn;
Peter Bunte, Brooklyn; Joseph Weiger,
New York; Anthony Wall and his wife,
New York; John r. Coyne; Alexander
Weir of the Kings county district at
torney's office; Charles Plummens,
Newark
The steamboat squad a few minutes
before o'clock found a body which, 1t
is supposed, is that of one of the pass
engers on he ferryboat. H. w. Dbble
who had an office at 1928 Broadway,
jumped overheard with life preserv-
er. He saw four women struggling in
the water near him, but was unable to
help them. He was picked up by life
boat and taken ashore.
Searchlights are being used in the
work of rescue. A number of tugs and
some boats have been secured. Every
thing is being done that is possible un-
der the circumstances to pick up per-
sons from out of the water One boat
brought in six men, two women and a
child,