The Anaconda standard., 1899-11-01
DEATH IN ICY WATERS
Many Lives Lost in a Steam
boat Collision.
PASSENGERS IN A PANIC
Scenes OF Widest Excitement on Board
the Ferry Boat Chicago-Heroic
Work OF the Crew Saves
Scores Of Lives.

New York, Oct 31.--The Pennsylvan-
ia Railway company ferry boat Chi
cago, plying between Cortlandt street,
this city, and the Pennsylvania depot
in Jersey City, was run down by the
Savannah line steamship City of Au-
gusta this morning about ! o'clock as
the ferry boat was crossing to the east
side of the North river. Within a few
minutes the Chicago sank in so feet
of water. 1t is not definitely known
how many passengers were on board
the Chicago, but the number Is vari-
ousy estimated at from 50 to 100. John
Bryson is known to have been drowned.
His body was recovered. Fireman
Vrooman of the Chicago Is missing and
is thought to have been caught in the
hold. 1t is not improbable that other
lives were lost.
When the Chicago left Jersey City at
1874 a. m. Captain William Durham
was in the forward pilot house direct
ing the boat personally and one of his
deck hands was at the wheel. The
night was perfectly clear. The tide
was ebbing fast and Captain Durham
was obliged to keep his little vessel
headed up stream. AS he approached
over to head into the slip and as the
Chicago swung around the captain
caught sight of the City of Augusta
bearing down on him. She was coming
up stream and was very close. Cap
tain Durham gave two blasts of his
whistle to signify his intention to pass
to starboard and, putting his helm
aport, he rang the signal to go ahead
at full speed The City of Augusta
did not reply to the signal, but kept
right on her course. A moment later
the City of Augusta rammed the Chi
cago just abaft her paddle wheel On
the starboard side.
A scene of wild excitement followed
The passengers most of whom had
risen to go to the forward end of the
ferry boat to be prepared to leave as
soon as she reached her slip, made a
wild scramble for life preservers. For
tuna tely there were few women aboard
not more than five or six. AT first
they were showed to the rear. George
Blumenberg and George Ray. truck
men, who were coming TO the city with
their loads of milk, jumped into the
middle of the struggling mass and
yelled:
Hands off, the women first. Save
the women"
A score Of men took up the shout
and in a trice the women were fitted
with life preservers. The small num-
supply of life preservers, but many In
their excitement did not stop to put
them on, but leaped overheard unpro-
vided. 1t is feared that some, persons
must have gone down in the chilly
waters before help came.
The deck hands displayed commend
able courage. Captain Durham and
Chief Engineer Penfleld set them
splendid example. Captain Durham
was the last man to leave his boat. He
kept up a constant call for help with
his whistle. and when he finally left he
tied the whistle to keep up the sound.
and when the Chicago finally went
down she did it with her whistle blow
ing. Engineer Penfield kept his hand
on the throttle until the water put
out his fire. and he had scarce time to
run on deck and jump overheard when
the boat went down.
Don't get excited: she won't sink
the deck hands cried as they ran
among the passengers. Plenty of
| time"
They managed to reassure the major
| ity of the passengers. Captain Dur
ham saw the Chicago was doomed and
| he gave the command for all hands to
| go up on the upper deck. This created
| a new panic and men and women by
| the dozen leaped overheard and strug
gled to get away from the vortex when
| it came.
The City of Augusta found herself
unable for a few seconds to get out of
the hole she had made. Her anchor
chains were entangled in the splinters
and despite her reversed engines she
was unable at first to do more than
pull the Chicago down stream with
her She finally managed to get clear
| and backed away. An effort was made
| by her crew to lower boats to help the
| passengers of the Chicago who were
then in the water by the score. their
cries being plainly audible on shore.
| The tugboat Chauncey Depew
] reached the scene before the Chicago