The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-11-15
SUNK BY A STEAMSHIP.
Ferryboat Cut Down in Hudson River
With Loss Of Life.
About Hundred Persons Were on Board-l
Some Passengers Swan Ashore and
Tugs Picked Up Many Moro.

NEW YORK CRY (special) The ferryboat
Chicago, OF the Pennsylvania Railroad, was
sunk In a collision In midstream In the
North River with about one hundred pas
sengers on board, at about o'clock Tues
day morning. Many persons lost their
lives. The ferryboat was struck by the
City OF Augusta, OF the Savannah Line.
As the crash came and the big ferryboat
slowly began to sink from the weight OF
wat er that rushed In through the wound
made by the steamship the passengers. who
were In the lower cabins, rushed to the up
per deck. From this point some OF the
more venturesome sprang into the water.
They swan to the shore, where men on the
piers drew them from the water.
Confusion was added to confusion by the
fact that there were seven trucks on board,
many with two horses each.' The horses
neIghed and plunged, and were thrown
down by the shock OF collision. They
struggled wildly, and fought to break over
each other. The rush OF the animals was
such thee the iron gates ut one end OF the
boat were broken out, and several horses
and wagons toppled over into the river,
even before the boat sank.
In the midst OF this indescribable con-
fusion, the passengers, each for himself,
was making every effort to escape what
seemed certain death. There were cries OF
Everybody take life preserverI" and
the frightened passengers did the best
they could.
Il seems almost miracle that all on
board were not drowned; 80 unexpectedt
was the collision and so quick the sinking
Of the ferryhoat.
Many we're saved by clamberlng to the
storm deck, where they remained unfit
taken of by the Pennsylvania Railroad
tug Chauncey NJ. Depew, with another tu&l
and several small boats that soon gathered
about. Men In these boats worked hard
and bravely, and everything that could be-
done to save life was done.
John Enfield, an engineer, was one OF the
heroes OF the occasion. He, stuck to his
post until the water was up to his arms and
till the fires were out and the dynamosl
stopped. When the shock came, he reai{
lied that many lives might depend on his
GOODNESS. he hoped that the boat would
properly right itself In spite ofits frlghtfup
careening. and even in that moment OF
deadly peril he knew that an engineer,
the boat where 1t should go. ]
The water came rushing in, but he gave
no heed to 1t, listening only for the sounds
Of signals from the captain. It swirledE
about him, rose above his waist, and not
till then did he make any effort for his own,
safety, when he saw that nothing more
could be done.
Captain Durham, OF the Chicago, who,
was rescued, says that there were about
one hundred persons on board, and that;
when the crash came they all grabbed life
preservers. He says that more than q
dozen tugs and boatsswere on the scene OF
the disaster IN an incredibly short time
and that their work OF rescue was practl-'
caIly immediate. \
Captain Dur ham says that he gave two,
whistles, sigu alling that he would go
ahead 80 that the steamer might 20 astern.,
There was no response, and the steamer
crashed into the fsrryboat. =
@. E. Damon, who was on the Jersey
Central ferryboat, corroborates the cap
tain and says that he was standing for
ward and saw the accident. he heard the
two whistles, but says tho Chicago was
late and did not have the right Of way.
One man, with his wife clinging to bis
shoulders, was picked up on the verge OF
exhaustion. Another moment and both
would have been drowned.
The Chicago Is one OF the Oldest boats OF
the Pennsylvania Railroad line; she usedto
be single deck side wheeler and when the
railroad company changed to double-deck
boats she WINS one OF the first. She has th6
record for accidents on the Pennsylvania
Railroad line, having had more than all Of
the other ferryboats OF the Cortlandt street
branch put together. She was commanded
by Captain Du rham.