The times., 1899-07-06
EXCURSION BOAT LOST IN FOG.
Unhappy Experience of II Big Crowd
of New York Celebrunts.

New York, July Sit WIS a disgusted
boatload of Fourth of July excursionists
that, after night of tribulation, finally
landed from the big Long Branch steam
boat Republic at Pier 10. East River, at
3:15 o'clock this morning and swarmed
into the street to hunt for cars to take
them home, just as daylight was breaking.
They had gone to Long Branch the day be-
fore on the Republic, expecting to wind up
their glorious Fourth with a delightful
voyage home under the evening stars,
but what happened was quite different
The Republic, which was TO bring them
home, got lost in the fog, and the excur-
sionists. over 1000 in number, waited until
past midnight on the big Iron Pier for the
steamboat to come. After wasting enough
rockets to make Fourth of July celebra-
tion in trying to show the steamboat her
way through the fog to her pier, all of
the tired and sleepy crowd who had not
gone to the Long Branch hotels were
brought on two special trains to Atlantic
Highlands, where after hours of perilous
cropping in the fog the Republic had dock
ed. Sixteen hundred of the excursionists
got on the steamboat at Atlantic High
lands at o'clock this morning, and were
brought back TO New York as fast as the
Republic could make the trip under the
conditions.
The Republic was due to start back on
her last trip from Long Branch at 7:30
O'Clock, and at that hour the excursion
lists began to gather on the pier Soon
big crowd had gathered. and the fact that
the Republic was not in sight did not
worry anybody. II was a typical New
York holiday crowd, good -natured and
happy. There were mothers with focks
of little ones, and young men with their
best girls, and there was enough musical
talent and fireworks on the pier TO make
such q thing as a late boat a secondary
matter. Young men sang and blew up
firecrackers and carried on in Fourth of
July fashion, so that it was 10 o'clock be-
fore anybody began to think seriously
about coming home.
Then the crowd began to get impatient.
The Republic had not reached her pier,
and a steamboat which was taken to be
the Republic had been heard in the fog,
a mile off, blowing her whistle continual
ly as though in distress. Nobody was abe
to make out what the trouble was, but the
fog which obscured everything seaward
explained the difficulty to most of the
crowd. Others got mad, however, and
said the Republic had no right 10 lose her
way in the fog. for she had advertised TO
take the excursionists back TO New York
at 1880 O'Clock.
As soon as the Republic got outside the
New York Harbor she ran into dense
log, which hung thick and heavy close
down over the water. Although the stars
were plainly visible overhead, the pilot
could not see a foot ahead and the Re-
publics troubles commenced right then,
From that time until midnight the Repub-
lie was lost. Just where she went no one
knows exactly, but she tried to get to
Long Branch. She blew her whistle con-
tinually and moved slowly and cautiously.
Some of the passengers were nervous, but
Superintendent Daniel Humphries, who
was aboard, and Captain Quiksail reas-
sured them. The young women were badly
frightened and said their mothers would
be in a terrible state of alarm, as they
were expected to get back at $3.50 o'clock
II was a ticklish situation, but the boat
officers made the best of it They kept the
vaudeville show going all the time, and
the music and singing kept the passengers
from being as badly scared as they might
have been. For nearly four hours the Re-
public was out in the fog. Much of that
time she must have been in the close
vicinity of Long Branch, for her whistle
was plainly heard by the waiting excur-
sionists. AT last she gave Up the idea
of making her pier, as the fog. had not
lifted the slightest bit, and Captain Quik-
sail put back toward New York. About
midnight landing was made at Atlantic
Highlands.