The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-10-31
Steamer City Of Augusta Rams
FerrybOat Chicago
Plying Between Jersey City and
New York.
SENT HER TO BOTTOM.
Passengers Leap Into the Chilly
Water in Terror.
But Two Persons Are Known to
Have Drowned.

New York. oct. S1.-The Pennsylvania
Railroad company's ferry boat Chicago
plying between Cortlandt street this
city and the Pennsylvania railway de-
pot in Jersey City. was cut down by
the Savannah line steamship City of
Augusta about l O'Clock this morning
as the ferry boat was crossing to the
east side of the North river. Within
a few minutes of the collision and be-
fore the Chicago could make her slip
she sunk in IS feet of water.
1t is not definitely known how many
passengers were on board the Chicago
at the time of the disaster but the
number is variously estimated at from
so to 100 One man. John Bryson, is
known to have been drowned. His body
was recovered. Fireman Vroom of the
Chicago is missing and is thought to
have been caught in the hold. It IS not
impFOba bic that other lives were lost.
When the Chicago left Jersey City at
1874 a m, Capt. William Durham was
in the forward pilot house directing the
boat personally and one of his deck
hands was at the wheel The night was
perfectly clear. The tide was ebbing
fast and Capt. Durham was on this ac-
count obliged to keep his boat headed
we'll up stream. AS he neared the New
York shore he put his helm 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
very close. Capt. Durham gave two
blasts Of his whistle to signify his in
tentiOn to pass to StarbOard and pull
ing the helm aport he rang the signal
TO go ahead at full speed. The City OF
Augusta, Capt. Durham says did not
reply to the signal but kept right on in
her course. A moment later the City OF
Augusta rammed the Chicago just
abaft her paddle wheel on the star
board side.
A scene of wild excitement followed.
The passengers, most Of whom had risen
to 20 to the forward end of the ferry
boat to be prepared to leave as she
reached her slip, made wild scramble
for life preservers. Fortunately there
were few women abOard-nOt more
than five or six-and at first they were
showed to the rear. George Blumenerg
and George Ray, truckmen who were
coming over 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 number of
passengers did not exhaust the supply
of life preseryers but many in their ex-
element did not stop TO put them on
but leaped overheard unprOvided- 1t is
feared that some such persons must
have gone down in the chilly waters be-
fore help came.
The deck hands displayed commend
able courage. Captain Durham and
Chief Engineer Penfield set them splen-
did examples. Captain Durham was
the last men 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 blowing. Engi-
neer Penfield kept his hand on the
fires and he had scarcely 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 majority of the
passengers
Captain Durham 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 struggled to get away from the
vortex when it came.
The City of Augusta found herself
unable for a few moments to get out of
the hole she had made Her anchor
chains were entangIed in the spIinters
and despite her reversed engines, she
was unable at first to do more than
pull the Chicago down stream with her
The City of Augustus nose was clear
into the Chicago's hull. She finally
managed to get clear and backed away.
No effort was made by her crew to low
er 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 tug boat Chauncey NJ Depew
reached the scene before the Chicago
sank and took 35 people from the ferry
boat and out OF the water
The fire boat, the police boat Patrol
and several launches were called to the
scene and did valuable work in rescuing
people. Several small boats were sent
out from the neighbOring piers and in
ones and twOs and threes the drenched,
chilled and sometimes unconscious pas
sengers were brought into the piers
where they received needed attention.
John Bryson, who was drowned. was
the driver Of United States mail van
going to the New York postOffice- Be
sides the vehicle in Bryson's charge
there were on the Chicago a truck be-
longing to the Adams Express company
containing IS, 600 in silver bars. two pro-
duce trucks, two milk trucks and one
other wagon.