New-York tribune., 1900-07-02
BIG CROWDS AT FERRIES.
NEARLY 100000 PERSONS. 1T Is SAID.
CROSSED To THE SCENE OF.
THE FIRE.
THE FIRE.

widespread and tremendous interest In the
disaster of Saturday shown yesterday py
the outpouring of NewYork crowds TO tne
neghborhood Of the ruined piers Of the North
German Lloyd Company in Hoboken; to Wee
hawken, where two OF the wrecked steamships
were moored and to Liberty Island near which
lay the saaIe 1t was estimated that nearly
200. 900 New-Yorkers crossed the North River 10
look at the burned piers and steamships
The Hoboken ferries could not accommodate
the rush of people from New-York 10 the scene
of the fire Thousands of people who went TO
the ferries with the intention of crossing the
river changed their minds when they saw the
gates blockaded by jostling, pushing. eager
throngs. Before the arrival Of a boat from Ho-
boxen the ferry house would be fun to over
flowing. and long lines OF people Would be walt
ing for admission the houses. Squads or
police helped to keep the crowds at the ferry
houses in check and prevent the crushing OF
weak women and children. Occasionally the
stopping of an alteration the arrest OF
pickpocket in the crowd added to the excitement
The greatest crush and delay at the Bar
clay-st. ferry The ferry company had failed 10
make provision for the enormous Increase OF
traffic there. On the contrary, they had taken
off two of the ferryboats, allowing only two %
run. The result jam OF humanity such as
never had been seen at the ferry house. Several
hundred people were to be seen at one time in
front Of the ferry house after the waiting rooms
were packed full and the entrance was blocked
Most people in the throng were emphatic IN con-
damnation Of the ferry company for failure 70
provide sufficient facilities for crossing Every
time a ferryboat reached the New-York side it
was crowded until there barely standing
room it anywhere. Many persons hesitated
to go on a boat, fearing that 1t was overcrowded-
In the afternoon the returning crowds blocked
the ferries in Hoboken, and the rush Of traffic
continued until late last night Thousands or
people crossed the river to Jersey City on the
Pennsylvania boats and went to Hoboken by
trolley cars. returning the same way TO escape
crowding.
All day long the streets of Hoboken were
filed with people who did not belong there. Ihe
crowds moved toward the scene of the great nre.
They overran Hudson Square, Whlch trohLs the
river to the north of the North German Lloyd
piers, trampling the grass into dust thousands
upon thousands could not get near enough 10
the police lines to the burned piers. Ihey
wandered about the streets for hours, and then
fought their way through the ferries and came
back TO New-YOrk.
Chief Donovan of the Hoboken police, said
he never had seen so many people in the streets
I'VE have a population Of 65OuO' he said, "but
there seem to be more than quarter OF a mill
ion Of people in the streets of Hoboken to-day
Great crowds of people were in WeehaWken
all day long looking at the Main ana the
Bremen. Comparatively few could get near
the steamships but the crowds remained until
evening Thousands Of people went from New
York in boats to get near the Saale, TO the
north of Liberty Island. Many sailboatS were
in the fleet Of small craft. One ca boat was
overturned and had TO be towed back.