New-York tribune., 1901-06-16


list of missing is very small. and hope 1t Will
not become larger. 1 cannot how any one
can blame me for the accident. My boat the
Mauch Chunk. which is a steel frame boat of
modern type. comm into her slip. VILE
the Mortified was leaving hers.
Now. it is the rule of the harbor. amounting
almost to a law. that the boat coming into a slip
always has ,he right OF way. The outgoing boat
must wait until the incoming boat is fairly in
her slip and past all danger of collision. The
Staten Island boats have been persistent and
old violators Of this rule. SO fragrant has been
their offending that l have personally made
complaint TO the Staten Island Ferry Company
officials against the action OF the boats. and the
Mortified in particular In leaving their slips too
quickly. My complaints were made to the super
intendent of the line. and were in writing and
in due form l warned him that there would be
n sinking some day if there was
closer Observance of harbor rules. have been
in charg" Of the Mauch Chunk for four years.
ever since the Whitehall Terminal Ferry
tablished, and this is my first accident"
TIE OFFICIAL REPORT
The official report made by Captain Griffin to
Inspector Petrie was the following:
N MaiSIns for Wh!.ehast ferry SLIP within one
noticed ferryboat Nor,Rdci had started t. Come
out OF her New-York slip. with the wheelman "A
blow me TWO Whistles and continued coming
Ioi io stop nnrn m and m Iwo bells TO s back Then
blew an alarm whistle three different times to
Mortified as danger signal The Mortified cen
When she was three-quarters OF her own length
slip II was just half minute from time she
The ,,' Mauch Iiii chunks Ne%York bow end wen,
under the starboard side guard or the Northheld
her Staten Island side wheel. mashng in the North
fields plankng above and below wateriine. The
tons, and broke deck and sheathing and small por
aS Ken Of % port mood OF Se phk No &
thing my power 10 avoid this collision. The
sne stared to- eays hsr Slip nor aid Engines stop
after Mauch Chunk colllded with her. Engines
kept on going ahead.
r. NJ Stevens. the chief clerk of the Staten
Island Rapid Transit Company. when asked
about the complaint Of Captain Griffin that the
captains Of the Staten Island ats left the slip
at a reckless speed. said:
This whole thing will he carefully investi-
gated and you viii find that when the investi-
CATION is ended Captain Griffin won't have a leg
TO stand on. I would not be bit surprised if
re even lost his license The whole matter is
that our boat gave the proper signals Instead
OF obeyng them and slowing up. Captain Griffin
ran straight ahead and rammed our boat"
JOHNSON NOT TO RUN A BOAT JUST NOW.
p. II. Cassidy. the general traffic rs ut of ;le
Staten Island Rapid Transit Company. who is
in general charge OF the affairs of the company.
said yesterday:
Il have nothing 10 say about the acct
dent There can be no statement from the com
pany yet. because we haven't begun to get all
the evidence we need to make a thorough ia,c--
tigation Of the accident"
Mr. Cassidy was asked If Captain Johnson
40 hsat Cai
tody. He would make no direct reply
II should think" he said that the fact that
Captain Johnson Is under arrest would render
Il impossible for him 10 take charge of a boat
even II he were out on bail. DO not think his
nerves are in shape to take charge OF a boat
for a while. anyway"
Mr. Cassidy said that the sinking OF the North
field would not cripple the line at all The com
pany had six boats. two of which We're kept In
reserve one of the reserve boats would be put
on at once, he said, to take the place of the
Mortified.
CAPTAIN JOHNsON'S REPORT
The report of Captain Johnson. of the North
field was received yesterday afternoon at the
office of the Local Board OF Steamboat Inspec-
tors. 1t is follows:
Concerning the sinking Of the M ferTyboat 4 North, @
for ST. George. Staten Island. at p m. June "A.
/ lsOl The tide Hood ana there was liBnt
breeze blowing from the southwest. Started my
boat on one bell and blew the alarm whistle the
! lines off. l saw the Mauch Chunk coming
around the Battery. The quartermaster blew two
/ whistles TO the Mauch Chunk and the Mauch
| Chunk responded with two whistles. The quarter
master then hooked the boat and rang the Jingle
| bell AS the Mauch Chunk still coming ahead
| / blew two more whistles and then the alarm
whistles She still continued her course and struck
our boat forward OF the starboard wheelhouse Sent
the quartermaster down into the hold TO discover the
| condition. He reported the Mortified Leaking
! Started quickly TO beach the boat and blew the
4 alarm whistles for assistance Made Pier No. g.
/ East River, there no vacant space between
that point the point of collision all the slips
being full of crafts OF some description The North
/ field sank as soon arrived there / assisted
| in rescuing lives the full extent. Am unable 10
! give the amount of damage. So far / could see
and learn there loss of ltfe and efrort
| was made to save lives and property.