New-York tribune., 1901-06-17
GAVE A COWARD A DUCKING
HE WANTED ALL THE LIFE PRESERVERS
AND SCOLDED DECKHANDS FOR
NOT RESCUING HIM
QUICKLY

Robert A Amnon, who was the Northheld and
who assisted a number of people in escaping. in
referring yesterday TO the alleged cuIpability Of
the Northfeld's officers said:
Il don't see how the captain and pilot of the
Northfed can be blamed all The Northfield
was the boat that was rammed. Every one on board
| heard the Mortified whistle twice. giving the
Mauch Chunk notice that she going ahead on
her course Then came the answering two blasts
OF the Mauch Chunk meaning all right It strikes
me that the reasonable supposition is that the
captain of the Mauch Chunk mistook the strength
or the tide and did not take eeway enough for
himself. 1t is doubtful if suit for damages would
lie against the Mortified people, inasmuch as IL
would be somewhat difficult 10 make out case OF
contributory negligence"
Commenting the accident AIr Ammon said
yesterday:
I've been laughing to-day about a big red
headed fellow that determined save him
sen, no matter whether any else saved or
not When the collision came ! was reading the
Kennedy case down in the lower cabin not dream
ing that anything serious had happened. A woman
with two young children I'm the same cabin
and when the other passengers rushed for the
upper deck this looked around appre-
hensively for help. told her guessed everything
was all right. and that would look for her
anyway. She the bravest little woman in the
face of danger that I've seen for long time She
said. An right. and then she gathered the children
around her and waited. listening meanwhile no
doubt. the shriekng Of hystercal men and
women upstairs. the rearing of horses the boat
careened. and the hurrying and fro OF the
frightened passengers After ] learned that the
Mortified was badly stove forward l came hack
TO where she and picked up both the children
one under each armand started for the upper
! deck. II all took place very rapidly
AS I going up the stairs. occupying about
| all the space sideways. a big. red headed fellow
with three life preservers on. came putting along
behind and swore for blocking the wav
| Think Of that once, and me carrying two kids,
| couldn't reach him any other way than with nv
foot, and when he crowded close l kicked back
/ like and doubled him up. He picked him
! self up and just as ! dropped the little mother
holding one of her children TO the deck of the
! Catasauqua, who should up again but the
same red headed fellow, more frightened than
ever. calling at the top of his voice the tug TO
lows and myself had take time TO laugh at the
! big strawberry blond bluhbering and waving for
'''You great big, fat coward: what do you mean
by grabbing all those life preseryers and pushing
! these women away from the rail?'
| " Every for himself. said he grimy.
All right said I. That suits me. You've got
three life preservers and I'm without any, and
with that went for him and we had nice little
scrap for those life preservers. took of them
| away from him and gave them 10 the women and
| IL nearly broke his heart.
When the tug up close enough to make
| II certain that our fat friend going be
and scolding the deckhands on the Catasauqua for
! their soWness and for allowing him TO get wet
That too much for the rest of Duck him =
word / sailed into him and he clear under.
Then he got up and clafnbered the rail TO the
/ got out of the accident l the fat fellow
the Catasauqua ten minutes later, and he apollo
81 sf be aoT vepY nc o% when Sr he eoded OFF n6
guess he's decent enough citizen in the ordinary
comes 10 a distribution of life preservers. how.
ever.