The Savannah morning news., 1901-01-27


ernors Island, but the superintendent was
anxious to know If the fire boat had come
back So they turned westward toward
the Battery wall. The boat was not at
her dock, but they saw her rounding the
face of the Aquarium, her fire nozZles
sticking through her shields like long guns
from the turrets of a cruiser. She was
the New Yorker. The Wanderer slowed
down 20 see what she would do. There
was not long to wait man stood upon
the dock with a paper in his hand, and
he handed it to the captain of the New
Yorker with a verbal injunction that
caused the captain to start visibly He
gave the order to sheer off, and the fire
boat turned Immediately and headed down
the bay in the wake of the Wanderer.
Through his fire horn the captain of the
New Yorker hailed the Wanderer, and
advised series of zigzazs as far as the
channels would permit, the two boats to
work down the bay until Romer Shoal
hight was reached. But the arrival of a
new ally made IL unnecessary. Soon after
the boats left the Battery, the Patrol, the
steamer of the Police Department, re-
turned from her raid, and with all the
extra force she could muster, started to
help in the work of rescue. She is a very
fast boat, and she went down under a
forced draft and with a long. lean stride
that got her to the Narrows almost as
soon as the others. She slgnaIed repeat
eddy to every boat that doomed up ahead,
and at last received an answering whis-
tie from the New Yorker just as that
boat and the Wanderer were about 90 di-
vide the uncertainties of the search.
Then commenced a hunt that was with
out parallel in the history of the harbor
The three captains headed their boats in
the form OF an overwhelming wedge, with
the Wanderer in the middle, The New
Yorker working toward Coney Island and
the Patrol veering toward Sandy Hook
In other words the Wanderer made
bee line for Dumb Beacon, the Patrol
went down the regular ship channel, and
the New Yorker went by the East chan
mel. There was a signal agreed upon, to
be given in case the chase was sighted.
They hailed everything that passed, be-
cause 1t Is SO easy to mistake boat
in the night, and because incoming YES
sells might have sighted the Refuge. But
none had recognized the Refuge, w4.A
its load of human irresponsibles. Once
only did the captain OF the Wanderer get
hail that gave an inkling of encourage
ment. IT came from the captain OF a tug
boat. who leaned FAR out Of his pilot
house window TO shout that he had seen
small dispatch tug goiH down with a
party on board, Had a scow in
tow-a patent bumper . About two
mile nor-norwest o. Skin-Nigger Lighty
Skin Niger is the she.lback name for
Romer Shoal. The light could be seen
about three miles out, yellow, low-lying
speck, midway between the blinking beac-
on on the Highlands and the steady CLEAN
OF the Coney Island light. II this tug
was towing seow there was little chance
of her being the Refuge, but as she was
in the path of the Wanderer, they would
shortly be able to make sure.
Now on the way down the bay they
were being slowly overhau!ed by a big
coastline steamer, and when they slowed
down to speak the tug. this liner, bril-
liant with electric lights and say parties
Of tourists on their way to Southern re-
sorts, surged past them heavily. When
however, the Wandcrer regalned her
former speed, the coaster drew away less
swiftly and the Wanderer hung on 10 her
port quarter and tossed about IN tre muss
OF her screws for fully Is minutes. An
orchestra was playing on the big boat and
her searchlght fitted hithcr and thlther
about the bay The sight was en.iven.
Ag TO The men IN the pilot house vi Che