New-York tribune., 1901-06-15
"BOB" AMMON'S STORY.
HE SAYS THAT THE NORTHF1ELD
CAUGHT FIRE.

Robert A. Ammon. the lawyer. was on the
Northheld. He helped to rescue several persons
One of them was Miss Mary wickert, a niece
of s. Ecksten, the brewer. When the water
was up to the stanchions the upper deck OF
the Northheld he got to the tug Catasauqua
Miss Wickert was still on the ferryboat He
threw her a rope. which she wound around her
waist Then she jumped into the water. and
was helped aboard the tug by Ammon.
Mr.. Ammon was sitting on the lower deck
when the accident occurred. He was reading
a newspaper. and was interested in what he
was reading that he did not rise when the
danger whistles sounded by the pilots of
both boats, and knew only that something un-
usual had happened when the boats came in
collision and the Northfeld shvered from bow
to stern. He said last night that the shock
caused by the boats coming together did not
throw any the Mortified off his feet.
He did not know who was responsible for the
accident.
There was a strong tide running at the
time" he said. Being at the stern side on the
lower deck of the boat. did not see the boat
strike
THE captain Of the Mortified is entitled to
whole lot of gold medals. He never lost his
head His coolheadedness quieted many excited
persons and undoubtedly saved many lives
While striving to get his boat as fast as pos
sible into shallow water. or as near as he could
to within touch of the pier lines he kept his
eyes ever on his men. and directed them to do
various things to allay fear and help the pas
sengers to get to a place of safety. When the
boats struck the captain shouted TO the pas
sengers to get on the upper deck. 1t was then
about Cos p. We had left at 6 o'clock sharp
and the place where we met with the accident
was in the channel between Governors Island
and the Brooklyn shore. The Mauch Chunk
struck us amidships. near the forward cabin
for women The cabin stove in and part
Of it set afre The guardrails on the for
ward part of the Mauch Chunk were broken In
splinters. The Mortified not running fast
at the time. What rate of speed the Mauch
Chunk was making. 1 do not know.
PASSENGERS ALARMED.
Great excitement prevailed among the pas
sengers on the Mortified after the boats came
together. At least. number Of men acted
like wild They began taking down life
preservers and putting them themselves.
They were bent saving themselves. and paid
no attention to the women
when the Mauch Chunk drew clear of the
Mortified the captain Of the Northfeld headed
his boat for the nearest shore, which was the
New-York. About seventeen minutes after the
and she had settled in the water. which was
washing over her hurricane deck.
In the accident the hull of the Mortified was
badly damaged and the water rushed into the
holes made in the damaged hull We sped 10
the New-York side. While making for
the New-York shore the boat began to rock
from side to side. This rocking was caused by
the water rushing into the hull. and the forward
part Of the vessel began TO settle slowly. The
deck and the rising water made people jump.
1t was either jump or drown for most on board.
There was no other alternative. By jumping
from the boat the risk of being lost was very
slight as there were tugs all hands and
many persons them waiting to pick people
out If the water. Soon after the accident the
Whistles for help from the Mortified brought
many craft to her side. Two or more tugs as
sisted her 10 get near as possible TO the shore
in the quickest possible time by pushing her.
"One Of the boats to come 10 the aid Of the
Mortified was the tug Catasauqua. of the Le-
high Valley Railroad She took off the North
field forty-six men and sixteen women. sue
ceeded in jumping from the upper deck OF the
Northfed TO the Catasauqua and in doing so
only wet the bottom of my trousers
DIFFICULTY IN ESCAPING.
"One OF the persons who did not succeed in
getting off the Northfeld easily as others
was George ]. Greenfield. the lawyer When he
was rescued he clinging 10 one OF the
wooden uprghts supporting the upper deck The
reason he did not succeed in getting off the
Northfeld quickly and without much trouble
was that he injured of his legs some time
ago. and it affects his gait
MIR. Ammon also spoke about the bravery dis
played by some of the and boys in charge
of the horses on the boat
When started from New-YorlS for Staten
Island there many teams on board he
"A we'll loaded wagon was drawn by |
a team belonging to De Jonse. the paper manu- |
facturer Another team was hitched TO a wagon |
owned by Turner's Express Company. The |
men in charge of these teams stayed by their |
horses until the last moment"
Mr.. Ammon made list of the persons taken |
eff the Northheld by the tug Catasauqua- They |
were
MAGT'IRE, Fl.
WAITE Mrs r.
HUTCHINGS. Mrs. F.
WILLIAMS. Miss Cora
DUNCAN. Miss Catherine.
NREELAND Miss Clara
GREENHOUSE Mrs u.