New-York tribune., 1901-07-03
ALMOST WRECKED IN THE RAY
STORY OF THE THRILLING EXPERIENCE
OF A STEAMER AND BARGELOAD OF
PEOPLE OFF STATEN ISLAND.

Fifteen hundred people from New Rochelle,
who went out on the German Lutheran picnic
OF st. Luke's Church, in that city, to-day in
the sfdewheel steamer Laura NJ Starin and the
barge Sumner, of the Stsrin Transportation
Company Line, had an exciting experience.
Just off Prince Edward Bar, Staten Island.
about t. O'Clock, the two boats were caught in
terrific storm which nearly dashed them to
pieces. For half hour it looked as if both YES
sells would go down, and panic reigned on board
as the waves dashed over the decks and the
boats came together with a series of crashes
that smashed the gunwales and cabin windows
Women screamed and tainted and people tore
down the life preservers and put them on. Had
it not been for the efforts OF Mayor Dillon of
New Rochelle, Captain Cotter, City Engineer
Haskell, and others. who rushed among the
passengers and assured them that the danger
would soon be over, many people who had put
on life preservers would have leaped into the
ocean and been lost. The storm lasted fully
half hour. The thunder pealed and the
waves rolled high that the people had TO de-
sert the lower decks and rush up the COM
panionways TO save themselves from being
swept away. In the midst of the excitement
several men set up the cry:
The boat is sinking; swim for your ltves!"
Policeman Shontag grabbed of the men by
the throat. and threatened to knock him sense
less with his club il he did not keep still. Mayor
Dillon the Laura NJ. Starin. He rushed
among the passengers and begged them to keep
in the cabins. With the assistance of Captain
Cotter and the police ne finally got every one
inside the cabins and latched the doors. Then
the Mayor and half a dozen of the cooler men
stood guard.
The passengers the barge were nearly all
women. There were fully five hundred of them.
,htl fret Of
the storm they sought refuge in the cabins on
the upper decks, where they were crowded to-
gether like sheep. The barge stood higher than
the steamer, and as the two boats rolled to-
gether the tenders and rails on the barge broke
and the water came sweeping over the decks
and into the cabins, frightening the people into
Mysteries. At least a dozen women tainted. Others
fell their knees and began TO pray.
The storm did not fully subside until the barge
reached Hell Gate Some of the more eXcitable
passengers, fearing that the boats were leaking
and might sink. got together in the cabin. and
in New-York, where they could go ashore and
get home by train The captain refused to
listen to them He said that it would be eX-
tremely dangerous to attempt to land a barge
and steamer in a storm. Just before they
reached He'll Gate the storm died down and the
moon came out After that the passengers be-
gan to feel safe for the first time since they had
left Staten Island.
When they reached New-Rochelle they de-
cared that the experience was the most exciting
Of their lives. Several of the women who were
still weak from nervousness. had to be carried
ashore, and a hundred or more ehlldren were
deathly sick. Mayor Dillon said:
I expected the boats go down any minute:
| have taken in many excursions, and been In all
kinds of storms, but never saw such excitement
a there to-day. While the storm lasted peo-
pie rushed about as If they were mad Men tore
down the life preservers, and some women fell on
their knees and prayed Had II not been for the
skill of Captaia Cotter i'm handling the boats and
putting extra sples between them. they would
have Undoubtedly gone 10 pieces. The action of
some Of the cooler saved many lives want
commend also some of the women. They showed
great presence OF mind in taking charge OF me
ca bins of the barge. and preventing many women
and children from leaping Of.
The two boats show the effects OF the storm.
They are wrenched and scattered with wreck
age. The forward cabin OF the Laura NJ. Starln
is broken in on the port side. and the windows
are smashed to pieces.