The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-06-15
Captain of One Tug That Assisted In
the Rescue Certain That One
Hundred Were Drowned
TIDE WAS RUNNING SWIFTLY
AND THE BODIES OF THE vICTIMa
WERE CARRIED AWAY.
Arrest of Captain johnson, Of the
Sunken Steamer-TweIve Teams OF
Horses Among the Drowned.

NEW YORK, June 1.-THE wooden side
wheeler Northfield. which has been in the
service of the Staten Island Ferry Company
for the past thrty-eight years. was rammed
tonight by the steel hulled propeller Mauch
Chunk, used as ferryboat by the Central
Railroad of New Jersey. The collision oc-
CURED just off the Staten island ferry slip
al the foot Of Whitehall street and in less
than twenty minutes afterward the North
field, which was crowded with passengers,
sank at the outer end Of the Spanish limo
pier in the East river. The Mauch Chunk.
which was badly damaged, landed two
dozen passengers who were aboard her.
over hundred of the passengers of the
sunken Northfeld were dragged out OF
the water by people along shore and the
crews of the feet of river tugs which
promptly responded to the ferryboat's call
for help. a few OF the Northheld's pas
sengers were hurt in the accident. and
the police believe that some lives were lost.
Capt Daniel Gully, of the tugboat Mutual.
that Immediately after the collision be-
tween twenty-five and thirty of the passen-
gers leaped into the water and that many
or those perished. Captain Gully also says
he is sure over one hundred OF the North
fields passengers were drowned. The cap
tains of other tugboats who were early on
the scene. however, are inclined to think
that the disaster was not so serious as re-
rd n of fcr daa
bodies have been recovered. The reason for
such difference of opinion is that tho
widest excitement prevailed on the North
field.
MANY WERE SAVED.
The tug Mutual saved in all about seven-
ty-hve persons from the Northheld. and
the tugs Unity and Arrow saved between
them 80 persons. Two policemen Of the
Old Slip station claim TO have rescued near
ly thirty people between them. AS soon
the crowd which had followed the sinking
ferryboat along the river front were able
to render any aid they worked with will
and in many instances men sprang into the
water to save life. The greatest service
was rendered by the tugboats. which. as
soon as it was possible. circled around the
Northfield and made bridge 10 the Span
ish line pier, and men and women clam
LeItu over the tugs 10 the
While the Mortified was well supplied
with life preservers. which were slowed in
out Of the way places, not more than two
dozen Of the endangered passengers were
able 10 get the life belts on. This state
of affairs was because the life preservers
were not handiy obtainable. and the Wild
est sort of a panic followed when the hum
dreds of passengers noticed their danger.
This was n few minutes before the North
field sank to the bottom of the river. and
then all who had not jumped TO the tugs
found thmselves in the water.
The Northheld. with load Of passengers
variously estimated at between eight and
twelve hundred. at $50 p m. started from
the west slip at Whitehall street for ST.
George Staten island, and at 5:53 D. n.
the Mauch Chunk left the railroad slip az
Cummunipaw for Whitehall street The
latter craft was abreast OF the barge Of
fee at the Battery when the Northfield
came out Of the slip. An exchange OF
whistles between the boats followed
by the crash. Captain Griffith apparently
thought the Staten island ferryboat would
be halted until he had worked his boat into
the upper slip and on the other hand john
son thought he would be allowed TO cross
the Mauch Chunks bow. When the acct
dent appeared inevitable the speed OF the
Communipaw ferryboat was reduced as
much as possible. but borne along by the
swift running foodtide head on, the Mauch ]
Chunk struck the Northheld on the star
board side at the hood OF the forward
ladies' cabin on the main deck The blow
was terrific and wrecked the steering gear
at the forward end Of the Mauch Chunk.
tore up about ten feet OF the main deck.
wrecked the deckhouse On the port side
and broke through the deck rail and threw
down the stanchions the forward part on
the Central Railroad boat.
FIREMEN GAVE THE ALARM
As the humping OF ferryboats is not un-
usual in this harbor the passengers on the
Northheld did not. for minute or so. re-
alize the seriousness OF the collision. When.
however. two flremen ran up on deck 20
save themselves from the inflow of water.
and the Northheld was being driven fun
speed up the East river instead OF down
towards Staten island. and ali the time