Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-06-20
COLLISION OFF THE BATTERY.
The Ferryboat Mortified at the bottom
the Enst Riyer

The Ferryboat Eorthfeld at the Botlom Of
the East River.
New York. June 10. This side wheeler
Northfield, which has been In the sor-
vice Of the Staten Island Ferry Go. for
the past '}8 years, was raI1med last
night by the steel hulled propeller
Mauch Chunk, used as ferry boat 'hy
the Central Railroad of New Jersey.
The collision occurred Just of The
Staten Island ferry slip, at the foot Of
Whitehall street, and in less than 10
minutes afterward the Mortified,
which was crowded with passengers,
sank ut the outer end OF tho Spanish
Line pier, in tho East River. The
Mauch Chunk, which was badly dam
aged. landed the two dozen passengers
who were ABOARD OF her.
Over 100 of the PASSENGERS Of the
suuken Northfleld we're dragged out Of
the water by people along shore and
the crews Of the feet OF river tags,
which promptly responded to the ferry
boat ; call for help. A few OF the
Northfield s passengers we're hurt 10 the
accident, and the police helieye that
some lives were last.
Capt. Daniel Gully of the tughoat
Mutual, who saw the ferryhoats crash
the collision between % and 80 Of the
passengers leaped into the water, ard
that many OF those perished.
Capt. Gully also declares that be is
sure over 100 of the Norihtioid's passen.
gers were drowned. The captsins of
other tugboats who were early on the
scene, however, are inclined to think
that the disaster was not so serious as
regards loss Of life. Thus far, no dead
bodies have been recovered.
The reason for such difference of
opinion as TO the extent of the disaster
IL that the widest excitement prevailed
on the Northfield. The tug Mutual
saved in all about rs persons from tho
Northfiold, aud the tugs Unity and
Arrow saved between them $50 persona.
The policemen of the Old Slip Station
claim to have rescued nearly 80 people
between them. AS soon aa the crowd
which had followed the sinking ferry.
boat along the river front we're able to
render any aid they worked with will,
and In many instances mon sprang into
the water to save life. Tho greatest
service was rendered by the tugbuats,
which, as 5000 as il was possible, circled
around the Mortified, and made d
bridge to the Spanish Line pier. and
men and women clnmbered over the
tugs to the shore.
While the Northfield was well sup
piled with life preseryeIs, which were
slowed in out of the Way places, not
more thap two dozen OF the endangered
passengers we're able to get the life belts
on. This stats of affairs was bacauee
the life preservers were not haudily OBJ :
tainable, ana the widest sort Of panic
followed when the hundreds of passenl
gers realized their danger. This was
only few minutes before the North
field sank to the bottom OF the river,
and then all who had not jumped TO
the tugs found themselves In tho water.
The swift running ticod tide and tie
question OF which boat had the right OF
way was tho cause of tho disaster
Capt. Abraham johnson was 10 charge
of the Northheld. and Capt. s. u.
Griffin WIS in command OF the Mauch
CHUNK. Each lays the blame for the
collision on the other.
The majority of the passengers who
were rescued were hyaterical, and their
stories US to tbs loss Of life we're con
| flicting TO great extent. Many were
of this opinion that hundreds OF lives
were lost, while Others thought that
but few were diowned.i As this dis
patch is being sent, the divers are
searching all the cabins, the engine md
fire. rooms and other compartments OF
the Jerry hont for bodice. 1t is known
| that Nil OF tho crew got ashore 10 safety.
The body Of boy about 10 years old
was found floating in the East River
this morning. The body had been In
the water but short TIME. The coro
ner's office attributed the death to the
| Mortified collision, aud the police
recorded VI as the first known death.
Captain Daniel Gully Of the tugboai
Mutual said today that many persons
must have been dtowned ~ saw the
two bouts when they CRASHED, . he said
land | am positive that 200 persons
were drowned l saw more than &c
Jump overheard as the Northiield was
drifting from the Battery to pier TO-
that was On the starboard side, and
cannot tell how many vent over from
the port side. l saw more than Ism
tho water when l ran up TO tho North.
| field, and many of them went down.
| Ia, as the ferry officials say, there were
between 300 and 1000 passengers on
the ferryboHt, not more than 500 to 500
got ashore In safety"