New-York tribune., 1902-07-21
NO HEED TO DROWNING MEN.
GRAVE CHARGE AGAINST CREW OF A TUG-HAN SHOOTS
FRIEND IN BOAT .OVERPOWERED By ANOTHER.
DRAWN UNDER 4 TUG.
CHARGE THAT CREW SAW VICTIMS
SINK BUT OFFERED NO AID.

Two men were drowned while boating on the
| Harlem River yesterday afternoon, and grave
| charges have been made by third member of
the party, who escaped with his life, against
the captain and crew of the tughoat Matte d.
of the Daley Towing Company, for failing to go
TO the rescue of the drowning men.
Thomas McNulty, thirty-two years old. door
man at Carnegie Music Hall, of No 413 West
Fifty-third-st, and Joseph Mellor, thrty-fou
years old, a porter of No. 211 East Seventy
fourth-st.. the two who lost their lives
while Joseph Merrill, twenty-six years old, a
porter, Of No 211 East Seventy-fourth-st., was
the one who escaped.
According to the story told by Merrill, he and
his two companions hired a boat at Fordham
Heights at 10 p. m. on Saturday. in which 10
go fishing. The boat had a round bottom.
After rowing up the river the anchored
under the bridge spanning the Harlem Ship
Canal. There they cast their lines and fshed all
night and morning.
OFFERED TO GIVE THEM LIFT.
About p m. yesterday they decided that it
time to start for home. The tide was run
ming out and the rowing was difficult. Not
much headway had been made against the tide
when the Matte d. hove in sight. She was
steaming slowly picking her way among the
numerous fishing craft that anchored in
the stream.
Can you give us drink of ice water?" Mer-
rl says one of his companions asked the cap
tain of the tug It's hot work rowing"
I'll give you a lift" the captain is reported to
have replied. Toss me your line"
The painter of the rowboat at once thrown
to one of the members of the tugs crew, who
made il fast to the stern Of the tug. The tugs
propeers started to kick up an eddy in which
the frail rowboat swirled and eareened In a
manner greatly alarming TO the men in her. At
Two-hundred- and nd-seventeenth-st.. the tug hav
ing got clear of the other craft which had i'm
peded her progress, there an extra burst of
speed. Each revolution of her screws caused
the heavily laden rowboat to rock more dan
gerously and bury her prov more deeply in the
rollers
MAN SWEPT OUT BY WAVE
only a short distance had been covered in
this manner when wave swept Melior from
his seat into the river, AS the boat swept
on. Merrill managed to grab his companion by
the collar and attempted TO pull him into the
swamping boat
The three men shouted warning TO the tugs
captain, but, according to Merrill not bit of
attention was paid TO their calls. The speed Of
the tughoat not diminished. In an attempt
to drag Mellor back into the rowboat 1t was
upset. and an three men. shouting frantically
for help, were nung into the water.
So strong was the eddy caused by the fast
speeding Matte d. that McNuty and Mellor,
both powerful swimmers, were drawn under
the tug by the suction and did not again appear
on the surface, Merrill managed 10 keep afloat
until picked up by four boys who happened 10
be rowing near the scene OF the accident
SAYS CREW SAW THE ACCIDENT.
The Matte D,'s crew. according 10 Merrill,
made no effort to give any aid to the drowning
men, but continued on her course notwith-
standing that the captain and crew of the tug
had witnessed the accident. II is alleged that
the tug dragged the overturned rowboat at her
stern for about eight city blocks. and then cut
Il adrift without slackening her speed
After the accident members OF the Atalanta
Boat club whose house is near the scene OF the
accident dived repeatedly in effort 10 re-
cover the bodies of the two men, but without
success. At p. IN. the police OF the Kings
bridge station started TO drag the river for the
bodies.
Inquiry at the office of the Daley Towing
Companys Office revealed the fact that the
Matte d. commanded by Captain Wilson.
No word of the accident had been received there
up to a late hour