New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-06-16
VESSELS CRASH PANIC ENSUES
VOlEv TRY TO JUMP FROM DECKS OF BATTERED CYGNUs
-7HE GENERAL SLOCUW AGROUND.
LAYS BLAME ON CYGNUS.
CAPTAIN OF THE DINIOCK SAYS OTHEE.
COMMANDER GAVE NO HEED

More than one thousand lives were imperilled
last evening in the first serious river mishap
of the shore resort season. The steamer Cys-
nus. with nearly eleven hundred passengers
aboard was returning from Coney Island at
$50 p. m. when she crashed into the two
masted schooner rigged steamboat H r
Dimock of the Metropolitan Outside Line.
about twenty feet off Pier \. in the North
River The forward deck of the Cygnus for
twenty feet aft of her bow was smashed, and
her main, hurricane and upper decks torn away
on the starboard side leaving big gap in her
bow The damage sustained was above the
water line fortunately, and there was no danger
of her sinking. Several plates of the steel nun
of the Dimock were fractured on the port side.
but she was able to go TO Pier II. North River
Intense excitement prevailed among the pas
sengers on the Cygnus- For several minutes
before the boats crashed they saw that a COL
lfsion was imminent, and their excitement grew
into a panic. Dozens of women tainted, one
was thrown down a stairway. sustaining a
broken ankle and hundreds screamed fran
ticaIIy as they rushed to the after part OF the
boat to escape being crushed to death Many
made attempts to jump overheard. but the deck
hands and a number of the men passengers pre-
vented the terror stricken women and childreu
from ping over the sides
SAW COLLISION WAS COMING
After the collision. when the vessels backed
off. the Cygnus went to the Lehigh Valley Rail1
road dock at Pier ., and discharged her pas
sengers.
The Dimock. which arrived from Boston with
a few Messengers had passed down the East
River to within about twenty yards Of the north
shore OF Governors Island. On account Of the
flood tide that was running. Captain Baker took
this long turn 10 avoid craft near the Battery.
and also because of the strong tide running al
that point He hugged the Brooklyn Shores
made long turn around the north shore OF ths
island and then headed straight course up
the North River. The Dimock had no sooner
taken her course when the Cygnus passed.
through Buttermilk Channel and proceedsd
across the bay in company with the Metropol-
itan Line steamer
Both steamers kept on a parallel course across
the Upper Bay until they were midway between
Governors Island and the Battery. Captain
Baker, who had the inshore course. saw that IL
the C,vgnus did not veer of a collision would
certainly occur. When he saw that the Cygnus
was keeping her course. he blew one blast OF
the whistle the signal indicating that he hav-
ing the inshore course. and also the right OF
way intended to keep straight on UP the river.
and that he wanted TO cross the excursion boats
bow.
According to Captain Baker. the Cygnus did
not answer the signal at first. but kept straight
on headed for the North River. The steamers
we're coming closer together all this time.
C,antain Baker signaIIed his engineer to stop.
The steamers were off the Battery at this time
he Cygnus having changed her course that
she was now right angles to the Dimock.
II was the intention of Captain Chauncey
Skidmore. of the Cygnus. to pass up the North
River above Pier No. 1 and then turn around
and drift down TO the pier on the flood tide. in
that way making landing easier than by
bucking the tide. The Cygnus assumed almost
a straight course down the river when about
twenty feet off Pier No. 1. just the DimocLc
came a stop
The Cygnus crashed into the Dimock on the
oort side. denting the heavy steel plates for