New-York tribune., 1902-12-28
CAUGHT IN ICY RIVER.
TEN ABOARD FERR YBO4T
THE RochIand IN Danger Of Founder
ing IN 7appdn Zee.

The ferryboat Rockland, owned by the North
River Steamboat Company, which plies between
Tarrytown and Nyack, into an ice ffoe in
the Hudson River yesterday, and is now frozen
fast. On board the boat are ten passengers VINO
are unable to get ashore. All night long the
passengers were forced to sleep on the seats in
the cabins. with only life preservers for pillows
and their clothing to keep them warm. The
ferryboat is fast in the widest section of the
Hudson River the spot being called the Tappan
Zee which is three and one-half miles across
The Rockland, in charge of Captain John
Lyons. was running rapidly from Tarrytown to
Nyack when it ran into the ice, and then the
machinery came to an abrupt stop. The engi-
neer found that the paddle wheels refused to
revolve, and upon examination it was found
that large cake of ice was fast in one OF the
wheels leaving the machinery and walking
beam even centre.
AS night was coming on and there appeared
to be no prospect of reaching shore, Captain
Lyons with two members of his crew, managed
to land boat and, by walking the ice part
of the way and rowing through open water
succeeded in reaching shore. Captain Lyons, VINO
is sixty years DID, and has been river plIot
for a quarter of a century. took what money
he had in his possession, together with the fares
he had collected from the passengers, and pur-
chased food of a grocer at Tarrytown Then
he started back to the ferryboat with the pro-
visions. 1t was a hazardous trip, but the ola
captain after being stuck between cakes OF ice
a number of times. managed to reach the KocA-
land safely and gave the passengers some sup
per.
F. Book, who is the proprietor OF hotel near
the ferry dock, at Tarrytown says thal ne hdu
talk with Captain Lyons. who told MN siae
there was practically danger unless the ferry
river and a rQck...
Among those on board is a Fashionable dressed
,oune woman who was seen to board the ferry
boat by Mr.. Book. Last night her father, who
refused to give his name, came rushing down TO
the ferry house, making anxious inquiries aoou1
his daughter. When he learned that she "ouia
have to stay on the Rockland ali night ne be-
came frantic and declared, he would so 10 ths
city and try TO rescue her by the way OF Nyach.
At both Tarrytown and Nyack piers many
anxious friends of the passengers and crew gath-
cred until late at night, devsing various schemes
of rescuing those imprisoned in the ice
The spot where the Rockland is fast is one OF
the most dangerous parts of the Hudson as
there is a continual flow of ice from the north
and it is feared that her underbody may De
crushed In. An icy gale was blowing across
the river and it was feared that the passengers
would suffer much from the cold Ihe Terry
boat is fast in the ice so that of her paddle
wheels is slightly out of the water, and 1t was
Impossible last night to land boat arouhu
her so as to take those on board ashore Ice
boats have sailed out some distance, but they
were driven back by cakes of ice, which were
rapidly drifting down in the channel, and piiing
up near the Rockland
This was the second accident that befeu the
Rockland Yesterday On the 8 a. m. trip she
was caught in the ice near the Nyack shore, ana
il was after two hours hard work that she was
released from her perilous position. There were
forty passengers on board then and for time
there was considerable excitement The ROCK
land is a-sidewheeer, with one deck and men
and women's cal bins If the machinery Is not
repaired it is believed by people at TarrytoWh
fiat she will have to stay in the ice all day
to-day unless some tug pulls her ashore. III
the evening distress signals were sent up oS
the crew and red lights were hung out at the
masthead 10 warn away the night steamers that
ply between this city Newburg and Poush-