New-York tribune., 1902-01-03
COLONEL r. L. HIGDON
DRILL IN RIVER SMASHED
PILOT OF STEAMER THAT FLOATS INTO
IT ARRESTED.
WHICH BORING FOR BROOKLYN TUN-
MEL WAS BEING MADE


WHICH BORING FOR BROOKLYN TUN-
MEL WAS BEING MADE.
AS the result of an accident which occurred in
the East River last night the United Engineer
ing and Contracting Company of this city, suf-
fered loss Of several thousand dollars in dam
ages to drilling apparatus with which it had
been testing the river bottom in the line of the
proposed rapid transit tunnel to Brooklyn. The
machinery, built a platform held up by
cluster of piles, had just begun work at o'clock
when the Norwegian steamer Belvernon backed
out from Pier No. Il, with J. NJ Heath a har-
bor pilot. in charge. swift tide was running
{: down toward the drilling apparatus and pile
driver, few hundred yards distant from the
boat. The harbor police tug NJ. Henderer was
patrolling the river for the express purpose of
protecting the drillers from passing river craft
Seeing the Belvernon in such perilous proximity
/ TO the platform, Captain Rex of the tug shouted
| to the pilot through a megaphone warning him
of his danger. The warning came too late how
ever and in a few minutes the big steamer was
drifting down broadside on the drilling outfit.
PILE DRIVERS WHISTLE WARNS.
The Pile drivers whistle shrieked. A crash
followed. and piles. apparatus and men were
hurled right and left Into the pile driver the
steamer crashed next tearing her from her
eAiASioitibS anu damaging ner woodwork. By
this time the Belvernon had acquired some
speed. and ged to back out. out of the
drilling outfit nothing left except the float
ing piles. The pile driver succeeded in hanging
10 one Of her anchor cables The two men
hurled from the platform escaped with only
few slight bruises
Meanwhile the Belvernon attempted to con-
tinue her course out to sea- but the harbor
police tug bore down on her and compelled her
70 heave TO. Policemen P. ], Riordan and F. H.
Kelley placed Mr.. Heath. the pilot. under ar
rest.
VESSEL CARRIED THE MAILS
Then difficulty arose. The Belvernon was a
foreign vessel bound for Hayti with United
States mail aboard. The police had no au-
thority to stop her but without a pilot she
could not proceed and the pilot being under
arrest, could not take her out The construc-
tion company's tug came alongside Just then
with David Hough. chief engineer aboard, who
had been explaining the works to Tribune
porter. Mr. Hou6h insisted that the steamer
be made to anchor off Liberty Island This
done. The pilot and Captain olsen of the Bel
vernon, were then taken aboard the tug and It
headed for the harbor police station near Bat
terry Park where Mr. HoUgh preferred charges
of criminal negligence against the pilot. Cap
tain Olsen then permitted to return to the
Belveruon in charge of police officer, who
the city this morning.
The estimated loss to the construction COM
pany is S23hO. but the time and labor lost brings
the total loss up to higher figure. Six times
the company had tried TO drill az this partcu-
lar spot, but each time some accident. generally
n collision, had delayed the work At last appli-
cation made to the government for police
protection against the carelessness of the river
boats and a result the tug. NJ Henderer
was stationed there with two policemen aboard
Had this accident not occurred the work would
have been finished tomorrow. but now II will
require several weeks longer. The principal loss
is that Of the drill which is valued at 81 000 be-
ing tipped with diamonds.
TO PROSECUTE OFFICERS.
Mr.. Hough said that both the pilot and the
steamers owners would be prosecuted to the
fullest extent of the law. The vessel should
have pulled out at slack tide, he said, or been
towed out of danger by a tug.
Mr. Heath the pilot made defence beyond
saying that the tide stronger than he had
expected He admitted knowing that the drill
ers were there and that he had heard the warn
ing from the police boat.
The Belvernon is a thousand ton craft and
halls from Bergen, Norway She has been char
tered by r. w. Cameron & Co, of this city, to
run steadily between this port and Haytian
ports.