The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-06-16
Through Caro|essness Steamers
CoIIided ON North River.
100 ExCURSIONISTS ABOARD
DlmOck Struck Full on Port Bow by Cyg.
nus and Both Boats Sustained .
Considerable Damage.

6tSAfn-
boat Cygnus. which left her Coney Island
pier at $50 o'clock yesterday afternoon.
her decks thronsed with about HOO men.
women and children. was making for
Pier /. North River. about $50 o'clock.
as the Metropolitan steamship Ii. u.
Dimock. from Boston, with one pas.
senger. rounded tho Battery from the
East River. The courses OF the two
vessels up tho North River paraileled
each other for awhile.
Capt. Z. Baker OF the Dimock, which
was then slightly astern OF the Cygnus.
had blown one whistle. indicating, In
the language Of the rule Of the road
right, or on the starboard" OF the Cyg-
nus AS Capt. Baker put It himself:
II intended TO keep my course and
the captain OF the Cygnus knew II. or
ought to have known It,"
The Cygnus is an iron boat In hull
only. and the Dimock is iron from gum
vale to keelson. The Dimock was
heavily laden with freight What hap
pened after Capt. Baker blew his sig
nal was seen by many. OF the Cygnus'>
excursionists and by many persons talk
ing an airing on bulkheads and string
pieces. The two boats came closer to-
gether. still running parallel, the cyg-
were somewhat north OF Pier the Cyg-
nus swung around. intending 10 come
down on the tide TO the pier The tide
was just turning ebb. The boat was
about 300 feet out from the pierhead
Capt. Skidmore says he blew two
whistles TO signify that he would cross
the DimoclSs bow. Capt. Baker says
he did not hear the whistles. and that
even II he had heard them the Dmock
had the right OF way
STRUCK FULL ON PORT BOW.
But" Capt Baker said. "I didn't con-
s.der my rights when / saw that ~
went ahead | might run down that boat
with all these women and children
aboard. / signalled 10 the engine room
and stopped my ship. / wondered IL the
pilot in the Cygnus had gone out OF his
wits I said 10 myself: What the devil
Is that man trying To dor lie had no
right 10 risk the lives OF all those
women and children by attempting 10
cross me had no idea he was so
close aboard when he ran into me. and
his cutwater striking me full on the port
bow. steving q small hole several feet
above the water line and fracturing
three or four plates. I'm glad nobody
was hurt through his foollshness."
Naturally there was excitement on
board the Cygnus when she 5mashed
into the Dimock. About 80 persons. ncar-
ly all men. were sitting on camp STOOLS
forward. They all got up and fci down
i'm their hurry TO escape the impending
impact. In their flight they howled over
each o.ner. men and women and chill
dren Some OF the women screaucd anu
tainted, men shouted and Lel frrther
aft.
ONLY ONE PERSON INJuI,ED.
The bump was not violenl. as bumps
go. Mrs Mary Mclaughlin OF l29 Cher
ry street fell down to the next deck
from the top OF a companonway and
spralned her ankle, and that was the
sole bodily injury reported Two OF the
crowd that was In the Cygnus' bow
were Frank Ormsley OF I osion and Mr..
Hinshley OF 20 East 4 ;. sn::tth street.
Splinters flew all around anc on them.
but they were not hurt. c':iey Say there
was a crunching sound anc aoout Is feet
OF the hurricans and upper reok, includ-
ing part OF the wooden stem, was
smashed or knocked around to port
asknew.
A few men grabbed life preservers.
some handing them to women. The
nearness OF the docks and the appear
ance OF the Cygnus' sister boat the
Pegasus bound TO Coney Island.
helped TO keep down the excitement. and
when IL was seen that the Cygnus was
still underway. heading toward pier 2,
the excursionists became calm.
Meanwhile man who attends 10
heaving lines at Pier l had shouted
across 10 a policeman at Pier A that
the Cygnus was afire. The policeman
told Sergt. Jcssup, and he sent Rounds
man Early out I'm a steam launch with
n squad OF men. sent another policeman
TO the iircboat w. l.. Strong. which got
out In "A hurry. and called for 25 re-
serves from adjoining precincts. The
Cygnus was alongside Pier before the
rescue feet arrived. The boats officers
One woman insisted on retaining a life
preserver until she got on the pier.
Capt Skidmore. according TO the
police. says that he blew two whistles
and that the Dimock's skipper had
answered with one. lie had blown two
whistles again. he declared and again
got one toot In response. lie admitted
Dlmock when he started across her
bows. His original intention, apparent
iy. was to let the Dlmock pass up
stream before attempting TO reach his
pier.
The Cysnus hull was unchanged.
and after all her passengers were off
she went uncer her own steam to Eric
basin. where she will be repaired
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