New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-04-14
MANY FALL INTO RIVER
FIFTY PERSONS DROP WHEN
GANGPLANK BREAKS.
ALI, RESCUED AT WEST FORTY-S
OND-ST. FERRY-BIG CROWD WAS
GOING TO VISIT AUSTRIAN
CRUISER.

CRUISER.
Fifty persons had a narrow escape from
drowning yesterday, when gangplauk leading
to a float at West Forty-second-st. and the
North River broke in two. Fifteen well dressed
men and women were thrown into the river,
twenty into launches and rowboats underneath
the gangplank and fifteen upon the float.
panic followed, and wild confusion prevailed
among several hundred persons. Fortunately
there were seven eight launches and row.
boats near by, and the work of rescue was i'm
mediately begun. 1t was fifteen minutes how
ever, before the last person was dragged from
the river Those who had fallen in were all
so weak that they could not stand up.
About four hundred men and women focked
to the gangway on the north side Of the West
Shore ferryhouse TO embark in launches and
rowboats and be taken to the Austrian cruiser
Szigetvar. which is anchored in the stream just
opposite the ferry. The gangway along
the north side of the ferryhouse for about sixty
feet. 1t is about four and a half feet wide, and
leads to a gangplank which slopes down to
float.
Joseph May, the owner of naphtha launch.
had just left the float with number Of passen-
gers, bound for the Austrian man-of-war, when
the crowds the gangway surged forward and
started down the gangpank to take the other
laUncneS ana rOWDOdlS Many VI tHe peop4o
were relatives and friends of the officers. and
nearly all We're stylishly dressed. The gang
plank is narrow, but the crowd went forward
with a rush, pushing those before them in an
effort to get to the float, where they would have
a choice of launches and rowboats.
FIFTY MEN JAMMED BETWEEN RAILS.
There were fifty men and women jammed be-
tween the rails of the gangplank, unable to
move, when suddenly there was a loud crash
The starboard rail went flying into the river
and the people were hurled in many directions.
Almost simultaneously the gangpank broke IN
the centre, and the persons who were on the
port side were flung headlong overheard.
A wild cry Immediately set up. The boats
and craft of all kinds that were close by started
for the people struggling in the water There
were four or five rowboats directly under the
gangway. and twenty of the men and women
tumbIed into these. sustaining injuries about the
head and body. Others fell on the float, where
they were picked up unconscious There were
about fifty people on the float at the time ana
when the others were hurled the rails
there was extreme danger of the foat SINKING.
Cornelius Murphy, of No. 6O1 West Forty
ninth-st.. the captain of a crew OF the VoluhI
teer life saving corps was near by, with seVeral
of his men. He is boatman, and was waiting
for passengers TO take out to the cruiser at the
time of the accident Immediately he called TO
his to stand by, and save the men anu
women who struggling in the water They
We're having a hard time of 1t, and II seemed
that number of them would be drowned
In a minute the work of rescue had peguh
Three women received the first attention Ine
boatmen made for them and dragged them into
the launches and rowboats, where they lapsed
into Inconsistencies. One woman, VINO mao
been hurled from the port side of the gangplank,
had been carried the tide under the ferry
house where she clung to a pile until she was
rescued by her husband
SEVERAL ABOUT GAVE UP FIGHT.
Several of the men about giving up the
fight for life when aid reached them and they
were dragged board the small boats.
William Boyle a boatman. Of No. 52S West
Fiftieth-st and William Bryan. Of No. 626
F1eventh-ave each rescued men; Thomas
shank, Of No. 437 West Forty-sixth-st.. rescued
four men, and Felix Kelly saved two OF the
women. The others were picked up by boatmen
employed by Murphy. J..
The private launch Of the Szigetvar had just
steamed to the float when the gangplank broke,
and it said that the crew made no erIors
TO help in the work of rescuing the men ana
women who were struggling to keep afioat ana
TO get on board the small boats. Instead, 1t was
said the launch backed off and put out into the
stream. ,,, .
AS soon as all the people had been hauled out
of the river hurry calls were sent to RooseVelt
Hosnital for ambulances. The fifty persons VINO
had fallen were not in serious CONDITION, now
ever and they Immediately sent for cabs ana
were driven away. 1t said that the Aus,
trian Consul among them, ana that ne Ia nau
been one Of those thrown into the river. ms inns,
however could not be ver1led None oi 'ioee
who fell would give their names
The frst trip of the launches to the cruiser
,,os to he ade at 3 D. m. and by that hour the
ganewav was crowded. When Mays iaunch
was filled William Hart, the Waterman VINO Is
employed by the Department or DOCKS, anu an
assistant who stood guard at the Top Oh rt rtie
eangpIank tried keep the crowd back- me
crowd was so eager howe yer, that II persisleu
in pushing and showing. until Hart ana ms ms @ a,s
sistant were thrust aside. The gansllahh "fhs
strong but with fifty persons, pushlnS anu
STRUGGLING to get the float, it could not stahu
the strain The starboard rail bulged out iiIst
and then snapped with loud crash, sniashlils
the stanchions at both ends. The people VINO
were wedged against the rail had nothihs ~
prasp-in fact, footing-and they were Sent
headlong into the river ..
The others became panicstricken, some at
,en,nting to Jump to the float and others trying
to get back to the gangway. Then the gang
plank broke
MANY vALUABLES LOST.
When the people found themselves in the river
and in danger of drowning, they set up wild
c-iAs for help Umbrellas. canes. hats, coats,
onera glasses and all kinds OF wraps were
dropped from hands. which sought only to grasp
sonne. hing that would keep them afloat. A num-
har NJ valuable articles Were lost
AFTER all the people had been dragged saieiy
,board the small boats they were rowed 10 the
b,,lkhead and landed. They presented sorIg
Ssnres Dripping wet, they shiVereo uhtil
enough cabs were procured TO convey 'heih "
their homes .s ,. Tb,rsdav from
tIamnton Roads. The officers SAID last nisnl
&c. .hay did not know whether or not the
Austrian consul had been among 'hose WIN h"u
heen hurled into the river
rAcKAwANNA RAILROAD.
h..t rou,a m Buffalo.-Advt.