New-York tribune., 1902-06-19
WATCH FRIEND DROWN.
HEN STRUGGLE IN LITTLE
HE'LL GATES TIDE.
FOUR SUPPORT FIFTH UNTIL FORCED
TO ABANDON HIM TO SAVE
THEMSELVES.

Struggling desperately in the swift rushing
waters of Little Hell Gate, between Wards and
RaudalIs islands FIVE men who had left this
city IN a round bottom rowboat from last
One-hundred- and to take a TO"
across the river had the fight of their lives late
Yesterday when their little craft was sunk. Al
though four OF them were good swimmers ana
found extreme difficulty in keeping themselves
sfoat they made heroic efforts to save a fifth
companion. who could not swim Each look
turns in trying to keep him above water but
their strength failed them. and they were finally
compelled to let go of him and watch him drown
before their eyes.
II was not until their companion disappeared,
however that they attempted to swim to
Wards Island and save themselves. The tide
was strong on the ebb, and was fast carrying
them down the stream. Keeping together, they
managed. however, to get to the island where
they We're hauled ashore.
Nell Reilly. of No. 90 Second-ave., and
Michael Touhey. of. No. 341 East one-hundred-
nd-thirteenth-st.. hired boat from Edward
= Monohan, at One hundred -and-twenty -first-st.
and the East River and rowed TO One-hundred-
3 and-siXteenth-st, where they met Thomas
Walsh of No. 119 East One-hundred-and-fif-
teenth-st-: Joseph Guersing Of No. 1l9 East
K One hundred d-and-eighteenth-st., and Herman
wilkins. of No. 200 East One-hundred-and-
Drteenln-SI-, tDe BSl4iS tHe pAiAy SA1S
could not swim.
BOAT BEGINS TO SINK.
Touhey and Reilly royged out into the stream
while the other men took their positions IN the
boat Walsh and Guersing seated themselves in
the stern and wilkins took a seat in the bow.
The Y11er had been drinking. the police say, but
once in the boat they became cautious. every
one Of them knowing the dangers Of the swift
running tide that point.
As they rowed across the river toward the ISL
ands they found that the tide running
strong. so they kept close 10 the shore until
they were opposite Little He'll Gate, between
Wards and RandaIrs islands. While bucking
the tide the rowboat ran into rock hole
torn in the bottom Of the craft, and she
Immediately began to ill with water
The men feared to jump overheard and at
tempt TO swim TO Wards Island, they were
not sure whether they would be able to assist
Wilkins, who could not swim. So they waited,
In the hope that the rapidly sinking rowboat
would drift on the tide and strike the island.
Little Hell Gate is a dangerous spot sharp
rocks and derelicts abounding there The men
knew this, but they decided to take chances.
AS the sinking rowboat was drifting she struck
another rock; a large hole torn in her bot
tom. and she sank in a moment.
Finding themselves foundering in the water.
the four men first thought Of Wilkins They all
20 Wards Island, the nearest place where
landing could be made.
The ebb tide was gushing through Little He'll
Gate, and the five men We're carried along on
the swift current past the island. All had their
shoes and stockings OF. not having had time
TO divest themselves of any of their clothing.
All tried hard to Wilkins, and by
they took hold of him and kept his head above
water
OBLIGED TO LET HIM DROWN.
Finally all became so exhausted that they
were obliged to let go of their companion and
abandon him to his fate He sank from sight
they watched him. His body has been
found
A guard in the Manhattan State Hospital, on
Wards Island. the predicament of the 1--WE
men, and he telephoned TO Police Headquarters.
Police Headquarters informed the sub-station Of
the harbor police, at East One-hundred- and
twenty-second-st., and Roundsman Klute, with
three policemen, sent out in a launch
When the launch reached the spot, however, the
four had managed swim against the
tide to Wards Island, where they were hauled
ashore
Policeman Nicely. OF the East One-hundred-
and-fourth-st station, who is detailed the
island thinking the men were inmates who had
attempted to escape from one Of the Islands,
placed them under arrest as suspicious charac-
Although spent they were taken TO the Har-
lem police court and arraigned before Magis-
trate Flammer who Immediately discharged
h them. AS soon they left the court they hired
$f another rowboat and started out to search for
~ the body of wilkins The five men were en-
ployed by Touhey's father. a furniture dealer
in Harlem.