New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-02-02
HE'LL GATE TUG WRECK
Crezc SaUed after Their Fan,
Sinks-PiIedriUer Hen Rescued

With the wind blowing forty miles an bo,x
and strong ebb tide pEiilng her out Of he's
course the 45-foOt tug Twilight OF Bavann.
". j.. with pile driver and two scows in tow
was driven into Little Hell Gate between
Wards and Randalrs Islands. last evening Ara
was thrown ashore on the north end Of Ward.
Island Her captain and owner william
Flagg. ST.; his son. william F1agg tr ths
nate; George Tarble. the engineer and VII
lam Duval. the cook. all Of Bayonne " I
were thrown into the rock strewn passage arts
their yawl, which they succeeded in launchins
was overturned. and they were rescued onls
after great difficulty by a harbor police launch
and the crews Of two other tugs
They were taken TO the Manhattan State HcA
pitaI for the Insane on Wards Island whers
hot coffee and other restOratfvss were admia
istered 50 that they will PROBABLY suffer nc
serious consequences from their experience rnS
tug is now lying amid the rocks OF Wards Isk
and with little more than her smokestack shows
ing. and. according to the police. viii be i tot.s
wreck The pile driver and scows parted then
hawsers when the Twilight aground in the
passage and were carried by wind and tte
I'D the river toward the Sound On the pIk
driver were Captain Halderson and eleven msa
They we're rescued by the Harbor Squad launch
after the pile driver had gone ashore on Be-
rams Island.
Keeper Bradshaw. on Wards Island. was ns1
the shore opposite the spot where the tug strucR
and he heard the cries OF the crew. He tells
phoned to the Hdrbor Police station. at One
hundred and twenty-sixth-st- and the Haris1
River and at the same time started the stead
whistle at the state Insane Hospital.
Sergeant Osborn, IN command OF the Hn
Dor squad station. sent Roundsman Kluts sns
four men in a launch to the rescue. At the
same tine the whistle at the HOSPITAL alarmed
Captain Grace Of the steamer Refuge and Cap
tain Herber Of the tug Thomas s. Gilroy. Boo
were at the RandaTs Island pier. and at cnos
started for Little Hell Gate As they drew toe
much water TO enter the passage safely. rhs
Refuse and the Gilroy we're compelled to kees
their distance from the spot where the TWl.
light had sunk. but the police launcn. oeihs 2,
light draught ventured through the Gnoppy
waves 90 IRE Cate and ner crew. throwing ropes
to the four men. pulled them INTO tne n.i ~
sa4l eie 44edIiy EXHAUSTED nom exposure !" ~
icy water. -, -,
Little Hell Gate Is shallow and filed ".
great rocks and vessels drawing more =
three or four feet never attempt the paSSs.
For the Twilight, which drew about SIX Ies-
was only a matter Of seconds before shs 500
a rock and a hole was torn IN nsr oG. .ss
sheathinsy five feet wide Before she sdnh . ~
crew managed TO launch tha yaWl IIOH -
deckhouse and TO push on 80, sis
For about ten minutes Captain Flagg ana as
crew we're able 10 Ike peafoat IN the ydNL - -
they tried 20 make for WARDS Island. Du' vss
vsvyt soon struck rocks and her bottom va va
stove in The four men were thrown INTO ~
v,etar but all could swim. and they Kept up
urging each other and shouting for help