Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-14
IN NEW YORK HARBOR.
Desperate Attempts at Rescue-Worst
Storm Ever Experienced

After one of the most desperate attempts
at rescue ever seen in New York harbor.
the eleven men who were passengers on the
wrecked ferry boat Port Morris were taken
off in a small steam launch manned by
volunteer crew of harbor police. The Port
Morris left Goth street for College Point at
$50 o'clock with eleven passengers and four
large trucks and their drivers. The wind
blew hurricane across Bowery bay and
the waves were lashed half way to the top
of the craft by the fury of the storm. The
vessel was proceeding slowly, picking Its
way through the tortuous channel. but the
snow blinded the pilot and shut out familiar
lights, so that when short distance from
College Point the Port Morris struck a
ledge, the heavy sea forced the vessel into a
rocky trap and she soon settled in a help
less position.
The steamers signals of distress were
answered by the health department steamer
Franklin Edison. which made many at
tempts to stand by. The tide, wind and
darkness rendered this perilous that the
Edison returned to New York and sent word
to the police boat patrol much smaller
vessel. The patrol made five Intellectual at
tcmpts TO reach the Port Morris and mar
rowly escaped going on the ledge the last
time Unable to succor the storm-bound
craft the patrol steamed to New York and
called for volunteers to man lifeboat: SIX
men responded and In the face of the biting
rale the boat started for the ferry boat.
Before the life-savers could reach the
Port Morris a small steam launch, sent out
by the captain of the Edison, got under the
Ice nf the wreck and after extreme diff
ncultv. in which they were subjected to
great danger the eleven passengers were
lowered into the launch the four truck
drivers refused to desert their horses.
The launch attempted to land the passen-
gers but with It's gunwales almost at the
waters edge and the waves sweeping over
the little craft this was impossible, and
after much labor the passengers were
transferred to the patrol, which landed
them at East 132d street.
The captain Of the patrol said last night
was one of the worst he had ever seen on
East river
Survivors Suffered From Shock.
cant. George j. Collins. in command Of
tie Port Morris was taken off along with
the passengers suffering from shock. and
was taken to a hospital in Manhattan.
The crew Of the ferryboat remained
aboard The Port Morris is not leaking,
and it is thought she can be pulled off at
high tide tomorrow morning.
Capt Collins told the police that the light
on the red light spindle between South
Brother Island and Berran's Island was
not lighted last night. II was near the red
light spindle that the Port Morris went
aground
About : o'clock in the afternoon the har-
Dor police OF the Substation at the foot of
East 122d street received word that
naphtha launch. with two men aboard. was
in distress on Stepping Stone light near
Harts Island. Though that point is eight
or nine miles from the harbor police sub
station. its electric launch No. ; was man
ned. and, with r9wboat in tow, started on
a journey of rescue in the teeth of the
storm ragiNs at that time.
The police launch had not proceeded far
on her way when the rowboat in tow filled
and was swamped. The rowboat was cut
loose and the launch proceeded to the
waters about Stepping Stone light. The
sound In that vicinity free of craft.
Nothing was seen Of the naphtha launch