New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-11-14
THRILLING RESCUE FROM FERRYBOAT.

rain hail and snow storm. swept into the
city by a hurricane last night, almost isolated
the city from the outside world by it's devasta-
tion among telegraph wires. which were
crippled even worse than they were in the big
blizzard of 1883.
This same storm caused the loss of one life
caused the ferryboat Port Morris with a few
passengers. to go ashore at College Point, gave
the city it's first of the season, blew down
trees, swept signs chimneys and flags from
their fastenings and kept New-YOrkers in
doors throughout the day
FERRYBOAT GOES ON ROCKS
The ferryboat Port Morris. plying between
East Ninety -ninth-st.. Manhattan. and College
Point Long Island. went ashore in the driving
snowstorm about 4 O'Clock. the rocks of
Berren's Island. southeast of South Brother
Island, and near the Long Island shore The
few passengers aboard were rescued by steam
launch manned by men from the Health Board
steamer Franklin Edison.
The Port Norris left Ninety -ninth-st. about
$50 o'clock for College Point Rain and snow,
but mostly the latter, were being driven by
hurricane in such dense sheets that those at
the wheel lost their way. Those who attempted
to succOr her could not learn how the ferryboat
went on the rocks. but they got the impression
that she drifted there when the men at the
wheel were feeling" their way In what was Writ
ually the inky bIackness of the storm.
A heavy sea, higher than has been known in
the upper waters about NewYork In years, was
on and each surge Of the waters against the
helpless boats hulk forced her more helplessly
into the rocky trap.
Lamp signals of distress were set and the
whistle was blown at regular intervals for more
than half hour. The first craft 10 respond
was one of the few within hearing distance. the
Franklin Edison Putting out from~ her berth
at East One-hundred- and thirty-seven;h-st. in
charge of Captain Conners. the Edison went i'll
the direction of the whistles Of distress. The
Port Morriss lights could not be seen.
Finally the position of the ferry yboat made
out, and then began the first of many attempts
to stand by, each made dOubly perilous by the
tide, wind and darkness. Three times the Ed
son manRuvred. and many times missed
what known TO be the edge of the shoal
by the closest of margins. Finally it occurred to
Captain Conners that he could best serve the
people on the stranded craft by sending out a
lighter draught boat.
The Edison slowly made her way back in the
face of the storm to her berth at East One-hun-
dred- and thirty-second-s Captain Corners
then telephoned to the police boat Patrol sta
tion at East One-hundred-and-twenty- second
St The Patrol lost not moments time in
starting for the Port Morris. Her experience
was much the same as had been that of the
Edison.
Every time the Patrol got near the Port Nor
ris she had TO veer off to escape going aground
crashing into the stranded vessel.
POLICE START IN LIFEBOAT.
The Patrol returned to her berth at O. 80
o'clock. when Captain Hallock called for volun-
teers TO man lifeboat. Harbor Policemen
Kelly. Reilly. Dunham O'Shaughnessy. Ryan
and Coughlin responded.
The rescue of the passengers from the Port
Morris made by electric launch No. =. of
the harbor police sub-station. at East One
hundred and twenty -second-st. The harbor po-
licemen who volunteered TO attempt the rescue
In a lifeboat started their mission. and had
reached point midway between their starting
point and the stranded ferryboat when they
were recalled by signal whistles from the
Patrol.
Captain Hallock decided to send electric
launch No. > on the mission The launch. which
is thirty feet long. was in command of Rounds
man Wettlaufer, Engineer Friedenberg and Pa
trolman Buckley (pilot). Clemers and Wackeffer.
They took the course through the Little Kills.
and had made about half the journey when the
engine was stopped by the water that had been
shipped.
Drifting toward the Sunken Meadows and In
danger of running aground all hands had to re-
sort to bailing The boat finally was hailed
partly free from water. and the engine was
started again. With the water splashing over
the sides and every available hand oailing. the
launch finished her trip.
From point under the lee OF the Port Nor
ris a ladder raised to the ferry boats deck
The work of rescue was not easily done, with the
launch bobbing almost unmanageably and the
ladder at times falling with a splash into the
turbulent waters. More than half an hour was
required to get the passengers safe aboard the
launch from which they were transferred 20
the Patrol.
Captain George l. Collins OF No. 1O2 Halsey-
st. Astoria in command OF the Port Morris.
was taken of along with the passengers, suffer
ing from shock and taken TO a hospital in Man
haitian he is sixty years old.
The drivers of four trucks were left TO take
care of their horses, which. IL was said by
of the passengers they refused TO leave. II be-
ing considered risky proposition to attempt TO
make the shore with small and so heavily
loaded a craft as the launch. it's passengers were
transferred 10 the Patrol which had in the
mean while arrived and were taken By the latter