The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-05-09
MARYLAND HIT FERRYDOAT.
TOOK OFF NEW YORK'S PASSEN-
GERS, LEST SHE SHOULD SINK.

boat Maryland hit a wooden Fulton ferry
boat 81 half her size has been a question
ravigators OF the East River have often
a. ked themselves. Last night the Mary
llnd loaded with freight cars and coming
down the river, hit the ferryboat New York.
hound for Brooklyn, drove a hole in her hull,
made fast to her, drifted with her up to the
navy yard taking Oh her passengers mean
while. and finally landed the passengers at
JEWELS wharf. Nobody was hurt. The
New York was laid OF for repairs.
The New York started on her TAO p. NJ.
trip 70 Brooklyn with some fifty passengers,
mostly women. The night was clear, but
black dark, and a strong flood tide was
running up.
About one-third Of the way across the
passengers heard their vessel blow one long
whistle and two short ones, meaning,
What are you going to do?'
Those on deck locked up to see a great
hull towering above them on the port bow.
Before any one caught the answer the two
boats had struck port bow to port bow.
The shock was 80 heavy that it threw the
passengers in the cabin from their seats.
Capt, Charles Benjamin Of the New York
sent Charlie Turner, a deckhand, through
the cabin to keep the women quiet.
Are you damaged?' he yelled across the
rail TO the Maryland.
Not a Bit" came the answer
Then keep tight 20 us!" cried Benjamin.
The deckhands OF the Maryland threw out
lines at once and the port rails Of the two
vessels were dashed together, their bows
IN opposite directions.
Engineers from below reported that the
New York's wooden shell was stove in
above the waterline. Although she was
not leaking a drop, Benjamin decided TO
play safe and transfer his passengers.
Can you take my people aboardH' he
yelled.
Send them along; we're all safel' shouted
Capt. T. d. Flood Of the Maryland from his
own rail.
Capt. Benjamin sent deckhands Turner
andOstrander 70 tell the passengers that they
must get aboard the other boat. Even the
women took this calmly. They gathered
on the forward deck. The rail Of the huge
Maryland rose above them, out OF reach.
The male passengers and deokhands lifted
the women on their shoulders, while the
crew Of the Maryland reached down and
hauled them up. Three old men were sent
up in this fashion and the younger men fol-
lowed, sorambilng up as best they could.
IL was In the middle OF this transfer that
q big tug steamed up.
DO you want any helpi' asked the
skipper Of the tug.
moi Leave rs alone. we're busy'
shouted back Capt. Benjamin. Just then
most Of the passengers noted that they were
away up on the wrong side Of the Brooklyn
Bridge. The food tide had run both boats
TO a point nearly opposite the Brooklyn
navy yard.
Are you all right down therel' came
the question from the bridge Of the Mary
land.
Yes" answered Benjamin.
The lashings were cut and the Maryland
backed away. She went at once to Jewels
wharf, Brooklyn, where the passengers
we're unloaded. Many Of the women,
who had kept their heads while they were
aboard the damaged New York, developed
Mysteries as soon as they we're safe.
As soon as the Maryland backed OF il
was seen that she had stove a clean hole
in the New York. Her low prov had slipped
under the overhang which was hardly
damaged at all, The New York was
leaking a little from strained seams,
hut no water came through the hole. She
ran under her own steam TO the repair docks
a. the lOOJ Ol hlldlNlC dN6uues bIOOhlynt
where she was put out Of commission
The Maryland lost about forty feet OF
her port rail forward and her flagstaff
Otherwise she escaped unhurt
Accounts differ az to the causes OF the
collision. The Maryland was coming south
from Mott Haven with a load Of freight
cars. As the boats approached the point
Of collision, they exchanged signals.
bow, but changed its mind" said Capt.
Flood. That's what caused the accident.
Now you've got It ALL A member Of the
Maryland's crew added
The ferryboat came out Of the slip
toward us. She blew once, meaning We
will cross your bow The Maryland re-
sponded and slowed up. At the same
n ornent the ferryboat footed twice, mean
ing that the Maryland should 60 across
her bow. Thep the ferryboat tried 10 back,
hut before she got under the reverse, she
ran into US
The officials Of the ferry company were
retcent about the causes Of the accident, !
although they lay the blame on the Mary |
iaLd
The rule Of the river is that a vessel |
going up or down and having a crossing !
vessel on heT 6tarDOard size must IN all |
cases give way" said one Of these officials. !
The Maryland had the New York on her |
starboard side. We won't go into II any |
further.
From the reports We have. the crews |
n both vessels behaved splendidly and |
did the right thing in every respect from
the moment the vessels struck. When one |
boat in ferry collision is DANA ged and the !
other IL not It is always the safe thing to 7,
lash them together and transfer all pas
sengers TO the uniniured boat. Thet has |
saved hundreds Of lives in ferry collisions !
before. The captain Of the Maryland did |
eN.cty the right thing in keeping tight TO |
the hole he had made
William II. Curtis, a broker, Of Brooklyn, |
was one Of the passengers.
L was in the women's cabin, near the |
pilot house, he said. The signal heard i
from our boat was one long whistle and I
two short, which means, l understand, |
What are you going to dor That was the |
only footing heard until both boats began |
a series Of short blasts, indicating danger.
r. 4 H.