New-York tribune., 1906-07-20
STEAMERS CRASH IN FOG
HUNDREDS IN PANIC.
Perseus and Thomas Paffeu Inter
locked off Robbins Reef.

tdiis with passengers. crashed into the sfsanl-
boat Perseus. Of the Iron Steamboat Company.
on its way to Coney Island with about Ave hun
dred passengers aboard. shortly after o'clock.
while off the Robbins Reef Hight. near St. Georzs.
Staten Island. The two boats came tose.oer
with 50 much force that they were intsrlocked
and neither sank
All was confusion in a moment There WAS a
wild rush for life preservers. Women and chu-
dren were thrown about by strong men Imms-
diately after the collision Captain Moses Oshorus
Of the Perseus and Captain Hobbs Of the
Thomas Patten rushed around their vessels
and assisted by their crews. tried to calm the
terrOr-stricken passengers. many OF whom tried
to jump overheard. Despite their efforts. thres
or four men. who preferred the water 70 the
boats. put on life preservers and jumped over
board rOwbOat was lowered from the Perseus
and they were fished out.
In the mean time. the whistles Of the IN,
steamboats, had been blowing loudly for help.
The first boat to come 70 the rescue was the
tug Commodore. which had a crowd OF pleasure
seekers aboard She was followed closely BY
The Bronx. Of the municipal ferry Iine the tug
Beatrice Bush and the Cetus a sister ship to the
Perseus. Their arrival caused another panic
There was a wild scramble to get aboard
these boats. Men and women fought ferceIy
to get of. and the crews OF the several vessels
worked heroically to prevent anybody from
tumbling into the water.
Each Of the rescuing boats was loaded 70 its
fullest capacity, and then steamed huTriedly
to this city. In the wild disorder families were
separated and came to the city on different
boats. The first party. about two hundred. ar
rived at the Battery on the Commodore. The
Bronx brought nearly thousand passengers
and landed them at South Ferry.
THE DREAML4AND TURNS BACK.
The DreamIand left Pier 1 with a thousand
passengers aboard on her s O'Clock trip to COney
Island She went down the bay as far as Bed
lows Island, when her captain decided to turn
back. as the fog was so dense that it was im-
possible for him to feel his way.
At this time neither he nor the passengers had
any information regarding the accident 60 the
Perseus. When the steamboat returned TO her
pier there was another scene OF wild disorder
The passengers clamOred for the return OF their
money AS there was one in authority at the
pier their demands were in vain Before order
was restored it was necessary call out the
reserves from the Oak street station. When
the passengers learned of the fate OF the pas
sengers aboard the Perseus they quieted down
Immediately.
A great amount of credit is due the captains
and crews of the two steamers in collision. Had
il not been for their cool headed work. II is prob
| able that many lives would have been lost.
About an hour after the collision there was
. a large hotilla of craft gathered about the in
terlocked steamboats,. The bow of the Thomas
Patten was wedged tightly in the port side OF
the Perseus about midships- About midnight the
| vessels were separated and the PerseUs vas
/ towed to the Erie Basin
CAPTAIN Osborne said that when he left the
Battery it was fairly clear. but soon after he
had passed Liberty Island dense fog envelODed
his boat He gave the order for the vessel to
proceed at a reduced speed and blew his whistle
continually. Without any warning. he said. the
Thomas Patten IOOmed up of his port side bow
not more than twenty yards away Although he
| threw his wheel hard apOrt. the warning came
too late. and collision was inevitable
| The vessels came together with loud crash
and much splintering OF wood he said Imme-
diately after the accident Captain Osborne left
/ the pilot house in charge Of a mate and hUr-
ried below. He directed the crew to pass out
life preservers and help the passengers in put
ting them on When he had supplied his own
! passengers Captain Osborne handed the rest
| across TO the Thomas Patten-
soon after the disabled boats whistled for
helm there were answering calls from several
/ quarters Because Of the 1mpenetraDle IO3 "
was some time before rescuing vessel hove in
sisbt The Commodore. which was crawling up
the XIII Won Kun at the time Of the collision.
was the first vessel to poke it's nose out OF the
fog.
The rescuers were aided greatly in their work
when The Bronx arrived. because she was bril-
liantIy illuminated. and her lights helped lot
70 restore a degree Of calmness among the terror
stricken passengers. ROundsman RandeN. Of the
west 37th street station. and PatrOlmen Am
mon and Keating. OF the HarbOr squad were
aboard The Bronx. The sight Of uniformed po-
liceman was also aid to the restoration OF
order ROundsman Randell. in quieting the panic
on the Patten drew his revolver and threatened
10 shoot one man who was clamoring that the
boat was sinking and advising persons 20 jump
overheard.
Many persons were bruised in the rush about
the decks of the boats after the collision. but
no serious accidents were reported DR. Claude
AIcMurray, Of No. 116 Mercer street. Jersey
City who was on the PeTseus, was knocked
down and trampled on. and suffered fracture
Of one of his lower right ribs He went home
STORIES or THOSE IN COLLISION.
The Cetus Of the Iron Steamboat Company.
came lp to Pier a at exactly II O'Clock with the
/ last batch OF passengers from the PerseUs- She
brought ESQ in ALL men. women and children
Nearly every person seen by Tribune reporter
declared that the collision was remarkable far
tba exhibition OF cOOIness by the deckhands q
botb boats and many Of the passengers All of
4bo,o confirmed the earlier rumoTs that no one
had been injured, though there naturally was
much excitement among the passengers for half
an 1,-,,V,ar Hollis. OF No 2OT2 Eighth avsnua