Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-13
TWO BOATS CRASH ,
AMID DENSE FOG
ON HUDSON RIVER
Practically a Head-0n Collision
of Steamboats,.
FREIGHT CLERK MISSING
Accident Occurred in a Very Narrow
Part of Stream.
SARATOGA IS A BAD WRECK
Presence of Mind of Passengers Pre-
vented Serious Accident-Story
of a Passenger.
Accident Occurred in a Very Narrow
Part of Stream.
IS A BAD WRECK

Two OF the steamers that ply the
Hudson came in collision early this
morning in dense fog. None OF
the passengers was injured, but
one man is missing and one of the
boats was wrecked and is sinking
Both OF the steambOats-the Adj
rondack of the Peoples line and
the Saratoga of the Citizens line
are brilliantly lighted, and it is not
quite clear just how the acct
dent occurred. The passengers did
not become panic-stricken. The
Saratoga has had several accidents.
ALBANF. n. y, October 13.--In what
Hudson river at LOO this morning be-
tween the steamers Adirondack of the Peo-
pies line and the Saratoga of the Citizens
line, one man, an oiler on the Saratoga, lost
his life. one of the crew Of the Adirondack
is missing, about half a thousand passen-
gems had a thrilling experience and both
the steamers were damaged to the extent
of thousands Of dollars, the Saratoga be-
ing practically put out of commission. The
missing man is George L. Horton of Troy,
freight clerk on the Adirondack.
The collision occurred near Tivo!i, about
ninety-nine miles from New York, one Of
the narrowest parts of the river, while
ct,
dense fog which settled on the river
Just before 10 O'Clock last night. The
Saratoga bound south from Troy, with
about 200 passengers on board and a
heavy consgnm ent of freight, crashed into
the Adirondack. bound north from New
York. The collision tore away about sew
enty-five feet of the lower deck the
port side. forward OF the wheel, of the
Saratoga The terrific impact caused the
Saratoga, with one side of her deck al
most shattered, to rebound.
Those of the passengers who were not
awakened by the shock were soon reused
from slumbe: by the cries of the crew on
both boats Fortunately help was at hand.
The propeller Onteora steamed alongside
the Adirondack few minutes after the
crash. and offered assistance. Captain
Wilson of the Adirondack. tod the Onteora
TO stand by, while he assured his passen-
gers that there was immediate danger
He gave the passengers the alternative Of
staying on board or being transferred 10
the shore on the propeller. and about 1JO
OF them chose the latter course, later COM
inc nv
western points.
From the story told by the passengers
and the captain of the Adirondack there
was comparatively little excitement con-
sidering the seriousness of the accident.
Tore Away Deck.
The collision tore away that part of the
lower deck In which We're located the
rooms of First Mate Dermitty and Frank
Flanagan of New York, and George L.
Horton OF Troy. All three were precip!-
tated into the river. Dermitty and Flan-
agan hoated around on pieces OF freight
until they were picked up. Horton has
not been found.
After the collision the Saratoga driftezi
to shore. Captain Wilson, on the arrival
of the Adirondack at Albany. immediate civ
got in telephone communication with the
officials Of the line in New York. After
ward he made the following statement:
Il was in my room when the crash
came. and l hurried TO the pilot house
after ordering the crew to stand by and
man the boats. Finding everything all
right at the wheel house, l Went among
the passengers and told them to remain
calm there was no immediate danger
sscertained that while the boat was bad
ly smashed on the port side, she had NOT
taken water, and l again assured the pas
senSers There were 400 life preserver.
accessible TO those vino wanted them
About 80 passengers ssere transferred &c
the tug Onteora, which offered US assist.
snce / ordered 4 boat lowered ard sent
some men back 20 look for the three mem,
hers OF the crew who were in the wrecked
portion Of the boat.
There is no truth in the story that some
eolored help on the boat tried to keep tn,
life prcservers away from the passengers
They had been instructed frequently how
TO help the passengers adjust the preserv
ers in case of an accident and their effor
in this direction during the small excite
ment this morning may have been msun
derstood. We were in no danger at any
time. There was no panic, and l never saw
passengers behave so well under the cli.
euInstances.
Good Judgment Prevailed
Excellent judgment prevailed throughout
We did not go to the aid of the Saratoga
because the Saratoga's sister boat the
City of Troy. was directly in our wake.
Despite the collision and the attendant
damage the Adirondack's running schedule