New-York tribune., 1908-01-29
TUG SUNK OFF BATTERY
ONE OF CREW MISSING.
Freighter Stands By Whle Cre10
ScrambIes aboard.

The freighter Pawnee of the Clyde Line.
loaded with cargo for Philadelphia, struck the
oceangoing tugboat Edgar F. Luckenbach last
night off Governors Island and sunk her
There were thirteen board the tug,
and all except one the steward. have been ac-
counted for. The tug sank a few minutes after
she was rammed, but the men on board had
time to climb aboard the Pawnee. which stood
by Nearly all the men on the Luckenbach were
more or less shaken up and injured Some OF
them were sent to their homes. and several were
taken TO the Hudson Street Hospital
The Pawnee left Pier %. East River. for Phil
adeIphia, and had just rounded the Battery
when the Luckenbach came along from Com
munipaw, bound for the Erie Basin, where she
was scheduled to start with tow for Baltimore
early this morning.
According to Captain Peter Nelson. of the
tug the lights were burning brightly on both
vessels The Pawnee had taken good swing
toward Governors Island and the Luckenbach
steered closer to the Battery. Captain Nelson
said he signalled that he would go 10 port, ana
the Pawnee responded that she would also go
to port The tug had reduced her speed to
about five knots and there was heavy ebo
tide running.
Within minute after the interchange of sig
nails the bow of the Pawnee crashed with terrlhc
force into the starboard side of the tug, ABOUT
twelve feet aft of the bow. The tug rolled over
to port but filled and heeled over to starpoard
There was a confusion of whistles after the
Pawnee struck the Luckenbach, and II was al
most impossible to hear orders. The Pawnee
had considerable headway, but stopped her en-
gfnes after the collision. and stood by she re-
versed her engines and man9uvred until she
came alongside the sinking tug and lowered one
of her ifeboats. Lines were thrown cut from
the Pawnee and with the assistance of these and
,I,o q
able to get aboard the freighter before the Luck
enbach sank below the surface. Only the top of
her funnel could be seen.
AS soon as the were on the deck OF the
Pawnee the caotain of the Luckenbach called
the roll and found all of the men were safe ex-
cept Edward Nelson, the steward, twenty-eight
years old. of Baltimore.
The Pawnee sgnalled for assistance and
PENNSYLVANIA Railroad tug No 0 came alongside
and took the men to Pier A at the Battery.
After landing the men Captain Fowler. of the
raiIrosd tug went back to the place where the
Luckenbach sank and cruised about. hoping to
pick up the steward. AS soon as the report of
the collision was heard, dozens of small craft
went to the place where the Luckenbacks fun
mel protruded above the water. and searched for
the missing member of the tugs crew
The police boat Patrol also went out to the
scene of the collision. The men were taken into
the police station at Pier A, where they were
provided with dry clothing and stinulants-
Captain Nelson arrested on a technical
charge of manslaughter. Ohmah Khoma. a
ia panese oer was taken TO Hudson Street
Hospital suffering from bruises and submerSion. |
Besides the captain the injured japanese and
the missing steward. the crew of the Lucken- |
bach consisted of r. W Gray. assistant en- |
gineer; Oscar Halbrook. Allen Nelson. Hans |
Tomson, Oscar Watt Frederick Ronsel. John |
Mullens Henry Mcnamara and John W. Far |
rell.
Mcnamara. who was the mate said that the |
impact of the blow from the Pawnee. carried the |
pilot house away,
The Pawnee. after transferring the men to |
the railroad tug proceeded with scraped bow |
on her way 10 Philadelphia. She is one OF the |
newest freighters of the Clyde Line fleet She |
was built last year at Wilmington. Del. and is |
of e07 gross tons She is $50 feet long and |
has a beam of 40 feet.
The Edgar f. Luckenbach which is 12O feet |
long with a beam of % feet. was built at Cam |
den in 1891 She is valued at $4,000 III was |
said last night that she is covered by insurance
nd will he raised.