New-York tribune., 1909-09-06
LAUNCH HIT, 3 DROWN
BETROTHED PAIR DIE IN
EACH OTHER,S ARMS.
Sac Others ThrO1cn Into Udtcr
Uhcn Barge Rams Small Boat
off Weeha7ch'cR.

Running upriyer close to the New Jersey
shore about noon yesterday. the gasoIene launch
Olga was in collision with a barge which was
being towed into the stream from Pier of the
Central Railroad of New jerseys Weehawken
docks, and nine persons We're thrown into the
water. Three were drowned and the others
were rescued in exhausted condition
Agnes Greer, of No. 174A 26th street Brook
lyn; stephen Weeks, of No. 335 35th street,
Brooklyn, and Miss Catherine Moore whose ad-
dress is unknown, but who was employed at
Codington's restaurant. in Sixth avenue. between
45d and 44th streets, Manhattan. were drowned.
The other members of the party were Frank
Wagner, of No. 157 22d street; John r Baker.
of No. 335 21st street: Frank T McCrohan of
No. 353 Seventh avenue: Nellie Higgins and
Annie Higgins of No. 543 Sixth avenue, and
John Dinbinsky of No. 1S2 22d street, all of
Brooklyn.
The Olga is owned by Andrew Ludig an oer
on the yacht Riviera, the property of Wall
Street broker. He loaned the launch to Baker.
and the party started yesterday morning from
the foot of 23d street, Brooklyn for days out
ing To avoid the high wind much as pos
s1ole Baker made for the New Jersey side Of
the river AS the launch reached point oppo-
site oOth street, Manhattan the members of the
party noticed A barge and tug alongside the
pier They thought the barge and tug were
tied up, and Baker continued his course
A moment later the barge with it's huge bulk
seemed to come down out of the air upon them.
The launch struck broadside on 1t ca
reened and was pushed forward In the water.
all but two of its occupants being thrown out
A second crash, and the remaining members of
the party were struggling in the water. None
of the three who were drowned was seen again
by the others. II is supposed they were carried
under the barge and held there.
Miss Greer and Weeks were engaged TO be
married. and were about to announce their be
trothal. As the launch tipped they went over
locked in each others arms. 1t was said last
night that Miss Creer's brother had forbidden
her to go on the launch party. Miss Moore, the
other victim, was introduced to the others just
before the start from South Brooklyn by Miss
Annie Higgins The launch was late in getting
away, owing to her delay in coming from Man
haitian and the necessity of urging Miss Nellie
Higgins who afraid that something would
happen to the party, TO go.
When the launch was struck by the barge
Miss Annie Higgins and Dinhinsky were thrown
into the water together. Neither could swim
but Dinhinsky had been handling life preserver
when the crash came, and by holding it between
them they were able to keep af1oat until they
were pulled out of the water by the crew OF the
New York Central Tug They were taken
Hospital Dinbinsky discharged last night,
and Miss Higgins will probably be able 10 leave
the hospital this morning
Meanwhile another New York Central tug No
IL had reached the other four persons who
were still above water Miss Nellie Higgins and
Frank Wagner haG gone over the side of the
launch together, and only by great effort on the
part of Wagner had escaped being carried under
the barge. They, with Baker and McCrohan,
were taken out of the water by Captain Sea-
man and his crew, transferred to the police boat
Patrol and landed at Pier A The Patrol also
picked up the launch. After the second crash
and the slowing down OF the tug and barge the
launch had righted itself The baskets of lunch
which the party had intended to eat on the
shore above Yonkers were intact