New-York tribune., 1909-07-21
TUG SINKS FREIGHTER
ONE OF THE CREUT LOST.
Hdrbor Collision in Broad Daylight
Both Shippers Held.

The old wooden freighter Martha Stevens
which left the stocks of her builders in Wilmington.
Del when the Civil War at it's height, went
to the bottom In this harbor yesterday ahout half
mile northeast Of Robbins Reef Light and one
member OF her crew lost his life. 5ne bound
from Trenton. where she owned, to New York
with copper wire coils and general -argo. when
she ramned and sunk by the steel tug Conf
dence OF the Southern Pacific company. going in
an opposite direction. The proximity Of local craft
at the time OF the collision is responsible for the
saving OF Of the eleven persons on board the
freghtsr. which sank within three minutes after
the bow OF the penetrated her fran wooden side
aft OF anIidships.
Both shippers warned by the police that
what they said would he used against them, and
they were wary when the question Of responsibility
was raised after they arrested. The skip
pers saw each other for some time before the boats
came together. The collision occurred at IL a m.
and the weather clear. II apparent To
both captains that there plenty OF room 10
pass. and 1t is said that signal was blown on
either vessel
The Confidence. outbound. and the stevens. in
bound kept on their respective courses until they
got close to avert collision The captain OF the
Confidence put his wheel over and siEnalled tor fuI
speed astern when he saw he was about to ram the
stevens but II was too late. The bow OF the tug
opened up a big hole the port side Of the
stevens about and below the water line. and tons
OF water poured into her hold Although built OF
wood her buoyant construction would not support
the flood and she sank within three minutes. going
down stern first. The settled reef 80
that the roof OF the house AFT was a few inches
above the sIrface Then the bow went under into
a channel. and nothing remained above water but
her funnel.
Zachariah Logan. sixty-two years old. the second
engineer who lived in Bound Brook. was in his
room when the vessels came together- lie rushed
out on deck and went overheard with the others
~ the crew as the Stevens settled He tried 10
swim but his age against him md he went
under Captain Edward A. Foster OF the sihklhE
freighter, and William Eichman the caief engi-
neer grasped Logan by the shoulders and held
him above the surface until small boat came OUT
from the municipal ferryboat Gowanus and took
the three men aboard when Logan wss laid on
the deck several passengers gave him hrst aid
but II was seen that he was dead The audiences
OF the accident frightened him. and he died from
heart failure
clunx TO a part Of the deckhouse that had been
washed away from the Stevens and were hauled
aboard the tug which stood by Mrs Rebecca
Johnston a negro cook and her three-year-od
daughter. Irene. were taken in small boat 70 inc
Ciowanus. which put back 10 staten Island at once,
for II was feared that they we're n g serious con-
dItion.
Before the Gowanus started Captain Foster was
transferred to the police boat Patrol. which hap
pened 10 be close by. and taken 20 tho police sta
a.
later arrested and held the technical charge OF
homicide When the Gowanus landed the re-
rnaInder Of the crew at st. George, Mrs Johnston
and her daughter were treated by doctor from
the s r Smith Innrmary and hurried in an ambu-
lance 10 that institution. The remainder OF the
crew changed their clothing and went 20 Jersey
CITY where they took train for Trenton.
Captain Bradley OF the revenue cutter Calumet
aaw the Stevens sinking and went at full speed
10 assist those who were thrown overheard The
immigration cutter Immigrant, which had Just
mt her inspectors board the Ward liner Sara
toga also vert to thu Stevens and the Conf
dence and found that doctor was needed FOR
Mrs Johnson. her child. and for Logan. the as
sistant engineer. Captain Paige OF the Immigrant
went over TO the Saratoga and took on DR.. Kur-
hsh Of the Marine Hospital staff, who was ex-
amininE aliens from Havana and Mexico, but
vchen he returned the scene OF the collision the
f;owanus had taken the sufferers 10 81. George
The Confidence followed the GoWanus 10 St
George and Captain William Paasch, Of No.
sf4 4h street Jersey City. gave himself up 10 the
police He was arraigned before Magistrate Handy
on a charge OF homicide and paroiled in the GUS
todv Of Captain William Randolph. Of the South
ern Pacific Company
Captain Foster of the Martha Stevens was taken
before Magistrate OConnor, in the Tombs police
court and arraigned a technical charge or
homicide. The magistrate did not know at the
and Patrolman Bolz. OF the harbor squad. was
instructed later take Captain Foster before
Coroner Cahill. of Staten Island
The men who were rescued and sent nome were
Henry Kelly. John Mack and William klaud' VINO
are deckhands, living In Trenton.
MAYAS AMBUSH. MEXICAN TROOPS.