The sun., 1909-06-13
EXCURSION BOAT GOES. DOWN
90 iWOMEN AND CHILDREN
t. $ SAVED IN 4 HURRY.

sheerwater's Cargo Lists In Midstream
or Philadelphia -sulphuric Acid
Floods Engine R0om-Everybody
Taken on by Fire ansS Police Graft.
PHILADELPHIA. June 12.--The excur-
sion boat Sheerwater, carrying hfty-fve
passengers nearly all women and chill
dren, on a pleasure trip to Rancocas Creek.
N. j.. went down in midstream In the Del
aware River opposite this city at noon
to-day. Hundreds OF spectators on the
wharves saw her sink.
That not q life was lost was due to the
prompt and splendid service Of the crew
Of the police boat Ashbridge aided by the
freboat Edwin s. Stuart and her crew.
There were many thrilling resoues
Only five minutes elapsed from the time
that tho police and tireboats responded
10 the first call for aid and the sinking OF
the Sheerwater. 1t required fast and
sticent work to get the frightened women
and children OF.
The accident was due to shifting OF
the cargo carried by the boat, which
resulted in the. bursting Of two carboys
Of salphurio acid. The fumes spread to
the engine room and drove the engineer
from his post. Listing to stsrboard as
the weight Of the displaced cargo made
itself felt the Sheerwater rapidly filed
with water, preventing any eIort TO save
her. t.,
There we're two parties Of excursionists
on board. One consisted OF twenty
seven girls and women. guests OF Miss
Yansoiver. daughter OF Capt, George
Vansciver, the owner OF the boat, and a
teacher in the Camden public schools.
The other party included the twenty
four members Of the Girls Normal School.
class OF 1908, who were holding their
first annual reunion. They were. in
charge Of Mrs. Geisler. their teacher.
The crew Of the boat numbered seven.
Engineer Walter Brown said
Il was backing the boat out in the
stream and was getting ready to swing
her head around preparatory to starting
her on her trip up the river Suddenly /
felt lurching Of the boat and knew that
! the cargo had listed as the boat began TO
shift to starboard.
Before had time to adjust myself
TO this condition the thing occurred that
prevented any further effort to save the
boat
Two carboys Of sulphuric acid whioS .
we're on the lower dock were thrown
against the side OF the cabin and burst
open from the contact. The acid
streamed down the cornpanionway into
tho engine room where was at work.
The room was at once flled with the
burning, suaooating fumes, and my
clothes we're covered with the stun. !
ran up to the lower deck 80
One OF the girls on board told Of the
soene on board the Sheefwater when
II was discovered that the boat was sink
ing ,... .-... -.....
awe we're all on the upper deck. she
said. getting ready to enjoy our ride up
the river. OF course We were frightened
when we felt the boat topple over to one
side, but We didn't think there wal any
thing serious even then. We all got life
preservcrs and kept quiet. as the captain
said everything would be all right. Then
we saw the boats coming out to ns from
shore and felt sure We would Ill be saved. "
Samuel Shallcross. supsrintsndent OF
the lighterage department cf the Phila-
deIphia steamship Company. who was
looking out Of the window Of the ofHices
At the foot Of the oompanys wharf, was
the first Of those on shore TO see the plight
OF the Sheerwater. He At once sent the
alarm to the Ashbridge and Stuart. which
we're lying at Race street wharf. These
boats lost no time in getting to the sink
ing boat and taking everybody Oh.
The Sheerwater was formerly pleasure
yacht and was built by the Atlantic Ship
building Company Of East Boston, Mass.
in 1887. She was sold to the Government
to be used as despatch boat in the Span.
ish American War. but did not zee actua
service. At the end OF the war she Wal
given by the Government to the Penn
sylvania Naval Reserves.