New-York tribune., 1910-03-22
SINKS IN THE BAY
-lLIENS NEAR PANIC.
old Steamboat Goes DO1cn off
GOTfrHOr's Island.

The o'f steamboat William Fletcher.
which has had something - a record for
mishaps during the thirty-six years she
has beer afoat. went 20 the bottom yes
terdav a few hundred yards south OF Gov
crnor's Island She had been over % the
Italian steamship I.uisiana. docked az the
Bush Stores. south brooklyn. and was re-
Turning with a barEeIoad ~ immigrants.
when she sprang q leak
About seven hundred and ffty steerage
passengers from the Luisiaua were put
aboard the barge Aedie. which the Fletcher
took iu tow Tor Ellis Island. Twelve pas
ssrgers who could not re- accommodated
on fhe berEe were taken aboard the
Fletcher
Socn after leaving Pier 6 Bush Docks.
the fireman or tine Fletcher reported 70
the engineer that q sudden food OF water
wss bubo'inE up into che hreroom. The en-
Finee- informed Captain Brannagan 81 the
CauEe-. and the skipper had the twelve
Immigrants aboard transserred at once 20
che Addie. which was lashed alongside.
The transfer caused some anxiety or the
barge. and many Italians thought their
lives were Ia danger. Before they had time
70 become pauicstricken. however. the
Fletcher was cur adrift from her adjacent
harEe. and Captain Brannagan sent her
az fun speed for shoal water.
When several hundred Yards south %
Governors Island the water flooded the
freroom and put ont the hres. A tug OF
The New York New Haven & Hartford
Railroad came TO the assistance OF the
Fletcher and pushed her 10 a shoal. where
she sank. with only her pilot house and
f.nnel above water. Meanwhile two tugs
picked uu the Atdie with her rs immi-
grants. and t0ued her 20 the landing az
Ellis Island
When THE railroad tug put her bow
against che sinking F1etchers starboard
quarter ro push ler into shOaI water Cap
tain Brarnagau ordered the fireman. en-
riuea- and dackhand to tump 70 the tug
and save themseIves- The skipper and his
mate directed the wheel % the sinking
steamboat urtl her deck was awash. and
thcr climbed aboard the tus.
Captain BrannaSau and his men said yes
trriay that rEe cag-, Of the FIetcher's
sinking was mystery. IL was said by
William i. Moore. owner or the Fletcher
who has the contract for Transporting i'm
migrants from liners 10 Ellis Island, that
the old steamboat must have hit some
thing he said it would be- impossible 20
ten ta what part she was leaking until
She was raised and her hun examined.
Captain Henry n. SeeIey. United States
inspector OF Lulls. said the Fletcher was
iu r-aw0rthv condition for the worl, she
was doing when last examined. on Janu-
ory 80 of This year.
in his report on thar cate Henry Well
man. assistant inspector % hulls. said.
''TEi- vessel. in my Judgment is IN good
condition for route ass. Ened. and is fully
equipped according o. law.
TIE report showed thar she was last IN
drydock u july. I--. when her bottom was
searched and caISe1. she was allowed 20
carry 80 passengers. Mr.. Moore said she
had beeen practically rebuilt and length
ened. and that there was hardly a foot OF
down
The FLETCHER was sunk or june ~. ls9F.
on the New jersey shore, opposite the Gu
uarl lane piers after she had been
ramued by the Cunarder Camuania. which
was then docking. Tie how 0f the Gu
harder car q bE hole IN her sta-5oard
quarter. ana sire flled rapidly she was
t0wel o. tire Sew Jersey shore by tugs
and sank after clearing The channel
CON October y of the same year she was
In collision with the fe--yboar West Brook
ISM. 80 the s9th street ferry service. whne
conveying a Tarty of Sir Thomas L4ptor' s
guests through rhe FOG 10 the Yacht race
Admiral Lord Charlie Beresford and W
d. F.rr.e designer of The White star liner
Oceanic who were among 5he guests.
rushed .lf. the Fletchers hold after the
collision. asCerIained the damage. Calmed
abe passengers and pra rticallN directed tie
worh ot separating the tWo boats.