New-York tribune., 1910-06-06

among them, more .tiuorous than the
Others. professed to know there was con-
siderable sea TO be encountered before
eRecting landing at the Battery. Such
Is these, however, were made TO feel
cheap and small by the taunts Of their
more hardy companions. who boasted of
what they would do in case times Of
stress should be faced.
The final line that held the Osprey 20
her pier WAS cast off, the last fareweils
were waited TO the Long Island hosts
across the bounding waters of the Sound
and the twin screws behind the sleek
stern Of the Osprey dug their keen
blades into the resisting water.
Within few powerful revolutions the
boat was lost in the darkness. Dark
oceans Of murky water, doused on those
who sat well forward on the deck,
brought out screams of mingled fright
and bravado, and q chill began to settle
on the spirits Of those who had hitherto
soo71ed the puny waves.
Captains Lock Grinnn1er,
Captain Denkens face took on a
srinlmer look. Now people began to ask
the captain just when they would reach
their quiet Tenderloin homes, and the
skipper shook his head and would give
no answer. Soon grumblings, sharp
and we'll defined, made themselves
heard throughout the length and
breadth OF the Osprey, yet stiU the
captain maintained his foggy course.
Finally Captain Denken and Mate
johnson decided that the sea was run
ming too high for their boat and deter
mined on a desperate course OF action.
The boats head was turned to the west
ward and after a hazardous passage
the craft turned toward the shelter af-
forded by West Farms Creek
The waters We're more quiet there and
the captain pushed her nose up the
creek for fully a mile. He perhaps re-
menbered that il was by this same creek
that the British troops in the Revolu-
tion. under General Lord Howe, were
haffied in their pursuit OF General Wash
iugton. IL is within the realms Of posi-
bility also that Captain Denken recalled
tDGl ltle 1DIlliSn W dI ttl lUo III 1-AAS l6AAAN
had censured Lord Howe for not sailing
a., these majestic waters Of the creek
with his fleet, thus cutting off Washing
toms retreat Be that as it may, Cap
tain Denken determined to go as far as
he could push the boat
Just as he was thanking his lucky
stars in thus getting out of the full
sweep of the wind and tides, there was
a sickenizg thud, and the Osprey bur-
led her classic nose in six feet of Bronx
mud.
Frantic whirls Of the twin screws
failed to bulge her, and loud voices
from the inky blackness warned the
captain that somebody was getting an
CRY. Denken blew his whistle Justify
for perhaps an hour, and finally light
fickered on the shore, and John Wey-
man. a watchman on coal dock, made
his way TO the shore. He shouted and
swung his lantern. and was met by a
wall from 40 voices calling for assist
ance.
Appeal to Police for Help.
weyrnam saw that he could not reach
the stranded craft, so he hitched up
horse and rig and started for the near
est telephone, mile and half distant.
He called up Police Headquarters. and
orders were sent to the Morrisania re-
serves 10 go to the relief of the ship
wrecked passengers. Shortly before 1
o'clock this morning the reserves, two
launches from the harbor police and half
a dozen residents Of the Hunts Point
section were at the scene TO give assist
sDce-
Many stout planks were procured and
these were fashioned into "a sort of cor
duroy bridge, placed on the yielding mud
and run out toward the Osprey
Then the work OF rescue began in
earnest.
Women first, with children" was the
CRY. and this praiseworthy course was
followed.
When all had been safely carried to
the inky blackness Of the Hunts Point
woods they stood in huddled groups and
muttered hard things about the Osprey,
her twin screws, her mate and even of
her skipper.
All the 150 were taken care Of by the
police. who guided them through swamps
and eel grass until they struck the sub
way at Simpson street, when they We're
piled into trains and made their several
ways home. Captain Denken and Mate
Johnson, ablebodied seamen, shouted
that they would go down with their ship,
il need be, and remained on board.
II is not known just how deep the mud
is at that particular point, but more
then one among the erstwhile happy
passengers was heard TO say that they
hoped the captain and his mate would
have their " wish--snd go Gown with the
Osprey in about = hundred feet of West