Evening journal., 1910-08-22
Steamer Brandywine Cuts
in Half Launch Loaded
With PhiIadeIphians
HEROIC RESCUE BY
SWIMMER IN PARTY

The knife-like steel prov of the |
Wilson Line steamer Brandywine. cut !
the naptha launch Adele in twain just
after sunset last night. The launch !
contained eight men. Six were res
cued. Two are missing. 1t is be-
lieved they are drowned The acci-
dent occurred in the Delaware river
between League Island and Billings
port, n. J.
The six men rescued by the crew of
the Brandywine were landed here and
taken to the Physicians and Sur
geons' Hospital. They were bruised
and cut and suffering from shock. The
missing men -
John Hilton, 1892 North Warnock,
owner of the boat.
Louis Henne, 4305 Palace street
The injured at the Physicians and
Surgeons Hospital
John Hunter. 1913 Euclid avenue,
head crushed and body bruised
Edward Burne. 1904 North War
mock street. face cut, arm and shoul-
der injured.
The other men on board who were
rescued and taken TO the hospital with
the injured mem
Daniel McConyille. 1886 North War
mock street
John Kelly. 1912 North warnock
street.
Edward McConville. 1O1S Berks
street.
Nicholas Hiltner. 1880 North Tenth
street
All are of Philadelphia.
The launch was steered by John
Hiltner. Henne was in charge of the
engine. These men were the best
swimmers I'm the party, their rescued
friends say. The latter refused to
believe they were drowned and insist
that they must have reached shore.
Residents along both the New Jersey
and Pennsylvania shores say moth
ing of either man, and men are
graphing at the spot where the col
lision occurred in the belief that the
two bodies are at the bottom of the
Delaware.
The Captains Story.
The Brandywine left the Chestnut
Street wharf at o'clock last night.
The boat carried more than 400 pas
sengcrs Captain George ". Ward
was in command. Pilot Biockson was
at the wheel.
eve had passed League Island ."
said Captain Ward. "As we neared
Block Light, Hog Island. Pilot Block
son called my attention to light on
the starboard side. He looked at the
light through the glass. Just about
then the light blinked and disappear
ed. The party in the launch must have
a hidden it., to my mind.
I'VE were going along at goo'
clip. Z must have been only a feN
! minutes later that we saw the launci
y no lights burning, dead ahead. an
within fifteen yards OF the bow.
q q the speed we we're going it was to
IS late to prevent a collision.
THE wheel was swung around. bu
a. before the boat answered 10 the helm
we crashed into the launch.
"The sharp PROV of the Brandywinl
went through the side of the launcl
and the little craft was carried under
As the crash came | looked at my
= watch. II was just 7 7:45."
AS the big boat struck the smaller
there came from the water only one
scream. OF the eight men crowded in
the launch only one made an outcry
70 His scream was echoed by the women
}. on the crowded decks of the Brandy
wine. A hoarse cry from the captain,
- sharp clang of bell ordering the en-
. gineer to stop, the deep emergency
blast from the whistle, all these hap
- pened in a few seconds. AS the Brandy
wine came to stop the wreck of the
Adele came to the surface some dis
b tance astern, directly in the wake OF
excursion boat. Three men were
clinging to the crushed hull.
=. Holds Two Above Water.
AS an expert player throws quoits
the deck hands hurled life preseryers
}. toward the wrecked launch. All these
fell far short of the mark. Hysterica
women screamed. The screams were
,. supplanted by cheer from the
throats Of the men passengers wher
they saw a man, who was Nicholas
,. Hiltner, come to the surface. He
clasped a companion in each arm. He
was some distance from the hull o
5. the launch. The men he gripped coult
Just manage to keep afoat. They
did not try to hamper his movements
He aided them as he made his way
toward one Of the life preservers.
Not once did he let so Of his friends
e. until the circle of canvas and corl
seemed we'll within his reach. HI
reached out his right arm. He jus
s. touched the outer edge of the life pre-
server. The touch sent it bobbinl
T. away from him. A groan escapes
the watchers lining the rail of tn
Brandywine. intent on this gallan
battle with death.
e. Hiltner swung his arm around tn
man he had released and fought hi
= way through the swells This tim
C. he made sure. His head almos
touched the preserver when he RAJ
his arm through it. His success wa
s. crowned with a cheer.
Cared Not for Himself.
e It was only three minutes after tho
crash that boat from the Brandy
wine was IN the water. The crew
e came up to Hiltner and his exhausted
9. companions, all putting heavily an'
clinging TO the half-submerged pre-
, server. The boat stopped
q. Don't stop for us, we're all right
= Get those other fellows. They can
81, swim very good" Hiltner painted. Tn
pant was command and the boa
~ - go TO-. tho fhraa mpn gunDOrtp