New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-08-01
ALBANY BOAT, WITH 500
ABOARD, BREAKS DOWN
The Frank jones. with Engines
Disabled, Puts Into Pier at ?
West 129th Street.
DELAY Anglers PASSENGERS
Refuse TO Leave the Vessel and
Struggle with Captain and
Deck Hands When Bag
gage Is Not Put Ashore.

With five hundred passengers on board
and considerable freight, the steamer
Frank Jones. Of the Capital city line.
bound for Albany, broke down az
o'clock last night off 175th street, I'm the
Hudson River. The trouble was due TO
the circulating pumps becoming disabled
Following close behind the Frank
Jones was the Adirondack. Of the Peo-
pies Line. also bound for Albany. Cap
tain Luchs, of the first boat, gave the
distress signal and asked the captain or
the Adirondack TO take of the passen-
gers. The captain OF the Adirondack
replied that his boat was crowded TO her
capacity and that It would be impossible
To take any more persons aboard. He
then proceeded on his journey
After much difficulty. one engine was
repaired. and with this in working order
and with the tide I'm his favor. Captain
I.uchs let his boat drift back down the
river to the recreation pier At l29th
street When the boat was made fast at
$50 o'clock tire captain told the passen-
gers the trouble and informed them that
they would have 10 get of.
Taken at First as Joke.
At first many of the passengers were
inclined to take It good naturedly. Some
Of them went so far 10 ask whether
the captain was trying 10 make A short
trip Of H. This. however, suddenly
turned TO seriousness when they realized
that the captain was in earnest about
their leaving the boat. Apparently many
Of the passengers had started for Albany
with little money and soon began to ask
What are we going to do and where
are we going To spend the night?' There
were many women aboard, some Of whom
actually wept when IL became evident
that they would have TO remain In this
city.
The captain said he was sorry. but
could do nothing. He said they couid
20 10 the steamship company's office and
get their money back or tickets on an
other boat to Albany.
Rv this time many of the passengers
we're almost frantic with grief. They
had sent word on ahead TO their friendS
and relatives, and many. too, had impor-
+ant eneagements Several OF them de-
clared that If they did not get 10 ~
bany by morning they would lose ther
nositions The passengers became 80
hoisterous and threatening that Ponce
Captain Kusch, Of the west LOU
street station, was called IN the nope 90
relieving the situation. Captain huslCE
said he had no jurisdiction and there II
fore could not take any action.
For q time it looked as If the passcn-
gers would remain aboard the vessel, de-
spite the captains request. Then than
left the boat with his two young cni',
dren. The passengers jeered and hoote1
ar him and for a while II looked as X
the deserter would be roughly handed
Then the captain renewed lis request
that the pa ssengers leave the boat. Many
of them refused TO get of unless 'ne'
vere nut on another boat 10 take me
N Albany. A large number OF mem
agreed 10 get off il their baggage was
put off with them. The captain sain ~
could not do this.
Fioht 70 Get Their Baggage.
Again the shouts were taken up. While
this was going on many OF the passeh-
gers rushed for the baggage room ana "
was all the deckhands and captain cou'h
do 10 restrain them. The Struggle las'7"
for Yullv fifteen minutes before all were
driven TO the main deck. The passengers
then began 10 leave the boat, ana atter
an hour all Of them had gone ashore.
According 10 one passenger VINO cams
from Albany on the vessel yesterday
morning. the engines were working bad
" on the down trip. When this becain'
known the passengers shouted AZ IDS
captain that IL was shame and an OUT
rage" that the officers of the company
shouId have permitted the boat 10 leave
the pier when they knew the engines
were not in good working order.
While the commotion was going IN
the Grand Republic and the Rosedale
from Coney Island and Rookaway re-
spectively. which wanted TO land their
at the 129th street pier, were
held up in midstream. There were fuiIy
three thousand passengers aboard These
two vessels.
When all the passengers had gone
ashore from the Frank Jones the steam
boat was backed out and drifted down
to Pier 10. where she was tied up for