New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-06-23
THREE MEN LOST WHEN
BARGE RAMS UFEBOAT
Steel Float Bears Down on u
of the Ryndam's Crew Drill
ing in Hudson River.
TWELVE OTHERS INJURED
Six Sent to Hospitals-Tug Cap
tain Says Chief oarsman Mis-
understood Signal-Swim-
mer May Have Escaped

Three sturdy Hollanders Of the liner
Ryndan. one Of them the best swimmer
in the crew, are believed TO have ios'
their lives yesterday in the huuSoh
River. when Lifeboat no. -, In Whl'h
they were seated. was rammed by car
float off the Hoboken shore.
The accident happened about lo'f'
q. m. when the twenty-four sailors IRE
men and stewards were rowing n"r'h "
the stern Of the Ryndam, after prac-
t,ce trim down the river. For twenty
four wears the crews Of the Holland
America Line have had summer poa'
drills in the Hudson River, and never
before have they met with an accident
Adam Wander Meye, the second oth''r
In charge of the drill, under orders iroh'
Captain Van Der Heuvel lowered a lie
hoat from the davits astern and started
downstream. All went well until ihe
ufeboat put about. When of the pier
O, the Erie Railroad the tug CornihH
towing a steel car float, overlook inc
boat The men from the Ryndam sa"
the lighter coming and stgnaIled' ou'
their warning was misunderstood ana q
,oorent later the big float crashed into
the smaller boat.
Emil Weigmirk. "A fireman, who was
the best swimmer of the Ryndams men,
jumped in the river before the COLLISION
and was seen striking out for shore. &C
cording 10 his friends in the engine room
he is engaged 10 he married II is pos
sible that he landed safely, but no news
to that effect was received by his COM
rades
Twelve Men Injured
The stern Of the Hfeboat was crushed
in the collision and twelve men were IN
tured. some of them being thrown INTO
the water. Air compartments preNeh'eu
the craft from sinking, and six OF the
crew who had not been hurled out maze
desperate efforts 70 save their compan-
ions.
Assistance was also offered by many
craft in the vicinity. The Lackawanna
ferrvboat Scranton, which had just left
its slip in Hoboken, stopped and boat
was lowered. but before the deckhands
could get to the Ryndam's lifeboat tour
tugs were at hand picking up the sailor
men from the water.
The tugs steamed 10 the Holland
America pier and landed the survivors.
CAPTAIN Van Der Heuvel called the roll,
and found that besides Weigmirk, two
stewards, Hendrick Bergman and jar
Z ,,-a siaA or a
had families in Rotterdam, were missing
The Ryndams skipper sent for the
ships surgeon. Who administered first
aid to the injured Hollanders. Six had
only slight bruises ABOUT the hands and
shoulders and received attention aboard
the ship. Six others, however, were
severely injured, and were sent promptly
TO a hospital ashore
Cp to a late hour last night the miss.
ing men had not reported at the ship
Representatives Of the Holland Ameri
CO Line telephoned to various hospitals
in Manhattan. Jersey City and Hoboken
but found no trace Of them.
Captain Van der Heuvel said he hat
cabled TO Rotterdam about the accident
expressing the hope that the missing
men would later he accounted for.
Drill Always Popular.
I've have had these boat drills fO1
many years" said the skipper yesterday
after the accident and this is the frs
time there has been any trouble. The
men like to take out one OF the working
lifehoats and take pride in their skill
as oarsmon. We are exceedingly careful
Of the inexperienced men. All then
training is confined 10 the limits Of the
dock When they learn TO handle The
oars we permit them TO go for q spin or
the river
I'VE have the same custom in Holland
When the weather permits the crew Is
allowed to use toe boats whenever the
Ryndam is in port"
The tug Corning was in command oi
Captain George Carpenter. Of Jersey
City He said that the accident was due
TO the second officer in charge Of ;he
Rvndams boat, who, he said. misunder'
stood a signal from the tug and turned
directly in the way Of the float.