The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-01-31
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.

In reply 60 A. w. Earle in regard 20
the steamboat Knickerbocl.er remember
her we'll; my father was captain Of her In
the late sos she with many other Hud-
son River boats was chartered by the
United States Government as a transport
early in tho war In 1850 don't remom-
Der Of her ever coming back to thes.
waters. but she was wrecked on tho Po-
tornac or James River I think AZ to
the accident at Polypus Island. think Il
was tho Empire Troy boat---that wss
run down by tho schooner Noah Brown
in Newburgh Bay in 1S49 and twenty
four lives lost. The Knickerbocker did
meet with a serious accident In the High
lands by running on a sunken schooner.
punching a holo in her bottom. Has
Yard Morey, her pilot ran her into the
mouth OF Montgomery Creck--her cables
would not hold: she slid back to the
channel, turned bottom up and dropped
both boilers which we're never recov-
cred. She was afterward repaired and
took her place In running as opposition TO
the Peoples Line 20 Albany.
r u. CHRisToPnEp
m answer b a question by A. w. Darle
regarding the steamboat Knickerbockcr
that ran on the Hudson River would
say: The vessel was built at New York
in 1913 for the Peoples Line, then con-
trolled by Daniel Drew. Isaac Newton
and others FOR the New York and Albany
night line. Tho vessel ran on tho Hudson
River until the ,imc Daniel Drew became
Interested In Long island Sound trans
portation. IN 1Sis, when she was placed
on the Now York aud Norwich. Conn.
route. where tho vessel remained for
some few years During tho civil war
tho Knickcrbocker was chartered to the
quartermaster bureau OF tho War De-
partment by Daniel Drew FOR several
months Al 5000 dav. and at u later date
by George IT, Powers II Hudson. y. y.
a. $3.50 p dav Tho last inspection OF tho
vessel was made In 1864. 50 she had gone
ont OF service az this date
Regarding the loss OF vessel IN New
burgh Bay 7 thlrk Mr Earle refers to me
steamboat Empire OF Troy. that was run
into on May ~. is4P. by tho scho1 nor
Noah Brown. where there was a loss d
twenty-four lives. J n. MoRRisos.
our ANiItH lNiINffIN = ~ HsiIlh INC n
tons that there WAS a family tradition
that the old steamboat Knckcrbocker was
burned with a considerable loss OF Efe at
polypus Island ,presume he means Pol
lopers). Your CORE pondgnrs family
tradition must have become involved with
some other r.ver disaster, as the Knlcker-
booker continued In service until 1853.
when having become worn oJt with her
twenty years o, ser, re ste va. retired.
dlsmlntied and EIDE. Le~ career IN q
commonplace sort % way.
The Kn.gker hayGer Has built for Tho
Peoples Line. running between New York
and Albany on the night rne. She made
hcr FIRST appearance on the Hudson in
August. 1913. and was said 20 surpass
any craft IN the world FOR size. speed. 40
Communications and equipment. Her nrst
trip up tho river. August IS, lSi3. was
made In very fast time for that period
u steam navigation. being within six min
utes OF the record established the previous
year by the steamboat South America
New York 60 Albany IN hours and 81
minutes. She continued on the Peoples
Line Tor i've years, when In iS4S Messrs
Newton and Drew. principal owners o.
The line. gent the Knickcrbocker to the
StouinRtnn Limo on tho Sound. for who.
route she was well dttod 10y her strength
OF hull while on tho Sound route she
was widenod forward Of the wheels, which
were ct into pockets,
In 1855 shc returned 20 tho Hudson
and for n number Of years was ueed on
tho Merchants Line tan auxiliary Of IN.
Peoples Liue). running ~ second class
line between New York and Albany. II
1851 she was chartered by the Govern
ment and made = number OF trips As a
| transport Her l3Rt work was done IN
1863, when she made a few trips on n,
Hudson between Kingston and New York
Shortly after this she was laid aside per
manently.
r il Just possible thai your CORR.
spondenr may have had reference to IN.
burning ~ the Isaac Newton, a Peoples
| Line boat. opposite Spuyten Duyvil or
her upward trip on the evening OF Decem.
her g. 1863, with considerable loss Of
life, or TO the burning Of The New York
Hudson Steamboat berkshire, which wa.
destroyed with q heavy loss % life oppo-
site Hyde Park Juno &, 1864
G. A. HoLLENBEcN.