Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1915-08-09
DROWNING ADDS
TO CONFUSION
ON EXCURSION
Big Crowd on Eagles Outing
Has Many Narrowing
Experiences.
HENRY DEY, OF GLEN RIDGE,
WAS THE MAN DROWNED
Many Leave Boat at Hastings
and Come Home by
Train.

"A, Fraternal Order of Eagles, from
this city to Eagle Grove, on the Hud-
son river yesterday was marred by
drowning, fight between roughs and
a near panic when the most violent
storm of the summer about New York
broke over the party in the Hudson.
About 800 of the $500 left the boats
at Hastings Hudson and re-
turned by train. Those who remained
with the party finally got ashore af
ter midnight and had many thrilling
experiences.
The drowning was particularly pa
thetic. Henry Dey, of Linden avenue,
Glen Ridge, superintendent of the
Chicle Products Company, 15O Broad
way, New York, was one of a party
who found places on the upper deck
of the barge. Some say that Dey
persisted in sitting on the rail, al
though warned such a position was
dangerous.
Stories differ as to how Dey came
to fall overheard, but when he did
strike the water some of his friends
said to their neighbors, Don't worry;
he could swim all day Dey seemed
10 be powerful swimmer and struck
out after the barge Immediately upon
rising to the surface. strong ebb
tide was running, however, and he
made small headway against 1t, and
dropped further and further back
There was much confusion, some
shouting to the man in the water to
turn with the tide and head for the
shore, while others continued to cry,
Man overheard" After Dey was
more than 100 yards behind a life
preserver was thrown over to him, but
instead of saving his strength and
waiting for the life preserver to float
down to him he continued to fight the
tide, but less vigorously.
Tug Goes After Man.
An attempt was made to launch a
boat, but the davits were stiff and
the crew unskilled and more time
was lost this way. Finally the tug
which was towing the party cast loose
the lines and steamed back to where
the man was last seen, but only his
hat was found He had lost his
strength and was drowned before the
tug started to his assistance.
Fully 400 more tickets we're sold
than the boats could accommodate
ri the discomfort of the day COM
meneed on the dock. The steamer
Isabel" which is chartered to carry
500, and the barge Empire, char
tered to carry 1900, and which Is
operated by the Aiming ]. Smith
Excursion Company of New York,
took aboard passengers until the
United States inspectors called halt.
The full capacity was reached with
at least 400 others left on the dock.
About l 900 of those who got aboard
were women and several hundred
children also were In the party.
The struggle to get aboard and the
muggy weather caused big demand
for drinkables and it was soon found
out that no soft drinks were to be
had on the Empire When the boats
reached New York bay conditions, so
far as the weather was concerned,
changed for the better and until 2
O'Clock when the party was off lower
New York. all went we'll. Then Dey
fell overheard and the spirits of the
party became depressed.
Rain Adds to Trouble.
An hour later, when the neighbor-
hood of the Fort Lee ferry lane was
reached, clouds which prevented the
men in the pilot house from seeing
the bow of their own boat descended
and then the first of the real troubles
commenced.
After an hour of seesawing UP the
river the rain ceased and the captain.
TO quiet the commotion. put In at
Hastings. About 300 left the boat but
the remainder were reassured by this
time and decided to remain. On the
way back the fighting broke out and
then the really bad time of the day
commenced.
Passengers fought with each other
for life preservers and so panic
stricken did they become that when
the boats finally were docked some
men were found with life preservers
strapped to their legs as well as about
their bodies.
The landing of the party was one
of the most trying experiences No
lights are on Ripleys dock, which
was not designed for the convenience
of excursion crowds. The watchman
in charge brought six oil lanterns,
the crews of the boats we're able to
supply two more, and by the light OF
these eight oil lamps 1900 persons
finally got ashore and CROPPED their
wav through darkness to the street.
The committee in charge was John
D Hayes, James H. Kelly, Frank r.
THOMAS, P. j. Duggan and Harry D.
Hammond.
Say Storm Caused Trouble.
Most of those seen today declared
+he excursion would have passed off
all right but for the storm and that
no individual was to blame in any
way. That some of the big crowd lost
their heads during the unusual hap
nenings Of the day. was the most
common explanation.
John D. Hayes, chairman of the
committee, said:
1--WE are very sorry about the
drovning, but from all we can learn
NIr Dey continued to sit on the rail
after being warned not to do so. That
ana the wind and rain, the captain
said II was the most violent storm
while it lasted in his experience, gave
,,s a. rough day. but there was no dis
arder Of course there was confu-
sion as there always Is in a storm,
and some of the party came home by
train. but there was no trouble; that
is no disorder"
committeeman Tells of Trouble.
william M. Maloney, member OF
the Eagles on the excursion commit
zee stated that reports of disorder on
the steamer and barge had been ex-
7sReports Of disorder on the excur-
sion are greatly overdrawn. There
mas a little disturbance and two men
rad a fight, one striking another in
the. face. The disturbers were well