New-York tribune., 1918-04-26
ST. Paul Sinks
AT Pier; Cause
Still Unknou,r,
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Continued from page
New York Navy Yarls. Several explana.
tions were offered. One was that or
the trip from the Erie Basin to the
north River pier the ships scacocks
might have been opened, either acci.
dentally or by design. Officers of the
Robbins Drydock and Repair Company
where the st. Paul had been undergoing
repairs, stated all the seacocks were
closed when the ship left. Another re-
port stated that the water had found
it's way into the hold through an open
ash port.
Another explanation, which was sup
ported by experienced marine men, was
that the ship on being warped into the
pier by lines from the dock, assisted by
tugs pushing, listed so far that water
entered open coal ports There was an
ebb tide at the time the St. Paul was
maneuvring for the slip. which may
further have assisted in giving the
liner, which was light, such a heavy list
that it toppled over. No statement or
explanation was issued by the naval
authorities.
A number of men were questioned by
Admiral Gleaves and other naval Off
GERS. Several men were detained on
the pier.
Men Leaped to Safety
The st. Paul was in command of
Captain A. R. Mills, and it was due to
his coolness, the discipline of the
crew and bravery of the workmen,
that the strange accident did not be-
come a tragedy. When it became ap-
parent that the ship would turn over,
Captain Mills commanded the men to
jump to the deck of the tug along
side
Others ieaped into the river, SWIM
ming to the piers, or jumped down on
the pier platform toward which the
liner was listing, and ran into the
shed before the upper structure crash
ed down. Some clung to objects on the
starboard side of the vessel and did
not even get wet.
According to the American Line of
ficials, there were about 372 men
aboard. In addition to the 1877 men,
bers of the crew there was gun crew
OF 70 United States sailors, and $50
workmen: The workmen were busy at
their tasks when the alarm was sound
cd. They rushed TO the decks where
most of the crew and the members of
the naval detachment were getting
ready to jump for their lives.
Employees on the dock observed the
liner listing and sent out an alarm.
Within few minutes two police boats
and two tireboats appeared, and as a
precautionary measure Engine Com
pany and Truck ~ were sent 20 Pier
61 in case Of fire.
Pier Closely Guarded
Captain Godfrey c. Garden in COM
mand of the Port of New York. sent a
revenue cutter with fifty men under
Lieutenant Jesse Glover. In addition
to this force, police reserves under
Captain Du Bois, of the West Twen-
tleth Street station, were soon on hand.
few minutes after the accident the
Waterfront in the neghborhood was
guarded by Gordon of naval reserves s
and policemen, in addition to the reru-
lar waterfront guard and the curious
throngs were unable to get within two
blocks of the pier.
A numb ber of the men received minor
injuries IN making their escape. -Four
were attended by DR.. Nelson, of the
New York Hospital. They were:
William CRAY. twenty-five years old.
Toledo and Jennings Streets, Elm
hurst, special detective employed by
the American Line; both hands lacer.
ated.
Frank Greene, forty-three wears old
389 Butler Street, Brooklyn, special de-
tectlve of the American Line; abra-
slons about the head.
Joseph Ascersio, thirty-two years
old, boiler scraper, 145 THOMPSON
Street; right hand laceratcd.
pietro Spotso, thirty-onc years old.
boiler scraper, 62 Thompson Street:
contusions about the head.
Three Ship Cats Saved
The accident was not without it's
human touch. Two galley workers
William Teasdalc and John Scarbor,
ough, were on deck when the shin
began to keel over. They saw Others
leaping to safety and we're about to
follow when they recalled that the
Two men risked their lives to rescue
the pets.
Inc first conflicting reports of the
accident compounded various rumors
OF disaster, in which the number of
dead was put as high as twenty. caus
ing great excitement along the water
front. "'''e'
After the ship had kcclcd over il
.ontinaed TO settle in the muddy bot
tom OF the slip for more than three
hours. During the afternoon the gray
huik from bow to stern could be seen
by passengers on the fcrryboats. IT
was reported that two Of the missing
men we're imprisoned within the shin
Whiic one man had been caught under
the vessel.
Merritt & Chapman Derrick and
Wrccking Company's crews arrived in
the afternoon 20 raise the ship 1t vas
sa'd the steamer could be raised in
lsw damamoy "ay.' h. ana that comparatively small