New-York tribune., 1921-03-28
Ferry Crashes
Into a Tanker
In Dense Fog
Entire Starboard Super
structure of the Queens
Swept Away in Collision;
None of IS Aboard Hurt
Panic Is Quickly Quelled
Alleged Negligence ON Part
of Grew of Rickfond Held
Responsible for Accident

While picking her way ia st. George,
S. l., through thick fog on the $50
a. M. trip from South Ferry yesterday,
the municipai ferryboat Queens crashed
into the stern of the Norwegian tanker
Rickfond, raking off in spiinters prac-
tically the entire starboard superstruc.
ture.
The collision occurred on the edge
OF the fairway q few hundred yards
below the Statue of Liberty. No one
was hurt and the Queens berthed safely
at st. George, but for a while the eighty
five passengers who were aboard were
badly frightened. The crashing of the
supsrstructure and the ripping off of q
lifeboat from the ferryboat's hurricane
deck caused panic of short duration.
1t was apparent few minutes after
the sideswiping that the Queens was
under control and not damaged below
the waterline, and order soon was re-
stored
The primary cause of the. collision was
the fog, but the proximity of the war
time anchorages which border too close
ly upon the fairway Of the upper bay
was blamed partly for the niskap. Az
legged negligence on the part of the mas
ter and crew OF the tanker also was hald
responsible by officials of the Depart
ment of Plant and Structure for the
mishap.
No Fog Bell Operating =
The Queens, which has been in more.
or less trouble throughout her career
In the municipal ferry service, left her
slip at Iouth Ferry In dense fog.
Captain Goetcher, her pilot, took her
out slowly and stecred his course by
compass for the run down to- ST.
George. He Strengthened out safely
after leaving his berth ana headed
straight on his course, sounding his
fog whistle at the regulation intervals.
at the west end of Governors Island
and no bell was operating on the
tanker Rickfond. The latter was an
chored within the boundaries of her
anchorage, but at the time of the col
lision, which was at slack water, she
slipped around and her stern projected
we'll out into the fairway. She was in
ballast and rode high in the water and
made an enormous target for the
Queens.
Captain Goetcher said that if the
Rickfond had sounded her fog bell he
would have been able to pass her safe
ly, but with nothing to warn him Of
her presence he drove into her at half
speed. The fog was so thick the pilot
said that he was on top of her before
he could reverse his engines or steer
clear
A subsequent investigation made by
Deputy Commissioner William W.
Mills revealed, it is alleged, that every
one aboard the tanker was asleep and
that the fog bell was not ringing be-
fore or at the time the Queens came
by.
The Queens struck the high-riding
stern OF the tanker with terrific force
the steel plates raking the ferryboat's
sunerstructure away and hurting it in
splinters into the bay.
IN the ferryboat's passenger COM
plement were about thirty women, but
they We're in the women's cabin on the
port side. They shrieked and ran on
deck, but were soon reassured by deck
hands that there was nothing to fear
and that they would be landed safely
in St. George.
Damage Put at $4,000 ~
The Queens was tied up at st.
George and will go to shipyard to-
day to make repairs, which will keep
her out of service for about two
months. Her place will be taken by the
ferryboat Mayor William j. Gaynor. A
rough survey of the damaged boat puts
the cost of repairs at about $4,000.
Grover Whalen, Commissioner Of
Plant and Structures, said yesterday
that he had frequently called to the at
tention of the War Department and the
Treasury Department the danger to
navigation caused by the maintenance
of the old wartime archorages, which,
he says, are too close to the fairway.
He said his requests were answered
by the statement that there was a con-
gestion of tonnage in the harbor and
that the areas of the anchorages were
necessary to handle the ships that
came to this port.