Year: 1875

Mr. oARSER's AND CAPTAIN WINTERS ACCOUNT
OF THE COLLISION.


collision occurred between the schooner yacht
Mohawk and the steamer John Gibson a little below
the Narrows on Saturday night resulting in consider
able damage to both vessels The yacht coming up
toward Staten Island while the steamer on her way
to Georgetown having left her pier foot of Pike street.
about an hour and a half before the collision
GARxERs STORY.


The story OF tho accident told by the owner OF
the Mohawk Mr. Garner varies considerably from that
given by the officers Of the John Gibson The Mohawk
had been down short sail TO the Horseshoe and
among those on board, whom the collision occurred
were Mr.. Frank osgood, Mr.. Barry, Commodore
Garner, MT Pendleton and others The MohawK had
been accompanied down 10 the Hook by the yacht
Esteie and Captain Comstock, the sailing master OF
the Mohawa, below lying down when the
the bows Of his boat The accident
occurred between six and seven O'Clock Saturday
evening, when the yacht about to enter the Mar
rows The Mohawk was steering fair for tho middle
ground Of tho Narrows and quite q gale blowing
the yacht then travelling the OF eight knots an
hour The steamer coming out Of tho Narrows in
the Long Island shore nearly abreast Of Fort Lafay
otte The Mohawk had her mainsaii and two jihs up
and without any foresa the sheets started easily
the mainsheei all out heading up toward the Narrows





steamer, SO Mr. Garner states, and the steamer
FIRST Fort Lafayette coming out
by those board OF the Mohawk including Mr. osgood
and Mr. Barry, who were standing at the bow the
steamer showing green light nrst Tho Mohawk kept
straight on her course and the steamer was next seen
heading across the Mohavkis bow 70 leeward and
within very short distance Of the yacht The crew
Of the Mohawk shouted ffom the watch forward thai
steamer was bearing down on the yacht and within
less than minutes time the bow OF the steamer shot
across tho bow Of the Mohawk the yacht going at such
steamer could 'S no. G cier hcr though % shs sas
sheered OF 20 the westward Tho jibboom OF the Mo-
hawk entered The foro shrouds OF The steamer and thus
the force Of the collision drove tho John Gibson TO
windward After the collision the vessels separated
and the Mohawk carried away with her as trophy
carriage wheel The bowspriL iibboom head gear and
all the fore iron work OF the Mohawk were carried
away, the damage being about 81 200 and week s de-
lay in repairing viii be necessary shortest TO pre-
pare her for work The masts were saved from going
overheard by the aid OF forc stay that had been pat IN
the day before the Mohawk The yacht drcd after the
collision rapidly in the direction OF the Long Island
shore The head rigging Of the yacht having been
cleared away by the crew, she was enabled 10 drop
anchor in time TO prevent her going ashore, after
which she was towed TO North Seventh street williams
burg. by towboat where she now lies with the work
men hammering away At her wounds. Mr.. Garner docs
express any opinion against the people on board OF
the steamer but thinks that thev took the Mohawk for


coastng schooner and therefore did not calculate for


rim sfkKAB0Ar cAPrAN's STORY


The story told by the captain Of the steamer, w. II.
Winters throws all the blame on the yacht He states
that his vessel, which belongs 70 the Georgetown,
Alexandra and Washington Steamship Companys hue
started from pier Il East River at half past 1--WE NJ
on Saturday, for Georgetown d. C. Al ten minutes 10
seven the vessel was about three quarters OF a mile
below the Narrows when schooner sighted head
ing northward, showing both her lights Tie
schooner was coming up with free wind,
which was at the time blowing from the
west When the approaching schooner
first noticed the steamers helm was ported and the
red light the schooner fully brought % the
view of those board the steamer 1t being intended
that the steamers red light should also be fully
shown to those on the schooner Whom the approach
ing vessel abreast OF the steamers fore rigging she
hauled up the wind, putting her wheel hard 10
board, and ran into the steamer about mdships Tho
steamer was going due south When the schooner was
seen hauling up TO the wind one blast Of the whistle
was blown, and the steamers wheel was put hard
aport and so kept until she struck Captain Win
ters was standing in the pilot house at tho time VI the
collision The steamer was cut down on The port side
amdshps within four inches Of the waters edge; four
or hvo Of tho frames We're carried away,
well as fo13fecn feet Of the deck house; tho
steeraS gear was all smashed and the captain buried
p5 ruins About sixty feet Of the railing netting and
bulwarks were also swept away It all occurred in q
few seconds said the captain, land when got OF
the rubbish the schooner out Of sight, The dam.
TO the steamer is estimated at about 81 900 Those
board the steamer did not know what struck her
until next day when portion OF the ngurchead OF the
coiding yacht was found the deck and recognized
by Captain Winters as belonging 70 the Mohawk Amer
the collision relieving tackles put the steamers
she returned 70 her dock about midnight
Her cargo, which shows through hor
side, where the outside planking has been driven
in upward Of foot consisted OF assorted mcr.
chandse IL Will be removed and the vessel laid up for
repairs The Captain says the going Al the
rate OF nine knots an hour, and from the force with
which she was struck he thinks the yacht must have
been running nearly double that OF speed The
steamer is $50 feet long % feet beam and IL feet depth
OF hold and has been nine engaged In tho south
ern trade during which time Captain Winters has
manded her.


The Captain of the steamer considers his escape al
most miraculous