Year: 1876

THE STEAMSHIP NEW ORLEANS SINKS THE


SANDY HOOK PILOT BOAT CAPRICE.


Yesterday afternoon HERALD reporter paid visit
to the veteran Captain Dearborn steamship New
Orleans belonging to the Cromwell line which vessel
down and sank Sandy Hook pilot boat No Is, bot
ter known Caprice, yesterday ornng of Bay Ridge
L. /. Fortunately no lives were lost Captain Dear
born found in his cabin in the OF the pilot
house. The captain told the following story OF the
coison:--


This morning, shortly before daybreak and while it
still very dark, was the bridge of my vessel
and were all hands, keeping bright lookout Sud-
denly discovered green light about three points
the port side, ana then n red one. AS we'll as can
judge the vessel which the lights told n sailing
vessel, about 500 feet distant instantly gave
orders back and then stop the engines, which
done. In addition to this ordered
q number OF blasts to be gwen with the whistle TO
notify the ing craft that We we're in her immediate
proximity The sailing craft failed to fash white
light over her sde which duty do
ing to the rules of the road. She still toward
and bows, when the collision took
place. No shouting or calling out from her deck took
place till We struck her, which we did amidshps while
still backing. The crew then lowered their
boat and took them all on board. The vessel
TOO close my port bow for sarboard the helm
prevent the collision. The crew numbered five, to
the best OF my recollection They told me that the
vessel which they had just abandoned the Sandy
Hook pilot boat Caprice, No. 10; that they had put
all their pilots on vessels and returning
TO port While we were speaking the pilot boat
sank. think the time about ten minutes after
the collision. The hour when The accident happened
about half-past i've o'clock. | asked the ship
keeper. captain, If you choose, why he did bout
ship when he saw the steamers lights. He replied
that he thought were at anchor waiting for the
OF the Quarantine officials Others OF the crew told me
that they thought vessel tug boat and they
though; would give them tow up to tho city They
nearly all foreigners Germans and Danes and /
had great difficulty IN understanding them. My
impf esslon is that there only on deck
Keeping look out the others being tired and below
after their nights work IN bringing tho
vessel into port One Of the
Danish lad who had money, and who asked
for some to pay his ierry home and willingly gave
the poor lad what he asked me for did my best TO
have the othors made comfortable till reached
wharf, when they went ashore when the collision
took place we we're about quarter OF mile of the
Long Island shore and opposite, the Staten Island
shore, point drawn between the Quarantine estab-
lishmcnt at Clifton and the third Vanderbilt land
ing OF the Staten Island ferry When the collision
CURED were gong very slowly. am firmly OF the
opinion thai II there had been pilot on board the
sunken vessel the collision would not have happened.


shall mako report this morning OF the occurrence 20
the United States Local Inspectors of Steamships |
had been kept the pilot boat she
could have boutcd, and the Caprice would stn be
anoat. This is all the information give you
the subject and now want to go home to my family
and say how do you do aud good by for leave for
New Orleans again omorrow morning. We ought TO
have elt here last week. but several days overdue
account Of being detained at anchor of the bar at
Now Orleans, through the English steamship San
Marcus not being able cross IT, having to wait till
she had gone out


THE sUxKKS CRAFT.


The pilot boat Caprice built 1871 at East Bos
ton, for Mr.. McEnany and Others sandy Hoonpilots
OF this city. The following her principal dimcn-
sions:-Lcngth. so feet; breadth OF BEAM 20 feet and
fastened, and mcallcd in 1871 She was surveyed
by American Loyds, this city, October 1874 ana
tecmed as one OF the vessels IN the feet Of tho
Sandy HOOK pilot boats