Rensselaer Republican, Volume 12, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 July 1880 — HEARTRENDING. [ARTICLE]

HEARTRENDING.

The Direst Calavity Detreit Has Kmwu in Teton. Hew. Father A. F. Bleyeabergh •■4 HUAeaiytv ms Their A ■■■ml Pleasure • -4 Bide. An Ban Daws by the Steamer Garland, Hear Gravy lulaad Light -- „ : i Twain Bays aa4 Threw Ladies o Fat Eight Fsn#Bs Saved. Drraorr, July 88.—Detroit hu been wont to oougraoktie herself that, notwithstanding the great number of excursion boats running up and down the river dally and nightly, she hu enjoyed a happy immunity from the terrible calamities of Long Island Sound and the waters about New York, reports ot which have shockad the country. But lut night brought an awful repetition of the eastern horrors. A heavily loaded excursion steamer collided with a steam yacht at 10 o’clock last evening, and with the crashing of the frai 1 Umbers of the littie boat, fifteen soula sent up an agonizing prayer lor life, and then sank to untimely graves beneath the waters of the Detroit river. The steamer Fortune, having on board an exenraion giyen by the Wolverine boat club, reached the dock at the foot of Woodward avenue at 1 o’clock this morning, from Grosse lie, bringing new* of a dreadful disuter down tha river—the excursion steamer Garland having collided, shortly after 10 o’clock, with the steam Jacht Mamie, just below the Grassy Island ight The yacht being stove all in pieces, sank at once, and only eight were saved of the twenty three persons on board. The Mamie had on board a small excursion given by the Rev. Father Bleyenbergh, of Trinity church, to the altar boya of the church. The Garland picked up eight of the persona on board the Mamie, including Father Bleyenbergh, and proceeded to Grosse He, where the survivors were transferred to the steamer Fortune, which wu just behind the Garland, and which returned to Detroit, arriving with the sad news u above related. Father Bleyenbergh and the others who were saved immediately entered carriages, on the landing of the Fortune, and were driven to their homes. Aa the Fortune immediately unloaded her passengers and steamed sc roes the river, there was nothing for thb anxious little crowd assembled, at the wharf to do but wait the arrival of the Garland for the particulars of the most distressing calamity which hu occurred iu these waters for a long time. The Garland’s lights were visible down the river, and within twentyfive minutes after the landing of the For tune she wu made fut at the Woodward avenue wharf. A reporter at once began the tuk of Interviewing some of the excursionists on the Garland, which left this city at 8:30 o’clock lut evening, having on board about 1,000 persons, compnsing an excursion given by tha Molders’ union of this city. The Garland, with Uapt. George Horn in command, and Pilot H. W. Buff at the wheel, steamed directly .down the river tor Grosse He. The scene on the Garland wu one repeated almost every summer night of the year iu the City of the Btraita. The bright waters were aaucing in tha light of the full, round July moon, and on deck, where the brilliant electric light shone on hundreds ot happy faces, all wu mirth and jollity.

An hoar and a half rolled by, and the big steamer glided easily along, when a sharp whistle wu heard almost directly under the bows of the Garland. In leu than a minute a iruh followed the whistle. Then from mirth and gaiety the scene changed to one of distress and horror. Amid the snapping of crashing timbers, the groans ot the ponderous laboring enrioes were mingled with the despairing cries of drowning boys and women struggling in the water. As soon u the excursionists on the Garland comprehended the situation women shrieked and fainted, and all wu confusion on deck. But brave, strong men were there, and they did all they could to succor and save. The Garland’s life boat wu immediately lowered, life-preserver* and chairs were thrown into the water, and the river wu strewn with floating particles, but within three or four minutes the light little craft which but a short time before wu plowing the waters with its load of young life, had sunk beneath the wave. Out of life into eternity! Each fresh disaster sterns more awful than the preoeeding one. The shephered surrounded with his little flock emidst a merry, joyous, scene. But a moment sufficed to change it all. The pastor and seven others were uved, bat fifteen went oat “on that sea that rolls all round this world.” Three were women and twelve were boys—youths in their teens, full of the day’s delights, and doabtless even then framing the account which on the morrow they would give their parents of the happy day they spent. No time tor prayers—no time to utter the sacred name of mother. Five minutes sufficed for it all, and the moon shone coldly down on the cruel waters that gave back no answering look of pity, rolling on over the silent dead.

Capt. George Horn, on the arrival of the Garland, waa found pacing to and fro in front of the pilot house much agitated and greatly distressed. “The accident took place just below the Grassyflsland light,” said the captain. “It is pretty tough, I tell you. We did all we could; lowered the lite boat at once and manned it and threw out the life preservers. I think the Mamie must have been trying to cross our bow squarely, and that is the reason we struck her amidships. We were going down and she waa coming up. I was here near the wheel. She showed us nothing but a bright light. She gave one whistle under our bows and we immediately we red it and backed our engine.” H. W. Buff, the man at the wheel, said: “I saw a bright light some we got to the Mamie, a long distance, and I took it to be an anchor light. I had my wheel to leeward and was trying to keep away from it As we got between the two lights (the Grassy Island and the Mama Judaj I saw the anchor light, as I supposed it, still in our path. Tnere was no red light or green light which the Mamie should have carried. About fifty lest from our bow she blew one whistle. I answered it and immediately backed my engine and put my wheel hard a-port. I called CapL Horn to come and help me at the wheel, and he did. We picked up four in our life-boat and Father Bleyenbergh and three others jumped on the Garland from the deck of the Mamie.” Thomas Kagan with three others of the Garland crew entered the life-boat and Picked up tour of the boys. He says the Mamie sank almost immediately. I left the city, yesterday morning, on the steam yacht Mamie, to give my altar boys their annual excursion, going to Monroe. We had on board sixteen boys, four ladies, the captain, engineer and myself, twenty-three in all. Arriving it Monroe, we passed the dsy pleasantly end shortly after Bo'clock in thTaftlJ: noon started for home.

When about half way between tha Grassy Island and Mama Joda lights, I aaw the stfimrr Garland coming down the river, and, following behind, the ■teamer Fortune. At that time-the moon wu ablating brightly, and we could see in any direction nearly u far u In daylight. The ladiee and myself; the captain and engineer and two or three of the boy* were outside of our cabin, while the net of the boys were in the cabin. Aatha Garland neared us I remarked to the ladies: “That boat is coming unpleasantly near to ns.** The next instant I saw that there .wu going to be a collision, and cried; “She Is going to ran into us. Come forward quickly!” As I spoke I sprang to the bow of the yacht, followed by Miss Duaseau. Ido not believe it was thirty seconds from the time I first spoke to the time I sprang to the bow or the yacht, for the Garland wu going very rapidly, and came upon us like the wind. When I reached the bow of the yacht Miss Duseeau wu at my side and we wen just In time to get hold of ropee hanging over the guards of the Garland. The next instant I felt a shock, heard a crash. While Mias Duseeau wu helped aboard the Garland by some man, I climbed up the rope to the deck. Instantly Iran across the deck to the other ride ot the boat, expecting to see some es my petty straggling in the water. When 1 got there I saw the sinking wreck of the Mamie just disappearing under the bows of the Fortune, while I uw four or five persons struggling in the water. Meanwhile the Garland’s engines had been stopped and there wu a terrible scene on board. People not knowing the nature of the calamity were putting on life preservers. Mixing floats and screaming. Ladies were fainting and men were shouting with fear. Soon, however, the real condition or affairs were ascertained, lire preservers were thrown overboard, a life boat wu lowered a wsy and manned, and, in fact, everything possible wu done to save any persona who might be found. Only six persons were picked up and it it my opinion that the poor boys died together in the cabin, as the boys saved say that they escaped by crawling through the cabin windows.

i do not think the Mamie wu two minutes in sinking out of sight I do not feel certain enough to state,but I know when I first saw the Garland and the Fortnne they were both going very swiftly and I know when I got aboard the Garland, and the passengers wen screaming,and shouting to the Fortune to stop,that boat did not slacken her speed, but passed on, with her passengers cheering u though in answer to what they aupposed wu applause from us. Whether the boats were racing I do not know. , In answer to the question: “Were theie any whittles sounded t” Father Bleyenbergh ana wered: “Yes, both boats blew whittles before the colllaloa.’’ He could not tell, however, which whistle sounded flret or how many bluts were given by either whistle. *lll6 Mamie at the time of the collision wu going up stream and could not have been making more than six or eight miles an hoar. “I do not know where the blame belongs, but there wu terrible carelessness on the part of some one.”

Several times during the interview Father Bleyenbergh, who wu very much overcome by his awful experience, wu required to assuage the grief of Mias Dusseau, who lost a sitter (the wife of the engineer) by the disuter, while all through the house were sobbing servants and assistant priests, going about with team streaming down their cheeks. Father Bleyeabergh repeatedly asserted thuat the time of the collision the moon wa» shining very brightly, and that he and his companions saw tne Garland, the Fortune ana other boats many minutes before the fatal meeting. Appended are lists of the unfortunate persons who lost their lives, and of the persons uved: Frank Nolon, son of Lawrence Nolon, No. 297 Laiayette avenue. John Howe, son of Peter Howe, of Abbott street. • David Barry, son of David Bar ry, of Abbott street. John Donnovan, son of Daniel Donnovan, of No. 290 Abbott street Willie Cuddy and David Cuddy, sons of Patrolman Cuddy, of Fourth street, near Grand River avenue. Jobfi Cosgrove, sen of Wm. Cosgrove, of Michigan avenue. James Toomey, son of Daniel Toomey, No. 118 Labroase street.

. Joseph Monaghan, son of the late Jo. seph Monaghan, of High street, west. John Kelly and Thomu Kelly, sons of John Kelly. National avenue. Andrew Doran, son of Thomu Doran, of Labrosse street

Liszie Murphy and Mary Hahn, domestics at Father fileyenbergh’s residence. Mrs. Mary Martin, wife of Fred Martin, engineer of the Mamie. Rev. Father A. F. Bleyenbergh, of Holy Trinity church. Miss Lizzie Dusseau, of Monroe. Capt. Hoffman, of the Mamie.' Eoginer Fred Martin, of the Mamie. Rlchaid Aylward, James Ward, John Dwyer and Wm. Crowley, alter boys. The boystibove named ranged from 11 to 16 yean of age, and were bright, happy lads, chosen for their aptneu, grace ana manliness to positions of honor in the church of their parents, making the tuk of notifying the parents of the horrible blow which had befallen them all the more painful for the clergymen. The duty had to be done, however, and wu done by pneats who came from all parts of the city. The scenes witnessed by the messengers of the sad news may never be known and cannot possibly be realized. At 8 o’clock this morning it wu discovered that Tommy McLogan, son of Anthony McLogan, wu among the parte of acolyts, and Is among the missing. This increases the total number lost to sixteen tools.

About half-past 8 o’clock this morning a tug boat with James Quinn, the submarine direr, and a number of the parents of the drowned boys, started for the scene of she disaster, hoping to be able to recover some or all of the bodies. Diraorr, July 18.—Fuller details of the sceident on the river last night do not essentially alter the general facts already telegraphed. Peisons on the Garland claim that the right of way belonged to her, as she was going down stream and a larger boat The Mamie, they say, came straight towards the Garland, signaling that she would psss to the left by s blast of her whistle, to which the Garland responded. Neither apparently changed their coarse until the Mamie was almost under the bow of the Gailand, when the Mamie's pilot threw his whesl and the swung directly across the stream, and presented a broadside to the Garland. In this position the latter struck her squarely, just aftof the pilot louse, crushing in her aide and submerging her whole forward part Before they struck the Garland stopped her engine but did not reverse. She was apparently going at nearly her full rate or speed at the moment of the collision. When the two vessels struck they clung together for a moment or two ana the pilot of the Mamie and one or two passengers clambered on board the Garland, with assistance. The Garland then began to back, and the two vessels separated. The Mamie drifted down the stream, her forward part submerged or entirely carried away, but her stern out of water. She sank entirely out of sight in about ten minutes. In addition to the names of the lost already sent, it is ascertained that a boy, named John Oreaeri, was drowned. Search to-day, fhiled to find the wreck of the sunken yacht. No bodies have been recovered. An Investigation has been ordered by the local board of steamboat inspectors. which will probably begin to-morrow.