Take the Money and Run: Pelham Town Supervisor Sherman T. Pell and the Worst Political and Financial Scandal in Pelham History

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Small town scandals inevitably set small town tongues wagging.  Pelham tongues were wagging from Pelhamville to City Island during the spring and summer of 1893.  Democrat Sherman T. Pell, who had just completed seven years of service as Town Supervisor but recently had been defeated in his bid for reelection, had disappeared.  So too, it seems, had much of the Town’s money.  Rumors swirled.  Pell was on the run.  Pell was in Pittsburgh.  He was in Florida.  He was in South America. 

This is the sad story of the worst political and financial scandal in Pelham history.  It involved Sherman T. Pell who took the money and ran. 

Background 

Sherman T. Pell was a son of Samuel Pell.  Samuel Pell, in turn, was a descendant of John Pell, so-called Second Lord of the Manor of Pelham (the first of the Pell family to reside, permanently, in the Manor of Pelham).  According to one account, by 1850 Samuel Pell lived on City Island in the Town of Pelham working as an oysterman.  Known as “Captain Pell”, he married Elizabeth Scofield and built a Second Empire style home that still stands at 586 City Island Avenue.  The couple had twelve children including Sherman T. Pell, the oldest son (born in 1853).  

The Samuel Pell House that Still Stands at 586 City Island Avenue,

Built in About 1876.  NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

It is believed that before his marriage Sherman T. Pell lived for a short time in the Samuel Pell House after it was built in about 1876.[1] Shortly after Samuel Pell built his beautiful home, Sherman T. Pell married Alzina Aurelia Rowland.  The couple had two children.

Detail from a Samuel Pell Family Photograph Showing a Young

Sherman T. Pell Standing Behind His Mother, Elizabeth Scofield

Pell, at About the Age of Fourteen.  This May Be the Only Surviving

Photograph of Sherman T. Pell.  NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

As a young man, Sherman T. Pell worked as a “provision merchant” in the South Street Seaport.[2]   His firm, Seymour & Pell located at 237 Front Street in New York City, seems to have run into some difficulty in 1883.  In an account entitled “Business Embarrassments”, The New York Times reported: 

“Bradford S. Seymour and Sherman T. Pell, comprising the firm of Seymour & Pell, wholesale provision-dealers at No. 237 Front-street, made an assignment yesterday to Henry C. Henderson, giving a preference to [Sherman Pell’s father] Samuel Pell for $7,807.15.  They succeeded J. W. Norris & Co., in September, 1879”[3] 

According to another account, thereafter Sherman Pell “entered the real estate business.”[4] 

Sherman Pell Enters Pelham Politics 

Sherman Pell reportedly was popular in Pelham.  People remarked that he carried the town “in his pocket.”[5]   In 1885, Pell ran as a Democrat against Republican Robert H. Scott for Town Supervisor of Pelham.  The election was a close one.  Scott beat Pell by ten votes.[6] 

The following year, Sherman Pell ran once again against Republican Robert H. Scott for Town Supervisor.  The election was even closer than the previous one.  On March 30, 1886, Sherman Pell won the election by a single vote, but not without the shadow of scandal. 

Pell’s Republican opponent announced that he intended to contest the election.  He alleged that Democrats had imported non-resident paupers from Hart Island to vote for Pell.  According to one account, Scott said he would contest the election results “on the ground that 25 persons who voted for Mr. Pell were brought over from Hart’s Island, and that two-thirds of them were New-York paupers having no right to vote.”[7] 

Election authorities declared Pell the winner of the 1886 election.  Pell then worked tirelessly to consolidate his political power.

The Postmaster Flap 

Soon Sherman T. Pell became known as “The little Democratic Napoleon of Pelham.”[8]   He called in political favors and had himself appointed as local postmaster by the Democrat Grover Cleveland administration after he worked tirelessly toward Cleveland’s first term victory.[9] 

The ham-handed way Pell gained the postmaster’s position and its $1,600 salary (about $56,000 in today’s dollars) upset most of the Town of Pelham.  At the time, the acting postmaster was a popular City Island resident named James Hyatt.  According to one news report, in seeking the appointment, Pell called in favors owed him by ex-Assemblyman Billy Catlin of Rye who was well-known to President Cleveland and had done him “valuable service.”[10] 

When Pelhamites learned what Pell was trying to do, they circulated a petition opposing Pell’s appointment and asking that the acting postmaster, James Hyatt, be appointed permanently.  According to one report, 190 of the 238 voters on City Island signed the petition.[11] 

The petition was presented to the Grover Cleveland administration.  Cleveland promptly appointed Sherman T. Pell as postmaster, effectively ending James Hyatt’s employment.  Pelhamites were “indignant at the insult which the President has put upon them by his deliberate disregard of their wishes.”[12] 

Not long afterward, another local dispute foreshadowed what was to come.  Sick of Pell’s heavy-handed tactics, Town officials began calling for an investigation of him in 1890.  A New York City newspaper, writing of the dispute, stated: 

“Justice of the Peace John P. Hawkins accused Supervisor Sherman T. Pell of trying to ‘boss’ the town, of mismanaging its finances, failing to report his transactions to the Justices, and acting generally in so negligent a way that the tax rate has been raised very materially.”[13] 

A group of Pelham residents decided to act.  Twenty-five of them filed a special petition to commence a proceeding before New York Supreme Court Justice Bartlett seeking “a summary investigation of the financial affairs” of the Town on the grounds that “public moneys are being unlawfully and corruptly expended.”[14] Justice Bartlett promptly dismissed the proceeding, finding that the petition was based on mere rumors and lacked the factual allegations necessary to support entry of an order directing an investigation of Town of Pelham finances.[15] 

Sherman Pell had defeated his opponents again.  That said, local residents were sniffing around the edges of his administration and Town finances.  Pell, however, was emboldened.  He sued one of the principal proponents of the petition, John F. Scheller of City Island, for defamation, seeking $10,000 in damages.[16] 

First the provisioning business failure, then allegations of voting fraud, then calling in political favors to destroy a man’s livelihood for his own benefit, claims that Pell acted as a Democrat “Boss” who was mismanaging Town finances, failing to report financial transactions, and driving up the Town tax rate, and now a court proceeding asking for a financial investigation of Pell – what might be next?  Pelham soon would learn. 

The 1893 Town Supervisor Election 

For the next couple of years, Pell secured successive, close (and some would say “suspect”) reelections to retain his position as Town Supervisor.[17]   In 1893, however, Pell faced stiff competition in his reelection bid from Republican William McAllister.  The 1893 Town Supervisor election turned out to be Pelham’s own version of the hanging chad dispute that marked the 2000 U.S. presidential election. 

On Tuesday, March 28, voters in Pelham went to the polls to choose between Pell and McAllister.  Early the next morning, The New York Times reported that Democrat Sherman T. Pell had won the election.[18] 

The following day, however, the Times retracted its report, saying “William McAllister, Republican, was elected in the town of Pelham, instead of Sherman T. Pell, Democrat.”[19]   Subsequent reports indicated that on election night, “the count showed that Mr. McAllister had been successful by a narrow margin of two or three votes."[20]   Pell demanded a recount. 

Two constables reportedly guarded the ballots for nearly a week “to prevent their being tampered with.”[21]   On April 6 a recount gave Sherman T. Pell an incredible sixty-five vote lead.  According to one account: 

“An examination of the ballots to-day showed that the apparent majority of Mr. McAllister had been caused by an error on the part of some of the Inspectors.  In many cases the Inspector in detaching the numbered stubs had failed to follow the scored line, and in this way had torn into the tickets and thus cut off Mr. Pell’s name.  The recount gives Mr. Pell a majority over Mr. McAllister of sixty-five votes.”[22] 

Pelham Republicans cried foul and demanded another recount.  When the Town Board (led by Sherman T. Pell) refused, the Republicans applied to New York Supreme Court Justice Jackson O. Dykman (also known as J. O. Dykman) in White Plains for an order directing such a recount.  Justice Dykman issued the order, but four members of the Town Board still refused to conduct the recount:   Sherman T. Pell, John P. Hawkins, Charles Wand, and Ethan Waterhouse.[23] 

Justice Dykman had a simple solution to the standoff.  He imposed $250 fines against each of the four men, held them in contempt of court, sentenced them to imprisonment for thirty days in the county jail and issued arrest warrants to be executed by the Sheriff.[24]   Soon the Republican candidate, McAllister, was declared the winner. 

It turned out that there was a significant reason that Pell had orchestrated such a vigorous scam to retain his elected position.  He had been engaged in a fraud involving Town funds for years.  The jig was up.

Where Is Mr. Pell? 

In early May, William McAllister called on ex-Supervisor Pell and asked for the Town’s account books and moneys.  According to McAllister, “Mr. Pell then stated that he would deliver all books, vouchers, and moneys to me on Thursday, May 18.”[25] 

McAllister dutifully appeared on Mr. Pell’s doorstep on May 18.  McAllister later told one reporter: 

“’his wife informed me that he had sent her a message from New-York City by his brother, Henry Pell, stating that he was compelled to go to Pittsburg on business and thus could not keep his appointment with me.  I have called at Mr. Pell’s residence every day this week, and his wife has stated to me that she had received no word from her husband, and that she did not know where he was.  I hope Mr. Pell will return and thus put an end to the various ugly rumors that have been put in circulation.  If he does not return we will be compelled to take legal measures.  What these measures will be I cannot say, as the matter is now in the hands of my counsel, Martin J. Keogh.’”[26] 

Ex-Supervisor Pell had provided a $10,000 bond in support of the good faith discharge of his fiduciary duties as Town Supervisor.  There were several additional bondsmen including his father, Samuel Pell.[27]   Soon the additional bondsmen wished they had never agreed to bond Sherman Pell’s performance of his duties.  Indeed, Samuel Pell eventually was required to sell his house as a consequence of his son's dishonesty.

The newly-installed Town Board tried its best to audit Sherman T. Pell’s accounts.  Initially the Board concluded “there was an apparent balance of moneys in his hands of $1,700.”[28]   According to one report: 

“Nobody knows where that money is, nor does anybody know where Mr. Pell is.  He has been away from home for several days, and his counsel is reported to have said that he is in Florida looking after legal matters connected with the Carll estate which have arisen through a recent decision of the Court of Appeals giving a grant of land under water. In the absence of the ex-Supervisor’s books it is impossible to say how much he has taken in since his account was audited and how much he ought to turn over to his successor.  He officially receives the taxes collected by the Receiver of the town, back taxes, excise moneys &c.  The amount is variously estimated at from $8,000 to $10,000. It is not supposed that the town will lose anything, even if Mr. Pell is unable to meet the demands made upon him by the Town Board, as one of his bondsmen is James Hyatt, a wealthy City Island butcher.  Mr. Hyatt was Mr. Pell’s predecessor in office. [sic]”[29] 

Another report indicated that an audit of Pell’s accounts on March 27, 1893 showed a cash balance remaining in his hands of $8,585, but it was believed that “the total at this date will considerably exceed that sum.”[30] 

Little did they know the extent of Sherman T. Pell’s defalcations.

The Scandal Grows Darker 

By June 10, 1893, the extent of Pell’s scheme was becoming clearer.  For years Pell had executed notes on behalf of the Town, forged the signature of the Town Clerk, and sold the forged bonds on Wall Street to obtain funds ostensibly on behalf of the Town.  According to a variety of reports, in this fashion he raised amounts that totaled between $30,000 and $100,000.[31]   All of the money – and Pell – remained missing.  Moreover, Sherman T. Pell left his wife behind.  He also left his father, Samuel, and his brother, Percy, holding the bag.  They were two of his bondsmen who had provided $10,000 bonds to secure the honest performance of Sherman Pell’s duties as Town Supervisor. 

Pell’s scheme was devilishly simple.  State law at the time required the collectors of taxes in the various Towns of Westchester County to provide Town Supervisors with a sworn statement of unpaid taxes owed by Town taxpayers.  On or before May 1 each year, each Town Supervisor was authorized “to borrow, upon the credit of the town, a sum not exceeding the amount of the unpaid taxes” reported by the collector for use of the Town.[32]   Pell dutifully arranged for such borrowings from a single bank each year with the full knowledge and participation of the Town Clerk.  However, he also went to other banks and presented multiple sets of forged “certificates” for the same authorized amounts of unpaid taxes (i.e., municipal bonds) that he sold to different banks to avoid detection.  In this fashion he collected tens of thousands of dollars about which no one in Pelham knew until it was too late. 

As things turned out, Pell’s house of cards had begun to collapse more than a year before he lost the election in March 1893.  Broadway Savings Institution of the City of New York acquired seven of the forged notes.  In February 1892, the bank commenced an action against the Town of Pelham seeking $6,800 payment on the seven notes.  The summons in the action reportedly was served on then Supervisor Pell, but he “put in no defense and judgment was taken against the town by default and was entered April 2, 1893.”[33] 

These seven notes were not the only ones Pell had forged.  By June 10, the Town of Pelham was aware of seven additional notes held by Broadway Savings Institution of the City of New York totaling an additional $7,600.  Other banks in Westchester County held even more such notes.  As The New York Times reported on June 11, 1893, “the financial affairs of the town are beginning to look worse than most of the townsfolk had expected.”[34] 

Supervisor McAllister was the first to discover the extent of Pell’s scheme.  Shortly after he became Town Supervisor, he learned of the default judgment entered against the Town.  He obtained copies of the notes and viewed the originals in the bank’s possession.  He arranged for the bank to show the original notes to the Town’s counsel and to the Town Clerk who confirmed that the “signatures” were forgeries.[35] 

Lawsuits Fly 

The Town of Pelham applied to New York Supreme Court to set aside the default judgment entered against it on the grounds that the notes were unlawfully issued and that the Town Clerk’s countersigning signatures were forgeries.  The Court set aside the default judgment and reopened the case for further proceedings.[36] 

The bank, in turn, commenced at least one additional lawsuit against the Town of Pelham on the seven additional notes.[37]   Other banks sued to recover on other notes.  In late July or early August 1893, the Town of Pelham filed a civil action against Sherman T. Pell, Samuel Pell and Percy W. Pell to recover on the $10,000 bond.[38] 

Bondsman Samuel Pell, Sherman’s father, saw the handwriting on the wall.  He sold his home to one of his daughters shortly before the Town of Pelham sued him on the bond.  According to one account: 

“On June 30th [1893], a little over a month before the Town of Pelham brought suit against him and Percy for $10,000, Samuel Pell sold [his house on City Island] and the lots on the west side of Main Street to his daughter Lydia Scofield, who had inherited considerable property from her late husband and had developed an extensive and successful real estate business.”[39] 

Initially, a verdict was rendered against the Town of Pelham finding the Town liable to Broadway Savings Institution of the City of New York to pay off seven notes worth $7,600, $85 interest and an additional $250 “allowance.”[40]   An appellate court quickly overturned that decision, directing that a new trial be held.[41] 

Things got even more interesting when New York City annexed portions of Pelham including City Island in 1895.  New York City assumed the “debts” represented by the forged bonds and took over the defense of the actions by the Broadway Savings Institution and several other savings banks seeking payment on the notes.  According to a report published in 1898, the case was tried before Justice Smith of the New York Supreme Court in the spring of 1898 and a verdict was rendered in favor of the City.[42]   This meant the banks would have to bear the losses.

Conclusion 

Sherman T. Pell, as they say, was never heard from again.  A news account published years later in 1906 claimed that Pell was “said to have died in South America a few years later, a penniless tramp.”[43]   Other accounts suggest that he fled to Florida though nothing more was heard of him.[44] Sherman Pell's wife, Alzina Aurelia Rowland Pell, soon moved to Brooklyn, then to Belvedere, California, and died in Los Angeles in 1929.  Census records for the intervening years before her death list her as a "widow."

Captain Samuel Pell, Sherman Pell’s proud father who had been forced to sell his beloved home on City Island, died in 1894 shortly after the scandal broke.[45]   Pelham weathered the defalcations and dishonesty of Sherman T. Pell, apparently without serious financial loss.  But the scheme did have an impact on Pelham.  Among other things, construction of the original firehouse located in Pelhamville (on Fifth Avenue on today’s parking lot next to the present firehouse) was delayed until early 1895 because another appropriation had to be made and levied in taxes due to financial uncertainties created by the scandal.[46]

ENDNOTES

[1] New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission, Samuel Pell House, 586 City Island Avenue, Borough of the Bronx, Built c. 1876,  p. 3 (Oct. 29, 2002) < http://s-media.nyc.gov/agencies/lpc/lp/2115.pdf > (visited Nov. 23, 2019). 

[2] Id. 

[3] Business Embarrassments, N.Y. Times, Apr. 14, 1883, Vol. XXXII, No. 9861, p. 8, col. 2 < https://www.newspapers.com/image/20489199/ > (visited Nov. 23, 2019).  See also Business Troubles, The Brooklyn Union [Brooklyn, NY], Apr. 19, 1883, Vol. XX, No. 183, p. 1, col. 8 < https://www.newspapers.com/image/541840896/ > (visited Nov. 23, 2019). 

[4] Samuel Pell House, supra, n.1, p. 3. 

[5] No Tidings Yet of Mr. Pell, N.Y. Times, May 28, 1893, Vol. XLII, No. 13,029, p. 9, col. 7 < https://www.newspapers.com/image/20536988/ > (visited Nov. 23, 2019). 

[6] City and Suburban News – Westchester County, N.Y. Times, Apr. 2, 1885, p. 8, col. 5 < https://www.newspapers.com/image/20355513/ > (visited Nov. 23, 2019). 

[7] Westchester County, N.Y. Times, Apr. 3, 1886, Vol. XXXV, No. 10,791, p. 8 col. 3 < https://www.newspapers.com/image/20503908/ > (visited Nov. 23, 2019). 

[8] City Island, The Daily Argus [Mount Vernon, NY], Dec. 16, 1892, p. 1, col. 7 < https://fultonhistory.com/Newspaper%2018/Mount%20Vernon%20NY%20Daily%20Argus/Mount%20Vernon%20NY%20Daily%20Argus%201892/Mount%20Vernon%20NY%20Daily%20Argus%201892%20-%200853.pdf  > (visited Nov. 23, 2019). 

[9] National Capital Notes, Democrat and Chronicle [Rochester, NY], Apr. 19, 1888, p. 1, cols. 4-5 < https://www.newspapers.com/image/135100307/ > (visited Nov. 23, 2019); Lord Pell’s Descendant Gets an Office, The Evening World [NY, NY], Apr. 19, 1888, Evening Edition, p. 1, col. 3 < https://www.newspapers.com/image/50639419/ > (visited Nov. 23, 2019). 

[10] City Island’s “Reform” Postmaster, New-York Tribune, May 4, 1888, Vol. XLVIII, No. 15,146, p. 10, col. 3 < https://www.newspapers.com/image/85633796/ > (visited Nov. 23, 2019). 

[11] Id. 

[12] Id. 

[13] Pelham’s Little Row, The Sun [NY, NY], May 23, 1890, Vol. LVII, No. 265, p. 2, col. 5 < https://fultonhistory.com/Newspaper%209/New%20York%20NY%20Sun/New%20York%20NY%20Sun%201890%20Feb-July%20Grayscale/New%20York%20NY%20Sun%201890%20Feb-July%20Grayscale%20-%201382.pdf > (visited Nov. 23, 2019). 

[14] Pelham Won’t Be Investigated, The Brooklyn Daily Times [Brooklyn, NY], Aug. 20, 1890, p. 1, col. 8 < https://www.newspapers.com/image/555837424/ > (visited Nov. 23, 2019). 

[15] Id. 

[16] Campaign Lies and Libels, The Standard Union [Brooklyn, NY], Apr. 3, 1891, Vol. XXVIII, No. 7, p. 2, col. 4 < https://www.newspapers.com/image/542270223/ > (visited Nov. 23, 2019). 

[17] See Barr, Lockwood, A BRIEF,  BUT MOST COMPLETE & TRUE ACCOUNT OF THE SETTLEMENT OF THE ANCIENT TOWN OF PELHAM WESTCHESTER COUNTY, STATE OF NEW YORK KNOWN ONE TIME WELL & FAVOURABLY AS THE LORDSHIPP & MANNOUR OF PELHAM ALSO THE STORY OF THE THREE MODERN VILLAGES CALLED THE PELHAMS, p. 172 (Richmond, VA: The Dietz Press 1946) < https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/21802/dvm_LocHist007642-00057-0 > (visited Nov. 23, 2019) (noting that Sherman T. Pell served as Supervisor from 1886 to 1893).  See also Elections in Westchester County, The Sun [NY, NY], Mar. 28, 1888, Vol. LV, No. 210, p. 2, col. 7 < https://www.newspapers.com/image/79114460/  > (visited Nov. 23, 2019); Westchester Elections, N.Y. Times, Mar. 27, 1889, Vol. XXXVIII, No. 11,724 p. 4, col. 6 < https://www.newspapers.com/image/20380735/ > (visited Nov. 23, 2019) (indicating Pell had been reelected Town Supervisor as a “Democrat”); Democrats in a Majority – Result of the Town Elections in Westchester County, N.Y. Times, Mar. 30, 1892, Vol. XLI, No. 12,666, p. 1, col. 3 < https://www.newspapers.com/image/20521661/ > (visited Nov. 23, 2019) (noting that early returns indicated that Sherman T. Pell likely had been reelected Town Supervisor on the Independent and Republican tickets); County Legislators 1892-3, The Daily Argus [Mount Vernon, NY], Apr. 5, 1892, Vol. 1, No. 4, p. 2, col. 1 < https://fultonhistory.com/Newspaper%2018/Mount%20Vernon%20NY%20Daily%20Argus/Mount%20Vernon%20NY%20Daily%20Argus%201892/Mount%20Vernon%20NY%20Daily%20Argus%201892%20-%200014.pdf > (visited Nov. 23, 2019) (providing a “correct list of the Supervisors elected” including “Pelham – Sherman T. Pell, Dem.”). 

[18] See Westchester Elections – Supervisors and Town Officers Chosen – Sharp Contests, N.Y. Times, Mar. 29, 1893, Vol. XLII, No. 12,978, p. 5, col. 2 < https://www.newspapers.com/image/20507176/ > (visited Nov. 23, 2019). 

[19] Westchester County Supervisors, N.Y. Times, Mar. 30, 1893, Vol. XLII, No. 12,979, p. 9, col 3 < https://www.newspapers.com/image/20508111/ > (visited Nov. 23, 2019). 

[20] See Trouble at City Island, The Evening World [NY, NY], Apr. 6, 1893, p. 4, col. 2 < https://www.newspapers.com/image/78944284/ > (visited Nov. 23, 2019).  See also Mr. Pell Is Supervisor of Pelham, N.Y. Times, Apr. 7, 1893, Vol. XLII, No. 12,986, p. 5 col. 4 < https://www.newspapers.com/image/20513235/ > (visited Nov. 23, 2019). 

[21] Id. 

[22] Id. 

[23] Pelham Citizens To Be Fined – Judge Dykman Declares Them in Contempt for Not Recounting the Town Vote, N.Y. Times, Apr. 30, 1893, Vol. XLII, No. 13,005, p. 3, col. 4 < https://www.newspapers.com/image/20525216/ > (visited Nov. 23, 2019). 

[24] Id. 

[25] Ex-Supervisor Pell Missing – Considerable Money of the Town of Pelham in His Hands, N.Y. Times, May 27, 1893, Vol. XLII, No. 13,029, p. 10, col. 6 < https://www.newspapers.com/image/20536372/ > (visited Nov. 23, 2019). 

[26] Id. 

[27] Id.  See also No Tidings Yet of Mr. Pell, N.Y. Times, May 28, 1893, Vol. XLII, No. 13,029, p. 9, col. 7 < https://www.newspapers.com/image/20536988/ > (visited Nov. 23, 2019). 

[28] Id. 

[29] Id. 

[30] Ex Supervisor Pell Missing, Buffalo Evening News [Buffalo, NY], May 27, 1893, Vol. XXVI, No. 41, p. 5, col. 3 < https://www.newspapers.com/image/327111418/ > (visited Nov. 23, 2019).  Other reports suggested up to $28,000 in Town cash was missing.  See News In Brief, The Standard Union [Brooklyn, NY], May 27, 1893, p. 8, col. 7 < https://www.newspapers.com/image/542157609 > (visited Nov. 23, 2019). 

[31] Compare Pells of Pelham Sued – The Town Wants Them To Pay $10,000 on a Bond They Gave for a Relative, N.Y. Times, Sep. 8, 1893, Vol. XLII, No. 13,118, p. 8, col. 3 < https://www.newspapers.com/image/20386157/ > (visited Nov. 23, 2019) (stating “In May Pell absconded, and the town believes he took with him $30,000 belonging to the Public Treasury”) with “Honest John Shinn” Short – Ex-Supervisor of Pelham’s Accounts out $17,971, N.Y. Times, Jun. 20, 1906, Vol. LV, No. 17,679, p. 1, col. 2 < https://www.newspapers.com/image/20356428/ > (visited Nov. 23, 2019)  (stating that Sherman T. Pell “forged the Town Clerk’s name to $100,000 worth of bonds and sold them in Wall Street”).

[32] Broadway Sav. Inst. of City of New York v. Town of Pelham, 83 Hun 96, 63 N.Y. St. Rep. 814, 31 N.Y.S. 402, 402 (App. Div. 2nd Dep’t 1894) (citing the provisions of Chapter 193, Laws 1877, entitled “An act to amend chapter 610 of the Laws of 1874 entitled an act to authorize the sale of lands for the nonpayment of taxes and for the collection of unpaid taxes in the several towns of the county of Westchester”). 

[33] Signatures Were Forged – Affairs of Ex-Supervisor Pell of Pelham Assume a Darker Aspect, N.Y. Times, Jun. 11, 1893, Vol. XLII, No. 13,041, p. 8, col. 4 < https://www.newspapers.com/image/20543424/ > (visited Nov. 23, 2019). 

[34] Id. 

[35] Id. 

[36] Id. 

[37] Id.  See also Suit Against the Town of Pelham, N.Y. Times, Jun. 1, 1893, Vol. XLII, No. 13,033, p. 8, col. 4 < https://www.newspapers.com/image/20539034/ > (visited Nov. 23, 2019). 

[38] See Pells of Pelham Sued – The Town Wants Them To Pay $10,000 on a Bond They Gave for a Relative, N.Y. Times, Sep. 8, 1893, Vol. XLII, No. 13,118, p. 8, col. 3 < https://www.newspapers.com/image/20386157/ > (visited Nov. 23, 2019); Samuel Pell House, supra, n.1, p. 3. 

[39] Samuel Pell House, supra, n.1, p. 3. 

[40] See Town of Pelham Must Pay, N.Y. Times, Mar. 31, 1894, Vol. XLIII, No. 13,267, p. 9, col. 6 < https://www.newspapers.com/image/20449806/ > (visited Nov. 23, 2019). 

[41] See Broadway Sav. Inst. of City of New York v. Town of Pelham, 83 Hun 96, 63 N.Y. St. Rep. 814, 31 N.Y.S. 402, 402 (App. Div. 2nd Dep’t 1894). 

[42] Old Town of Pelham Bonds – Indebtedness Assumed by the City Declared Fraudulent and Void, N.Y. Times, Jun. 7, 1898, Vol. XLVII, No. 15, 103, p. 12, col. 4 < https://www.newspapers.com/image/20612745/ > (visited Nov. 23, 2019). 

[43] “Honest John Shinn” Short – Ex-Supervisor of Pelham’s Accounts out $17,971, N.Y. Times, Jun. 20, 1906, Vol. LV, No. 17,679, p. 1, col. 2 < https://www.newspapers.com/image/20356428/ > (visited Nov. 23, 2019). 

[44] Samuel Pell House, supra, n.1, p. 3. 

[45] Obituary Notes, N.Y. Times, Mar. 30, 1894, Vol. XLIII, No. 13, 292, p. 5, col. 2 < https://www.newspapers.com/image/20449192/ > (visited Nov. 23, 2019). 

[46] Village of Pelham, Village of Pelham Online:  Village News – Interviewed in 1935 Mr. Edinger Told An Interesting Story (visited Apr. 24, 2005) http://www.villageofpelham.com/home/00-00-35.shtml (an archived copy of the article is available via the Way Back Machine via https://web.archive.org/web/20030304032321/http://www.villageofpelham.com/home/00-00-35.shtml) (visited Nov. 23, 2019).

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More on the Town of Pelham's Consideration as a Potential Site for the 1893 World's Fair Eventually Held in Chicago as the Columbian Exposition

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In 1889, Americans already were preparing for the 400th anniversary of the arrival of Christopher Columbus in the Americas in 1492.  A grand "World's Fair" was planned to open in 1892 as part of the "Great Columbus Celebration" in honor of the 400th anniversary. 

Eventually the event opened as the "World's Columbian Exposition," a world's fair held in Chicago.  Although dedication ceremonies were held on October 21, 1892, the fairgrounds were not ready for the public.  Thus, the World's Columbian Exposition did not open to the public until May 1, 1893.  Consequently, the Exposition often is referred to, informally, as the "1893 Chicago World's Fair."  It also is referred to as the 1892 World's Columbian Exposition and the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition. 

In 1889, organizers of the upcoming Exposition were still searching for a site on which to build the fairgrounds.  Believe it or not, the Town of Pelham was in the running as a possible fairgrounds site for the World's Fair.

I have written about consideration of the Town of Pelham as the site of fairgrounds for the World's Fair before.  See Tue., May 30, 2017:  Parts of the Town of Pelham Were Considered as a Site for the 1893 World's Fair.  Today's Historic Pelham article provides more information about early efforts to tout Pelham as the site for the fairgrounds.

At least as early as the summer of 1889, New York City Mayor Hugh John Grant -- who remains the City's youngest Mayor ever even to this day -- already was working to attract the planned World's Fair to the New York City region.  That summer he reached out to five hundred notable New Yorkers to attend a massive meeting to begin planning New York's bid to attract the extravaganza.  

One of the first issues the group had to confront was the site of the massive World's Fair.  The event was expected to be so massive that there seemed to be a broad consensus that it could not be hosted on Manhattan island.  Although there were suggestions that Central Park might be a suitable site, the news media was quick to object.  One newspaper wrote:

"Central Park is not to be thought of.  Any serious proposition to turn that beautiful breathing place into a big fair ground would probably kill the whole project.  The people want Central Park for themselves, and won't give it up."

Attention quickly turned to the three new parks on the mainland north of Manhattan:  Van Cortlandt Park, Bronx Park, and Pelham Bay Park (then part of the Town of Pelham before New York City annexed the region in 1895).  Most agreed, as one newspaper put it, that Pelham was:

"delightfully situated for such a purpose as a grand world's fair.  Its area is more than twice that of Central Park.  It contains 2,700 acres of undulating land, with a water front of at least five miles on Long Island Sound.  The question of drainage is one of much importance in the case of a great fair ground, and that is already solved by nature at Pelham Bay.  The whole Park drains naturally into the deep water along its five miles of picturesque shore."

Pelham Bay Park was sufficiently large for the fair.  Its picturesque shore front offered important opportunities for water activities associated with the fair.  Additionally, Eastchester Bay and Pelham Bay offered important transportation opportunities.  The construction of docks there would permit the transport of goods for the fair.  As one article, quoted in full below, noted:  "Ships from all parts of the world could go right up to a dock at Pelham Bay and land their cargoes close by the exhibition buildings."  Moreover, fair visitors could be ferried cheaply to the site via waterways from all over the region.  The same article stated:  "If visitors to the fair preferred going by water, they could not desire a more delightful trip than up the East River and through the waters of the Sound into Eastchester Bay or Pelham Bay itself.  This trip can be made from the Battery within an hour, and the fare need not be more than 10 or 15 cents."  Proponents of the plan further emphasized that the New Haven Branch Line that ran through Pelham also offered important transportation alternatives to and from the site.

Some, however, objected that New York should host the fair within its city limits -- not within the limits of the adjacent Town of Pelham.  Proponents of the plan dismissed such objections with an interesting observation. As one newspaper put it:

"The objection that Pelham Bay Park is outside the city limits probably will not exist in 1892.  Before the great fair was talked of at all, it was intended to ask the Legislature to extend the city line eastward from the Bronx River to the Sound, and thus take in the beautiful new Park, and the request will probably be made when the next Legislature meets."  

Of course, New York City's efforts to annex the Pelham Bay Park region from the Town of Pelham did not bear fruit until 1895 -- long after the World's Fair ended.  Nevertheless, even in the late 1880s (and earlier), all expected the new park to be annexed by the city.

Of course, efforts to hold the fair in the Town of Pelham failed.  Eventually, the exhibition was held in Chicago and was wildly successful.  For a time, however, the world watched as New York City notables discussed the little Town of Pelham as a possible site for the World's Columbian Exhibition.

"Bird's Eye View of the World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago, 1893"

Showing What the Area in Pelham May Have Looked Like Had Pelham

Bay Park Been Chosen as the Site. NOTE: Click on Image to Enlarge.

*          *          *          *          *

Below is the text of a newspaper article published on July 21, 1889 that forms the basis of today's Historic Pelham Blog article.  The text is followed by a citation and link to its source.

"The Proposed Great Fair.

Mayor Grant's call for a meeting of 'representative citizens' to consider the question of a great world's fair in 1892, gives that question what may be called a boom.  Mayor Grant sees Mr. McAllister and goes him a hundred better, for his call is issued to 500 New Yorkers, instead of 400.  All of the 500 probably will not respond, for several are at the other side of the Atlantic, looking at the great show in Paris and having a good time in other ways, and many more are at summer resorts at home, and may not care to leave them just to attend a meeting.  But a sufficient number of representative citizens will doubtless come together to consider the question in a practical and serious way.  At the moment it seems highly probable that the idea of getting up a great fair for the 400th anniversary of the discovery of the land of the free and the home of the brave will be carried out.  And should it be carried out, the show will certainly be on a magnificent scale, very different from the Crystal Palace affair of 1853, though that was considered a great thing then.  One of my favorite early recollections is that of seeing President Franklin Pierce ride up Broadway at the head of a great procession to perform the important function of opening that exhibition, and I have a vivid remembrance of a sideshow near by, in which an armless young woman astonished me beyond measure by writing visiting cards with her toes, or rather with a pen held between two of them; also of a rickety 'observatory,' likewise near by, from the top of which, after one had climbed up to it, a pretty fair view of New York and a good deal of the surrounding country could be had.  The Crystal Palace Fair was held in Reservoir Square, now Bryant Park, at Sixth Avenue and Forty-second Street.  There was no Central Park then and above Forty-second Street there were very few houses.  The population of New York was about one fourth of what it is to-day.  The great metropolis of to-day was hardly imagined.  Should the outcome of the meeting called by the Mayor be the appointment of a committee to make arrangements for a really great fair, it is to be hoped that men with axes to grind won't get the thing into their own hands.  Satisfactory results certainly need not be expected if they do.  Several years ago a movement was started for a grand centennial international exhibition in 1889, but the men with axes to grind spoiled the whole business.  After the appointment of a committee the next step will be the raising of money.  Millions will be needed.  It is already proposed that the city shall subscribe generously, and then the State, and next the United States.  All right, if they are willing.  There will be use for every dollar.  And it may be expected, as a matter of course, that a good many dollars will go astray.

The Question of a Site.

Next after determining upon the fair itself will come the question of a suitable site for it.  Central Park is not to be thought of.  Any serious proposition to turn that beautiful breathing place into a big fair ground would probably kill the whole project.  The people want Central Park for themselves, and won't give it up.  It is more than likely that the fair won't be held on Manhattan Island at all.  A site for it will probably be selected in one of the new parks north of Harlem River.  Three of these are mentioned as offering suitable grounds -- Van Cortlandt Park, Bronx Park, and Pelham Bay Park.  The latter would be decidedly the best.  Pelham Bay Park is delightfully situated for such a purpose as a grand world's fair.  Its area is more than twice that of Central Park.  It contains 2,700 acres of undulating land, with a water front of at least five miles on Long Island Sound.  The question of drainage is one of much importance in the case of a great fair ground, and that is already solved by nature at Pelham Bay.  The whole Park drains naturally into the deep water along its five miles of picturesque shore.  Another important question is that of facilities for the delivery of goods for exhibition.  Ships from all parts of the world could go right up to a dock at Pelham Bay and land their cargoes close by the exhibition buildings.  New York City itself could not offer better facilities in this respect.  Pelham Bay is about 12 miles from Union Square.  It can be reached by rail from Harlem in about 10 minutes.  The Westchester branch of the New York & New Haven Railroad runs through the Park.  If visitors to the fair preferred going by water, they could not desire a more delightful trip than up the East River and through the waters of the Sound into Eastchester Bay or Pelham Bay itself.  This trip can be made from the Battery within an hour, and the fare need not be more than 10 or 15 cents.  The objection that Pelham Bay Park is outside the city limits probably will not exist in 1892.  Before the great fair was talked of at all, it was intended to ask the Legislature to extend the city line eastward from the Bronx River to the Sound, and thus take in the beautiful new Park, and the request will probably be made when the next Legislature meets.  Pelham Bay Park is by all odds the best place for the great fair, and it ought to be selected without hesitation.  But the first thing is to organize for the fair itself, and that is likely to be done very soon."

Source:  The Proposed Great Fair, Buffalo Courier [Buffalo, NY], Jul. 21, 1889, Vol. LIV, No. 202, p. 9, cols. 4-5.

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The Collision of the Steamship Providence and Schooner Avis in Pelham Waters in 1889

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An eyewitness to the monumental head-on collision of the 130-ton two masted schooner Avis and the 373-feet-long Fall River Line steamship Providence described the crash, succinctly, as "awful."  About 8:00 p.m. on September 26, 1889, the schooner was flying along in Long Island Sound toward New York City with a full load of buoyant lumber pilings and six crewmen including the Captain.  The steamship Providence was plowing through the waters of Long Island Sound in the opposite direction headed to Newport as quickly as its massive steam-driven paddle wheels would propel it.

The schooner Avis was being captained by R. C. Farnsworth of St. John, New Brunswick and was being piloted by Cornelius W. Lawrence of City Island who had boarded the two-masted schooner in the forenoon and was guiding the vessel to port.  The steamship Providence had nearly 300 passengers on board and was being captained by John Hammond.  The Providence was traveling at nearly double the speed of the schooner Avis.

Though accounts differ, it appears that the evening was clear and the schooner had lights lit.  City Island Pilot Lawrence saw the massive steamer nearly a mile distant with nary a thought of any danger.  The two ships closed the distance quickly and nearly passed off the shores of Hart Island in the Town of Pelham in waters between Hart Island and Sands Point, Long Island.  As the two ships were about to pass, the gigantic steamship inexplicably swung its bow and turned directly into the path of the two-masted schooner.

The force of the impact was stunning.  According to one witness, the schooner Avis was stopped dead in the water for a moment and actually bounced backward in the water off the massive steamship.  Passengers in the steamship were thrown down and heard a terrible "grinding crunching noise [that] was kept up for a minute or two."  

The schooner was devastated.  Its bowsprit, jib boom, stem, and figure head were destroyed and a "big hole was stove in her side."  All the ship's headgear was carried away and, in less than five minutes the schooner sank.  Because the ship carried a full load of buoyant lumber pilings, the ship bobbed on the waters of Long Island Sound upright with water covering its decks but masts and cabin still above the water.

The head-on crash sheared completely away five of the luxurious outside staterooms of the steamship Providence and tore off long sections of the ship's main and upper deck guards as well as a small part of the ship's hull.  In one stateroom, an "old lady" was lying in her bed at the time of the wreck.  Her entire stateroom was sheared away and the floor of the stateroom was carried completely away.  She and her bed slid off the disappearing floor and simply fell one deck below onto a pile of bags.  The lady stood up, unhurt, and began asking about the safety of her daughter who was elsewhere on the ship at the time of the crash.

Captain R. C. Farnsworth of the two-masted schooner Avis was not so lucky.  He was at the wheel of the schooner at the time of the crash with City Island Pilot Lawrence standing behind him as he manned the wheel.  The force of the crash was so great that it threw Captain Farnsworth forward into the wheel just as the spoked and sprocketed wheel was spun violently by the crash.  The sprockets on the outer rim of the spoked steering wheel acted just like a buzz-saw as Captain Farnsworth was thrown into it.  The spinning sprockets disemboweled the poor Captain and subjected his legs and groin to similarly-devastating injuries.  He was unconscious before he even fell into the arms of Pilot Lawrence.

Panic set in as steamship passengers raced for life preservers fearful that the steamship would sink as well.  Although, again, accounts differ, it seems that Captain Hammond of the steamship lowered at least two boats to offer assistance to the crew of the sunken schooner although there may have been a delay in doing so.  In the meantime, Pilot Lawrence used one of the small boats of the schooner Avis to load the unconscious Captain Farnsworth and transport him first to Hart Island where a doctor at a local juvenile institution treated him.  Pilot Lawrence then transported Captain Farnsworth onto City Island where the injured seaman was taken to the home of Pilot Lawrence for additional care.  Within a day or two local newspapers reported that Captain Farnsworth was expected to die of his injuries.

The five remaining crewmen of the sunken Avis that bobbed in the waters of the Sound refused assistance and refused to leave the sunken vessel knowing that if they did it would be seized as salvage by some passing ship.  The crew slept that night in the sails of the sunken ship as it bobbed in the waters of the Sound before it could be towed to relative safety.

The Providence slowly continued on its journey to Newport where it arrived the next day, September 27, 1889, several hours late.  One account described the damage to the steamship upon its arrival in Newport:

"The steamer Providence arrived here several hours late to-day, bringing tidings of the collision with the schooner Avis.  Her starboard side is open forward of the paddle wheel for fully sixty feet.  Long sections of the main and upper deck guards are ripped off, a small section of the hull is gone and five outside staterooms destroyed.  The pilot says the schooner displayed no lights.  According to his story, the Providence came to anchor at once and sent out two small boats, in which the crew of the schooner were taken off and landed at Hart Island.  The Providence came through all right with her side open, the sea having only a slight swell and the steamer being kept well over to port."

Captain Farnsworth lingered in agony for more than two months in the home of City Island Pilot Cornelius W. Lawrence.  Captain Lawrence died there of the injuries he suffered in the September 26 wreck on December 10, 1889.


The steamship Providence was first put into service in 1867.  At that time, it had the largest steam engine of any steam vessel and was one of the Fall River Line's most luxurious steamships.  It was 373 feet long and could accommodate 840 passengers.  By 1889, the steamship already was considered jinxed.  It had been involved in a host of wrecks in Long Island Sound and previously had "run down" several sailing ships.  According to one account:

"
She is a very unfortunate boat and has caused a good deal of damage within the past year, and had no end of narrow escapes.  About twelve years ago she ran down and sunk [sic] the steam yacht Adelaide in the Sound, and shortly after that she collided with a schooner near Throgs Neck and inflicted heavy damage.  Then she crashed into the steamer Lucy B. Miller and knocked a big hole in her bow.  One of the latest adventures of the Providence was to run down Commander Elbridge T. Gerry's steam yacht Electra and knock off her stem.  Old harbor men say that the Providence is 'hoo dooed,' but she probably needs only a new captain."

Most accounts saddled Providence Captain John Hammond with responsibility for the terrible wreck off the shores of Pelham that terrible night. 

The Providence Steamship of the Fall River Line Involved In A

Collision Off the Shores of Hart Island in Pelham on September

26, 1889.  Source:  Fifty Photographic Views of the Steamers of

the Fall River Line, p. 32 (Chicago & NY, NY:  Rand, McNally &

Co. for J. J. Murphy, 1900).  NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

*          *          *          *          *

"SCARE IN THE DARK ON THE SOUND
-----
The Big Steamboat Providence in Collision in the Storm Off Gangway Buoy.
-----
THREE HUNDRED LIVES IN PERIL.
-----
Five Staterooms Gutted and the Side of the Vessel Torn Away by the Schooner Avis.
-----

Three hundred people narrowly escaped death in a collision on the Sound, on Thursday evening, between the Fall River line steamer Providence and the British schooner Avis.  The vessels crashed together off Gangway buoy shortly before eight o'clock.  It was raining and the night was very dark.  The steamer suffered extensive damage and the schooner was wrecked.

It was the merest chance that the glancing blow of the Avis did not send the big steamer to the bottom with all on board.  The Providence has run down so many craft that she was thought to be unfortunately named, but yesterday the passengers were thanking their stars that they were saved and they concluded to trust in that name yet.

It was fifteen minutes past six o'clock when the big steamer  backed out of her slip at the foot of Murray street on Thursday evening.  She started off around the Battery at a rattling rate of speed and was bound for Newport on her last trip for the season.  Nearly three hundred passengers were on board, and most of them had finished supper at ten minutes before eight o'clock, when the vessel had reached that part of Long Island [Sound] midway between Gangway Buoy and Sands Point Light, about eighteen miles from the Battery by the water route.  Many of the passengers were in their staterooms and the weather was so disagreeable that nobody ventured outside.

A TERRIFIC CRASH.

Without a second's warning the passengers were startled by a terrific crash, and the grinding crunching noise was kept up for a minute or two.  The shock was so great that people were thrown off their feet, and the utmost confusion followed.

After the first rush for the life preservers the frightened passengers ventured out to the rail to ascertain the cause of all the disturbance.  The Providence had come into collision with a little sailing vessel that was plain to be seen and both were badly damaged.  It was the little schooner Avis.  Captain Farnsworth, bound from St. John, New Brunswick, to New York, and heavily loaded with piles.  The vessels were going in opposite directions when they met.  If the schooner had bee a larger boat the beautiful steamer Providence would most likely have been sent to the bottom of the Sound.  The Avis struck the Providence head on, just forward of the starboard paddle box, tearing away sixty feet of the main deck guards.  A big hole was made in her hull, forty feet of the upper deck guards ripped out and five staterooms destroyed.  The crushing of the light joiner work and the heavy planking made a noise which struck terror to all who heard it.

AN OLD LADY'S ESCAPE.

White haired Captain John Hammond, of the Providence, was on hand in a moment to save his steamer if possible, and the hurrying to and fro of crew and passengers almost started a panic.  The anchor was let go and the boats lowered in case of need.  Then attention was turned toward the big hole in the steamer's side.  The five staterooms carried away were numbered 138 to 142 inclusive and were on the extreme outward row furthest forward.  Everything about them was crushed into kindling wood, and right here occurred a very narrow escape.  It was a curious incident.  An old lady living in Newport was occupying No. 142, and at the moment of the collision she was reclining on the bed.  When the bowsprit of the schooner swept along the steamer's quarter with such furious impacts the entire floor of the stateroom was torn away as if cut with a great knife.  This occurred as quick as a flash, and the old lady, still lying on her bed, was suddenly dropped to the deck below and landed on a pile of meal bags, unimpaired and apparently not in the least frightened.  She looked about in a wondering manner and rubbed her eyes.  While everybody about her was scrambling for life preservers and catching for breath in their terror she calmly picked herself up and quietly inquired how to get up stairs again.

Chief Engineer Saulspaugh sprang to her assistance, and even then she seemed to be only concerned for the safety of her daughter in another part of the boat.

CAPTAIN FARNSWORTH HURT.

The Avis was lying off Sand's Point Light, half full of water and almost a total wreck, when I visited the scene last night.  The first mate said the schooner had both lights burning and the night was fairly clear, with the wind northwest by north and light when the steamer was seen approaching.  The course of the Providence was laid to pass under the schooner's stern, but for some reason or other the steamer's course was suddenly altered to go across the sailing vessel's bow.  They came together with great force, and the schooner's bows were stove in and the bowsprit, flying jibbon [sic], head gear, and in fact everything forward, carried away.  The shock of the collision broke the rim of the wheel and sent it flying out of the hands of Captain Farnsworth, who was steering at the time.  The recoil of the spokes struck the Captain and inflicted a very ugly wound in the thigh.

The entire blame for the accident is laid to Captain Hammond, of the Providence, while the steamer's people claim that the schooner had no lights out.

The boats of the Providence came alongside and assistance was offered to the schooner's crew, but declined.  Pilot Lawrence took off the wounded captain to Hart's Island, where Dr. Smith attended to his injuries.  Captain Farnsworth was afterward conveyed to the Lawrence residence at City Island.  The crew of the Avis knew that she would not sink with her load of lumber, and so they stuck to the vessel all night, perched on top of the house.  Everything was submerged below.

RECORD OF DISASTERS.

After a delay of an hour the Providence was got under way and proceeded to Newport, where she was laid up for the season, and the Old Colony put in her place in the schedule.  She is a very unfortunate boat and has caused a good deal of damage within the past year, and had no end of narrow escapes.  About twelve years ago she ran down and sunk [sic] the steam yacht Adelaide in the Sound, and shortly after that she collided with a schooner near Throgs Neck and inflicted heavy damage.  Then she crashed into the steamer Lucy B. Miller and knocked a big hole in her bow.  One of the latest adventures of the Providence was to run down Commander Elbridge T. Gerry's steam yacht Electra and knock off her stem.

Old harbor men say that the Providence is 'hoo dooed,' but she probably needs only a new captain."

Source:  SCARE IN THE DARK ON THE SOUND -- The Big Steamboat Providence in Collision in the Storm Off Gangway Buoy-- THREE HUNDRED LIVES IN PERIL-- Five Staterooms Gutted and the Side of the Vessel Torn Away by the Schooner Avis, N.Y. Herald, Sep. 28, 1889, p. 3, col. 3.  

"WHICH BOAT WAS AT FAULT!
-----
THE PROVIDENCE AND A SCHOONER CRASH TOGETHER IN THE SOUND.
-----
The Schooner's Captain Thrown Upon the Wheel and Disembowelled -- Not Expected to Live -- The Floor of a Stateroom on the Steamer Ripped Out and an Old Lady Falls to the Lower Deck Unhurt.

Another collision in the Sound has been added to the record of such disasters.  The Fall River line steamer Providence, which seems to be peculiarly unfortunate in this respect, was in collision with the British schooner Avis while the former was on her way to Newport at full speed Thursday night.  The captain of the Avis, R. C. Farnsworth, of St. John, N. B., one of the oldest and best-known seamen sailing into this port, was at the wheel of his vessel when the accident occurred, and received injuries which may cause his death.  Strangely enough, the collision occurred at a time when the atmosphere was unusually clear, and ship lights were visible long distance away.

The time of the crash was 8 o'clock at night.  The place was off Schuyler's Light, about twenty-five miles from New York.  A stiff breeze was blowing and the Avis, a two-masted schooner of 130 tons burden, laden with spilings [sic], and bound for New York from St. John, was beating her way across the Sound.  All day she had made but little headway owing to light winds, but soon after dusk the breeze freshened, and under full sail she sped along at a rate of seven or eight miles an hour.  Pilot Cornelius W. Lawrence, of City Island, had boarded her during the forenoon and was guiding her into port.  The Providence was ploughing her way through the Sound in the opposite direction at a speed about double that of the schooner.

The Avis crashed head on into the starboard side of the steamer, tearing off long sections of her main and upper deck guards, with a small part of her hull, and taking out five of the outside staterooms.  The schooner did not fare so well.  Her bowsprit, jibboom, stem and figure-head were broken and all her headgear was carried away.  A big hole was stove in her side, and in less than five minutes the cabin was full of water and she had sunk until her deck was flush with the water.  The nature of her cargo alone prevented her from going almost instantly to the bottom.

Her crew of six, including the captain, were all on deck at the time.  They had seen the Providence over a mile away, they say, and until within two hundred yards of her had no thoughts that a collision was possible.  Capt. Farnsworth and Pilot Lawrence had both been at the wheel for an hour or more, but when the crash came the latter was standing on the quarter a few feet behind the captain.  Farnsworth had his wheel turned hard to starboard, and the shock of the impact hurled him violently against it, relaxing his grasp.  The pressure of the water sent the wheel whirling around like a buzz saw.  The spokes tore open the lower portion of the skipper's abdomen, lacerating it in a horrible manner, and he fell back unconscious into the arms of the pilot, who carried him towards the cabin, but as that place was rapidly filling with water, Lawrence conveyed him as quickly as possible into one of the small boats, which, manned by the crew, was headed for the pilot's home at City Island seven miles away, and thither the injured man was taken.

The crew of the Avis declare that they had rowed back to their submerged vessel from Pilot Lawrence's home, a pull of fourteen miles, before any offer of assistance came from the Providence.  They remained over night on the Avis, sleeping in the sails.

Dr. Bening, of City Island, attended Capt. Farnsworth and said last night that his condition was critical.  Peritonitis is almost sure to set in, in which case chances for recovery are slight indeed.  He is fifty-three years old, was a part owner in the Avis and has a wife and children at St. John.

Pilot Lawrence, who is an old and grizzled mariner, told his story of the collision to a WORLD reporter last night.

'I saw the Providence,' said he, 'when she was a full mile off.  I could see both her lights, which showed she was coming head on.  When she got within 200 yards of us I could still see both her lights.  I thought that her pilot would surely port his wheel and go astern, but instead of that he starboarded her and tried to cross our bow.  If he had given me the signal -- one whistle for port and two for starboard -- even then I could have harded up and kept her off.  But she never made us a sign, and we couldn't get out of the way to save our lives.  I tried it, by letting go the main sheet, but it was no use.

'The crash was awful.  Our boat was bounced back in the opposite direction from which she was going like a rocket.  Our lights were all up and burning.  I am positive of this, for I saw the mate haul them down after the collision.  The minute it happened I set to work to lower all the sails, for we otherwise would have capsized at once.  I have been a pilot on these waters for eighteen years and this is my first accident.'

A WORLD reporter was rowed out to the scene of the collision yesterday afternoon.  The Avis was lying not far from the Gangway Buoy, almost entirely under water.  Mate George Neaves and four seamen were still aboard to prevent the appropriation of the vessel for salvage.  Neaves corroborated the pilot's statement that lights were properly displayed.  The schooner is owned by R. C. Elkins of New York.  Arrangements have been made for towing her to this city today.

The disaster recalls the collision of two weeks ago between the steamer Old Colony, of the same line, and the schooner Wildfire.  A fatality seems to hang over the steamers of this line for running down vessels.  The Wildfire had her stern shaved right off and was otherwise damaged.  A suit is now pending against the Company for damages.  Commodore Gerry's superb steam yacht Electra is also a victim of one of the Fall River boats.  She was nearly sunk about a month ago, and Mr. Gerry and the Fall River line are now trying to see who was responsible for the disaster.  Last summer the steam yacht Adelaide was sunk off Whitestone by the Providence.  The Providence is commanded by Capt. Hammond.  He is one of the oldest captains on the Sound and is considered a very careful navigator.

NEWPORT, Sept. 27. -- The steamer Providence arrived here several hours late to-day, bringing tidings of the collision with the schooner Avis.  Her starboard side is open forward of the paddle wheel for fully sixty feet.  Long sections of the main and upper deck guards are ripped off, a small section of the hull is gone and five outside staterooms destroyed.  The pilot says the schooner displayed no lights.  According to his story, the Providence came to anchor at once and sent out two small boats, in which the crew of the schooner were taken off and landed at Hart Island. 

The Providence came through all right with her side open, the sea having only a slight swell and the steamer being kept well over to port.  The passengers on the starboard side were somewhat frightened, but some on the port side did not know of the collision till morning.  One state-room had its floor ripped out and an old lady who occupied the room fell through on her bed to the deck below, landing on some bags uninjured.  The damage to the steamer is being repaired, but will not be hastened, as the Providence was to come of the line to-morrow and can be replaced by the Old Colony without delay to travel."

Source:  WHICH BOAT WAS AT FAULT! -- THE PROVIDENCE AND A SCHOONER CRASH TOGETHER IN THE SOUND -- The Schooner's Captain Thrown Upon the Wheel and Disembowelled -- Not Expected to Live -- The Floor of a Stateroom on the Steamer Ripped Out and an Old Lady Falls to the Lower Deck Unhurt, The World [NY, NY], Sep. 28, 1889, Vol. XXX, No. 10,266, p. 1, col. 1. 


"COLLISION ON THE SOUND.-----
THE PROVIDENCE OF THE FALL RIVER LINE SINKS THE SCHOONER AVIS.

The steamer Providence of the Fall River line collided with the two-masted schooner Avis of St. John, N. B., off Sands Point on the Sound late Thursday evening.  Fortunately none of her passengers received any worse injuries than a few bruises.  Those on board the schooner were not so fortunate.  Its commander, Captain R. C. Farnsworth, was badly injured about the groin and legs, and it is feared that he will die.  His crew escaped with a few bruises.

Pilot C. W. Lawrence, who was in charge of the schooner when the collision occurred, told the story of the accident to a PRESS reporter last night.  He said it was shortly before 8 o'clock when he first saw the steamer.  The schooner was then off Sands Point and was beating up toward this city.  The steamer made no signals, but when within a short distance changed her course and steamed directly across the schooner's bow.  The next instant the bowsprit of the schooner caught the steamer just forward of the wheelhouse on the starboard side and ripped open her side for a distance of sixty feet, exposing all the staterooms on that side to view.

The force of the collision stove in the schooner's bow below the water line and carried away her bowsprit.  Captain Farnsworth, who was at the wheel, was thrown forward, and as he fell back the flying wheel struck his body and knocked him down.  Then the schooner began filling, and five minutes later had sunk to her deck.  Her cargo of lumber kept her afloat.  Boats were sent from the steamer, but the crew of the schooner, which consisted of five men besides the Captain, refused to leave her, and the Providence proceeded on her way.  Captain Farnsworth was conveyed to the home of Pilot Lawrence at City Island, and placed under the care of a physician.

A lady passenger on the Providence whose stateroom was ripped open by the collision, dropped through on her bed to the deck below, but was fortunately not injured.  There were many other escapes of passengers.  The Providence arrived at Newport yesterday, several hours behind time.  The schooner will be towed to this city and placed upon a dry dock."

Source:  COLLISION ON THE SOUND-- THE PROVIDENCE OF THE FALL RIVER LINE SINKS THE SCHOONER AVIS, The Press [NY, NY], Sep. 28, 1889, Vol. II, No. 668, p. 1, col. 4.  

"HIS INJURIES PROVED FATAL. -- Captain S. F. Farnsworth, of the schooner Avis, who was injured in the collision of his vessel with the steamer Providence, on Sept. 26, died on Tuesday, at City Island, where he had been taken after the accident.  He lived at St. John, N. B."

Source:  HIS INJURIES PROVED FATAL, The Yonkers Statesman, Dec. 12, 1889, Vol. VII, No. 1,868, p. 4, col. 3. 

"CITY JOTTINGS. . . .

Captain S. T. Farnsworth, of St. John, N. B., who was injured in the collision between the steamers Providence and Avis on September 26, died yesterday at City Island. . . . ."

Source:  CITY JOTTINGS,  N.Y. Herald, Dec. 11, 1889, p. 5, col. 4.  

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