The Fate of the First Three-Masted Schooner Ever Built in a Pelham Shipyard

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On February 29, 1884, a local newspaper made a brief reference to the "first three masted schooner ever built on City Island" in the Town of Pelham.  Although the reference indicates that the schooner, christened the John K. Shaw, was built at Carll's shipyard in about 1869, it actually was built at the shipyard and delivered to its initial owner, A. S. Hatch, in 1872.  

I have written extensively about David Carll and Carll's Shipyard before.  See, e.g., Mon., Nov. 16, 2015:  David Carll's Shipyard in the Town of Pelham on City Island; Fri., Jun. 16, 2017:  Origins of Ship Repair and Shipbuilding on City Island in the Town of Pelham; Thu., Dec. 31, 2009:  Obituary of David Carll, Master Shipbuilder on City Island in the Town of Pelham.

Schooners are a class of sailing vessels that have fore-and-aft sails on two or more masts. The most common type has two masts, the foremast being shorter than the main.  Although other schooners had been built at Carll's Shipyard prior to construction of the John K. Shaw in 1872, it would appear that the earlier ones were the more common two-masted version of the vessel, if the brief newspaper reference published in 1884 is to be believed.  

The newspaper reference is fascinating because it revealed the fate of the three-masted schooner John K. Shaw.  It stated:

"About fifteen years ago, the first three masted schooner ever built on City Island, the John K. Shaw, was built at Carll's shipyard. During these fifteen years, the vessel never met with any serious mishaps until Friday last, when she was wrecked off Woodlands on the New Jersey Coast."

Source:  PELHAM AND CITY ISLAND, The Chronicle [Mount Vernon, NY], Feb. 29, 1884, Vol. XV, No. 754, p. 3, col. 4.  

The tragic wreck of the John K. Shaw off the Woodlands on the New Jersey coast with the loss of its entire crew of Manasquan, New Jersey men on about Friday, February 22, 1884 captured national attention.  Many believe the schooner was involved in a rare instance of a maritime "hit and run" and was sunk by a vessel that fled the scene after a terrible collision. 

The 158-foot, 379 ton schooner John K. Shaw left Newport News between 12:00 noon and 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 21.  The vessel carried nearly nineteen tons of iron ingots on its deck as well as Captain Lucien Osborn and his crew of six men from the borough of Manasquan in Monmouth County, New Jersey.  Three days later on the afternoon of February 24, observers near Deal Beach, New Jersey spotted the spars of a wreck in the waters off the beach.  The pilot of a local tugboat named the Maggie Moran traveled out to the wreck.  He found the afterpart of the deck afloat, and took off a bell having the name "John K. Shaw" on it.  For a time thereafter, other parts of the wreck washed ashore (or were brought ashore) and were identified as belonging to the John K. Shaw.  

There was no certain proof as to how the schooner was lost.  However, the appearance of the remnants of the wreck suggested that a terrible collision had occurred.  The broken planks on one side of the deck suggested that a collision sank the vessel.  No other vessel (or remnants of any vessel) were on the scene.

Within a short time, the owners of the John K. Shaw began an investigation.  Soon they learned that a steamship named the Newport was bound from New York to Havana on the evening of Saturday, February 23, 1884 and that, while off Deal Beach, had a collision with an unidentified three-masted schooner.  The owners of the John K. Shaw filed a maritime action in libel against the owners of the Newport in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.   The libelants (i.e., plaintiffs) alleged that the steamship Newport collided with and sank their vessel and sought $21,062 in damages (about $735,000 in today's dollars).

The owners of the Newport admitted that their steamship collided with an unknown three-masted schooner off the coast of Deal Beach.  They alleged, however, that the schooner was not the John K. Shaw and the collision was a "slight one, her starboard bow grazing the schooner's starboard quarter without injury to either vessel."  

The Court dismissed the action, holding that the libelants had failed to establish that the steamship Newport had collided with the John K. Shaw.  That did not, however, end the matter.  The owners appealed, but were unsuccessful.  See The Newport, 36 F. 910 (2d Cir. 1888).  Instead, the owners of the John K. Shaw and the insurer of the ship's cargo subsequently filed a lawsuit against the Master of the steamship Newport at the time of the collision.  That case made it to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit where the Court ruled that because the owners of the Newport were parties to the first lawsuit, they could not re-litigate the question of whether the Master of the steamship Newport was responsible.  The insurer that was not a party to the earlier lawsuit, however, was permitted to proceed.  See Bailey v. Sundberg, 1 F. 101 (2nd Cir. 1892).  

The location of the remnants of the John K. Shaw is well known.  Indeed, the vessel seems to have been run down and virtually split in half with the two halves settling near each other in two adjacent locations off the New Jersey shore.  The two locations of the wreckage of the vessel have become popular with recreational divers in the last few years.    

Though proceedings continued in the related litigations involving the owners and the insurer of the John K. Shaw for years, the mystery remained.  Indeed, the mystery of what happened to the John K. Shaw more than 134 years ago remains unsolved to this day.  The mystery of who sank the first three-masted schooner ever built in the little Town of Pelham likely will never be solved.

"View of City Island" by Frederick Rondel, 1872. Oil on Canvas

Painting, 20.25 inches x 30 inches. This Painting Depicts the Marine

Railway at David Carll's Shipyard in 1872, the Year the John K.

Shaw was Built at the Shipyard.  NOTE: Click on Image to Enlarge.

*          *          *          *          *

"PELHAM AND CITY ISLAND. 

Mr. George O. Hawes is erecting a neat cottage at Bartow, for a gentleman of New York City. 

A pound party was held at Grace Church parsonage on Monday evening last. It was a very social and pleasant affair. 

Mr. Dudley R. Horton will occupy the handsome dwelling adjoining the M. E. Church, owned by Mr. Horton Sr., this spring. 

The pigeon match at Secord's Bartow, on Washingtons Birthday, between Will. Pell and Ben. May, for $25 a side, was won by Pell killing eight straight birds. 

Mr. Hawes the carpenter and builder, is at work rebuilding the summer residence of Mr. Wm. Belden. We understand the alterations are to be very extensive. 

Through the persistancy [sic] of the Board of Town Officers, City Island bridge has been temporarily repaired, so that it is at least safe. Cannot something be done to put the road between City Island and Bartow in a passable condition? 

The talk about that scheme to build a horse railroad from City Island to Bartow is all gas. Such an enterprise would doubtless be a grand thing for City Island but a good macadamized road between the two points would be quite as advantageous as a horse railroad. 

Mr. J. F. Horton, representing the Hell Gate pilots, before the Committee on Commerce and Navigation of the Assembly, on Tuesday of last week, made such forcible arguments against the bill to further reduce the fees of pilots, that the committee reported unanimously adverse to the bill. 

About fifteen years ago, the first three masted schooner ever built on City Island, the John K. Shaw, was built at Carll's shipyard. During these fifteen years, the vessel never met with any serious mishaps until Friday last, when she was wrecked off Woodlands on the New Jersey Coast. 

On Wednesday morning last, about seven o'clock, Andrew Anderson, a sailor on board the schooner J. H. Leeds, fell from the masthead to the deck when the vessel was nearing [illegible] and was instantly killed. The schooner put in at City Island and Coroner Tice held an inquest, when a verdict of accidental death was rendered. Anderson was a Swede, about 32 years old, and was unmarried. 

On Saturday last, John Cochran and Hugh Ryan went out in the bay to get some drift wood. After they had gotten their wood and towed it where they wanted it, they rowed around the Island to the cove, and just before landing, their skiff was capsized. Cochran swam ashore, but before Ryan could be rescued he came very near drowning. He was carried to his home in an insensible condition and it was nearly an hour before he was recusitated [sic]. 

The last will of Samuel P. Billar, an oysterman of this place, was a short time ago, admitted to probate by the Surrogate without opposition. It provided that his estate, about $30,000, should be enjoyed by his two children and widow as long as she remained single. In case of her re-marriage, the estate should be divided into thirds and each given their share. Application was recently made to the Surrogat to decide whether she was entitled to the personal estate, the executor having some doubts on the legal construction of the will. The Surrogate has decided that she is so entitled."

Source:  PELHAM AND CITY ISLAND, The Chronicle [Mount Vernon, NY], Feb. 29, 1884, Vol. XV, No. 754, p. 3, col. 4.  

"NO TIDINGS OF THE CREW.

The tug Maggie Moran, the schooner C. Hawsahan, and the revenue steamer Grant, all reported yesterday having passed a wreck off Woodlands, N. J.  The wreck provides to have been the three-masted schooner John K. Shaw, which left Newport News for New-Haven on Feb. 20.  Two of her spars and a portion of her stern were sticking above water.  The Moran's crew wrenched off a small brass bell, which bore the name of the schooner, and which established her identity.  Nothing whatever has been heard of her crew.  they were six men, under the command of Capt. Lucien Osborn.  The vessel was valued at about $12,000, and is said to have been uninsured.

A. S. Hatch & Co., of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway, were part owners of the lost vessel, and Capt. Osborn owned a share of her.  Mr. H. P. Havens, of No. 107 South-street, the agent of the vessel, received a letter on Saturday from the wife of Capt. Osborn asking if he had yet arrived in port.  She resides at Manasquan, N.J.  It is feared that the whole crew have perished, for if they had been rescued so near this port some tidings of the fact would have reached the agent.  The cargo consisted of about 350 tons of coal and 150 tons of pig-iron.  The vessel was built at City Island in 1872 and measured 379 tons.  Her agent thinks that perhaps she was run down by some steamer."

Source:  NO TIDINGS OF THE CREW, N.Y. Times, Feb. 26, 1884.  

"Wreckage on the Jersey Coast.

LONG BRANCH, March 3. -- The search continues for the bodies of the crew of the schooner John K. Shaw, which was sunk off Woodsland several days ago.  The sunken vessel now lies bottom up, and is supposed to be intact.  Parts of another vessel were washed ashore yesterday at Asbury Park.  The body which washed ashore near Bear island yesterday was buried to-day alongside of the other victims of the British bark Elmina.  The life saving crews will keep up the watch for bodies of the Shaw's crew.  The wife of Captain Osborn has offered a reward for the recovery of her husband's body."

Source:  Wreckage on the Jersey Coast, The Evening Bulletin [Maysville, KY], Mar. 3, 1884, p. 4, col. 1 (Note:  Subscription required to access via this link).

"The Newport.1 
[Footnote 1 reads:  "1 Reported by Edward G. Benedict, Esq., of the New York bar."]

Hatch and others v. The Newport. 

(District Court, S. D. New York. September 17, 1886.) 

Collision — Steamer And Schooner — Identity Of Colliding Vessel — Circumstantial Evidence—Witnesses Discredited—Costs Not Given. Libelants' three-masted schooner the S., which sailed on the twenty-first of February, 1884, from Newport News for New Haven, was sunk off the New Jersey coast, and all on board perished. The appearance of the wreck, discovered on the 24th, indicated collision as the cause of the loss. The steamer Newport, on the evening of the 23d, was in collision in the same neighborhood with a three-masted schooner. Libelants, claiming that the vessel struck by the Newport was the schooner S., and that she was sunk by the steamer's fault, brought this suit against the steam-ship for their loss. Held, on the evidence, some of the libelants' witnesses being discredited, that libelants had not established the identity of the Newport with the vessel that had sunk the S., and that the libel should be dismissed; but, considering the libelants' misfortune and probable case, without costs. 

In Admiralty. 
L. E. Chittenden and Geo. A. Black, for libelants. 
Goodrich, Deady & Goodrich, and R. D. Benedict, for claimants. 

Brown, J. In February, 1884, the libelants' three-masted schooner John K. Shaw, while on a voyage from Newport News to New Haven, and when some four or five miles off the Jersey coast, and about opposite Deal beach, was sunk, and all on board perished. She left Newport News between 12 and 1 o'clock P.M. of Thursday the 21st. In the afternoon of the 24th the spars of a wreck were seen projecting above water off Deal beach. The pilot of the tug-boat Maggie Moran, upon going near, found the afterpart of the deck afloat, and [Page 658 / Page 659] took off a bell having the name John K. Shaw upon it. Other parts of the wreck which came ashore, or were brought ashore afterwards, were identified as belonging to the John K. Shaw. 

There is no certain proof how the schooner was lost. She was deeply loaded, and had 19 tons of iron on deck. The wind on the night of the 23d was high from N.W., blowing about 50 miles per hour, with a considerable lumpy sea; and the weather during the afternoon previous was snowy. But the schooner is proved to have been staunch and sound, and her captain an experienced and capable officer, well acquainted with the coast; and the appearance of the wreck, from the breaking of the planks on the sides of the deck, indicated collision as the cause of the loss. 

The steamer Newport, bound from New York to Havana, when about opposite Deal beach, and at about 7 P.M. on the evening of the 23d, had a collision with a three-masted schooner. The libel charged that this schooner was the John K. Shaw, and that she was sunk by the steamer's fault, and claims $21,062 damages. The answer avers that the schooner with which the steamer collided was not the John K. Shaw, but some other schooner unknown to the claimants; and that the steamer's collision was a slight one, her starboard bow grazing the schooner's starboard quarter without injury to either vessel. 

Assuming that the John K. Shaw was sunk by a collision, the principal question in the case is whether the identity of these collisions has been satisfactorily established; in other words, whether, during the 24 hours preceding the afternoon of the 24th, when the wreck of the Shaw was first discovered, there were two collisions in that vicinity, or but one. 

As there is no direct proof identifying the John K. Shaw as the schooner with which the steamer collided, the evidence on the libelants' part is necessarily circumstantial only. The chief circumstances relied on to show that the schooners were one and the same are the following: (1) Both were three-masted schooners bound up the coast; (2) the John K. Shaw, from the time she left Newport News, might easily have been off Deal beach at the time of the Newport's collision, since only an average speed of four and one-half miles would have been requisite to bring her there at 7 P.M. of the 23d; (3) the site of the wreck when discovered in the afternoon of the 24th, was not far—certainly not over two or three miles—from the admitted place of the Newport's collision, and the latter place is but approximately fixed by estimates only; (4) one witness, the mess-boy of the Newport, testifies that he saw the schooner list and sink a few minutes after the collision, and when from a quarter to a half mile distant; and two others of her seamen, who watched the schooner from the steamer's port side, though they do not swear to seeing the schooner sink or capsize, think she must have sunk, because she vanished or disappeared suddenly when a half mile or thereabouts distant; (5) [Page 660 / Page 661] there was no other known wreck of a schooner at that time and place; (6) if the two schooners were not the same, then there were two collisions at about the same time and place, and hence two other colliding vessels to be accounted for; but there is no evidence of any other collision,—no other was reported, and no other vessel colliding with the Newport is proved. The Newport has not shown what other vessel it was, if any other, that collided with her or with the John K. Shaw. 

These circumstances present a pretty strong prima facie presumption and probability that it was the John K. Shaw with which the Newport collided. But the most important circumstance of all, if true, is that the schooner that collided with the Newport sank shortly after. If that could be deemed proved, it would have great weight in discrediting the opposing testimony; for, if another three-masted schooner had been sunk and lost there on the 23d, that fact would in all probability have become known and reported; although this, even, would not be certain, since it might be a schooner returning from a long voyage, and her wreck might have wholly disappeared. But one of the weakest parts of the libelants' testimony is the alleged sinking of the schooner with which the Newport collided. If, on the other hand, that schooner did not sink at the time, or is not known to have sunk; and, still more, if the direction and the kind of the colliding blow were not such as were likely to cause a schooner to sink; and if the schooner, after passing the steamer, showed no signs of sinking, and gave no signal for assistance, though means of doing so were at hand,—then the other circumstances relied on by the libelants are obviously wholly inconclusive. 

Careful consideration of the particulars, as regards each of the circumstances relied on by the libelants, has satisfied me not only that they are insufficient to establish their case by a preponderance of proof; but that, notwithstanding my first impressions to the contrary, the probabilities, upon the facts and circumstances proved by the claimants, are that, however the John K. Shaw may have been sunk, it was not through the Newport, but that the schooner colliding with the latter was another vessel. I shall state some of the chief reasons only for this conclusion, without going into all the details of the testimony. 

(1) There is no satisfactory proof that the schooner that collided with the Newport was substantially injured. The weight of direct proof, and the probabilities of the case, are to the contrary. The mess-boy is not supported by Murphy, who stood by him watching the schooner. The latter says she sailed away into the darkness, as usual, apparently uninjured. The testimony of the other two seamen for the libelants, that they thought she sank, is based upon her disappearing suddenly some five or ten minutes after the collision, and a half mile or so distant, whereas they thought she should have been seen longer; but their credibility and good judgment are cer- [Page 660 / 661] tainly not sustained by their further testimony that a schooner on that night could be seen, as the one says, seven miles, the other twenty miles, off. Four other witnesses who were watching the schooner from a better post of observation say that she gradually disappeared, sailing away, as usual, into the darkness, without apparent injury. The night was dark, being still clouded and thick to the south and east from the previous snow, but clearing to the westward. 

(2) Most of the witnesses say that the schooner, before the collision, was sailing close-hauled, and therefore heading about N. by E.; that her sails at the collision were shaking from an apparent luff to avoid the Newport; and all say that after raking past the steamer she sailed away, or filled away, upon her previous course, until she disappeared from sight. This would not be natural or probable if she had been seriously injured as to sink within 10 or 15 minutes after the collision. 

(3) The schooner gave no call for help, nor signal of any kind indicating disaster or need of assistance. As she passed the steamer, several of the witnesses heard something said from the quarter deck. Two witnesses say it was in substance, 'Where in h—l are you going;' an exclamation certainly not indicative of serious injury or impending disaster. After she had passed, a light like that of a lantern was seen on board; but it was not swung, nor was any other signal for help displayed. It is scarcely credible that the vessel should have filled away on her course, and exhibited no signal for help, if so damaged as to sink shortly after. 

(4) The libel alleges that the colliding blow was given on the schooner's starboard bow, forward of the foremast,—the lookout of the steamer so testifies; and, if this had been true, doubtless the schooner would have been cut in two or capsized. But all of the other witnesses of the collision disprove the lookout's account in this respect. The blow was clearly a glancing blow upon the schooner's starboard quarter, given when the schooner, having luffed somewhat, was heading either N. or a little W. of N., while the steamer was heading about S. 1-2 W.; and the schooner's quarter raked along the steamer's side, as shown by the mark on the latter, for some 50 or 60 feet, beginning about 25 feet from the steamer's stem. Such a blow was not one that would necessarily do much damage to either vessel. It did none to the steamer, and the subsequent conduct of the schooner would indicate that none was done to her. If so, that furnishes all the explanation called for to account for the absence of proof of the name of the schooner collided with. The collision, in this view, was not one that required reporting, and accordingly was not reported; and hence the schooner was unknown. The steamer, for the same reason, made no official report of her collision, as she would have done had it been accompanied by damage. 

(5) There is no certain proof that the Shaw was sunk by collision. [Page 661 / Page 662] The breaking of the sides of her deck might have occurred in foundering, and from the great weight of iron on deck. So far as the appearances indicate a collision, however, they would indicate a different kind of collision from that with the Newport, viz., a collision on the port side, instead of one on the starboard side; and in the waist, cutting her in two, instead of a glancing blow along the starboard quarter. The wreck of the Shaw showed the taffrail mainly in place, and the rail and stanchions for a considerable distance still standing on the starboard quarter much further than along the port quarter. A sideling blow from the Newport on the schooner's starboard quarter could only have caused her to sink from crushing in that part of her; and it is hardly conceivable that a blow sufficient to crush in her quarter could have left her rail and stanchions standing; and the Shaw's wreck indicated a blow, if any, upon the opposite side. 

(6) A moment or two before the collision, the steamer's wheel was hard a-starboard, and her engines were stopped for five minutes. Her previous speed, aided by the wind, was about 15 knots. Under her starboard wheel she swung to port till she headed due north, when she went ahead under one bell at 'half speed,' being about nine knots. In swinging round to due north she would have gone due east from the meridian of the collision at least a third of a mile. She continued going north about 10 or 15 minutes, without seeing any signs of the schooner, and then swung around again to the southward, and continued on her course. As the schooner was probably going at the rate of six to seven knots, if she continued on her course without injury she would not have been overtaken by the steamer, on this return of about two miles to the northward, after the five-minutes stop of her engines. But, if the schooner had been seriously damaged, she would not have been likely to continue under full sail to the northward; and she would probably have been seen, or at least some boats or signals for help would probably have come into view, since there was clearly ample time, while the schooner was in sight, and before the steamer had got headed to the northward, to have launched her small boats. 

(7) The weight of testimony leaves no doubt that on board the Newport there was not, at the time, any belief or thought that the schooner had been sunk or materially injured; and such is the entry in her log. All the circumstances point to this belief on their part; and the testimony of one or two of the discharged seamen to the contrary is not sustained. Every probability is otherwise. 

(8) It is not wholly insignificant that out of the seven witnesses that looked down upon the deck of the schooner as she passed the steamer, illuminated to some extent by the steamer's lights, not one noticed any deck cargo; while the Shaw's large deck-load of iron must have been easily distinguishable. 

(9) The evidence all tends to show that the place of the Newport's collision was some two or three miles from the place where the wreck [Page 662 / Page 663] of the Shaw was found the next afternoon. This conclusion depends, to some extent, on estimates; but by no means wholly so. The place of the wreck is fixed, by its bearings from the stations Nos. 5 and 6, as less than five miles off Deal beach. The officer at station No. 5 testified at the trial that it bore from his station S. E. He afterwards made affidavit that he should have said E. S. E.; and as it bore E. by N. from station No. 6, the former would make the wreck less than three miles from shore; the latter, four and a half miles. 

All the witnesses from the Newport, however, as well as three for the libelant, estimate the place of the collision as from seven to eight miles off shore. The master went out further than usual to avoid the many coasters that had gathered near shore during the thick and snowy weather previous. It is scarcely probable that all on board should have misjudged the distance from shore in the same way, by making it one-third greater than it was. 

The distance and course run by the steamer after passing Sandy Hook and Scotland lightship, and the bearing of the Highland lights, after the Newport had got headed north, confirm the estimates given by the witnesses of their distance from shore at nearly seven miles. Upon heading north, the Highland lights, as the pilot testifies, bore 'about N. N. W.;' the two lights being in range and showing as one. The master says that the Scotland lightship at the same time bore N. by W. westerly. By passing from half a mile to a mile to the eastward of the latter at 5:50 and running 40 minutes S. by E., and then 10 minutes S. 1/2 W., as the master testifies she did run, the steamer would have reached, at 6:40 P.M., when the engine was stopped, about 12£ miles from the Scotland light-ship, and would be bearing, when headed to the northward, within half a point of S. S. E. from the Highland lights, which the pilot says bore 'about N. N. W.;' and this would also bring the Scotland light-ship N. by W. westerly, as the master testifies. This would make the steamer about seven miles from shore. The mate's statement that the Highland lights bore N. N. W. from the steamer after she got headed south again, I consider a mistake, as it is not reconcilable with anything else in the case, nor with the libelants' theory. 

The witnesses upon whom the libelants rely for proof that the schooner struck by the Newport was seen to sink, not only testify under somewhat suspicious influences, but the force of their testimony is greatly weakened by the manifest mistakes and improbabilities that attend it. One of the witnesses, Anderson, who says the schooner disappeared suddenly when about half a mile distant, also says 'it was a clear night at the time;' that the steamer was 'under full speed;' that it was moonlight; and that without moonlight the schooner could not be seen a half mile off, but thinks it could have been seen a quarter of a mile. Now, the proof is certain that the steamer was not then under full speed, but that her engines were either stopped or going slow; that it was not then a clear night; and, [Page 663 / Page 664] as the moon fulled on the evening of February 11th, there was no moon above the horizon at 7 P.M. of the 23d. From this it is manifest that not only can no value be attached to the witness' inference that the schooner sank when half a mile off because she suddenly disappeared, but the false circumstances stated discredit him altogether. There are other circumstances that compel me to withhold confidence from the statements of the other witnesses that testify that they saw the schooner sink. 

These circumstances altogether are sufficient, as it seems to me, to explain and to outweigh the apparent probabilities against the Newport at first presented. Her narrative is not attended, so far as I can perceive, by any serious inconsistencies, or by any difficulties or improbabilities. I cannot regard the case of the libelants, therefore, as established by any such preponderance of proof as to warrant a decree against the Newport, and the libel must be dismissed. The Grace Girdler, 7 Wall. 196; The Albert Mason, 2 Fed. Rep. 821; S. C. 8 Fed. Rep. 768; The City of Chester, 18 Fed. Rep. 603. But, considering the misfortune of the libelants, and their apparent probable case, the dismissal may be without costs."

Source:  The Newport, 28 F. 658 (S.D.N.Y., 1886) (Federal Reporter).

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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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