The New York Herald Newspaper, July 21, 1876, Page 3

x SHOCKING CATASTROPHE, | The Yacht Mohawk Capsized Of Staten Island, A Tragic Tale of and Tempest. Terror FIVE PERSONS DROWNED Gx-Vice Commodore Garner, His Wife, Brother- in-law and Miss Hunter Lost. THE CABIN BOY DIES AT HIS POST. Diving for the Bodies at the Wreck. HARROWING SCENES AND INCIDENTS. A Dark Night and a Threaten- ing Storm. MARRATIVES OF SURVIVORS AND BYR- WITNESSES A Thrill of Horror Throughout Staten Island. EXCITING SCENE AT THE CLUB HOUSE. —_>.—_—_———. Yesterday afternoon, a few minutes after four p’clock, adisaster occurred at the anchorage of the New York Yacht Club, off Stapleton, Staten Island, which in its loss of life will senda thrill of horror and grief to many who knew and admired ex-Vice Vommodore Garner. In a sudden squall of wind, forecast by a sharp shower of rain, the yacht Mohawk, having on board the ex-Vice Commodore, bis wife and Several friends, was capsized, and, before assistance sould be rendered, five lives were lost. The accident created intense excitement all along the shore, and, for a few moments after the stately masts of the Mohawk were, seen to totter and keel over into the Bay, no one seemed to know what was to be done, so sudden and unexpected was tho result of the squall, Early in the afternoon ex-Vice Commodore Garner, accompanied by his charming wife, Miss Edith Sybil May, Miss Adele Hunterand Mr. Schuyler Crosby went on board the yacht. The vessel was at anchor, and it 1s supposed that the squall being seen orders bad beon given the sailing master to make sail and scud, Judging from the state- ments of eye-witnesses it Is quite evident that the sail- ‘mg master, Captain Roland, gave orders to hoist the fore sheets before he had thought of hoisting his anchors apeak, The consequence was that when the Squall struck the yacht she suddenly forged whead, and, being tied down by hor anchor, capsized, her masts falling prone upon the surface of tho” water within three seconds ef time, The sudden shower of rain which was the precursor of the storm, had driven into the sabin all the passengors. They were Vice Commodore Garner; his wife, Mrs. Garner; Miss Adele Hunter, Miss Edith Sybil May, Gardner Howland, LL B Montant and Colonel Schuyler Crosby. The tabin boy, Sullivan, was also beneath decks at thetime, When the Mohawk capsized all the crew, some twenty-three in number, were, of course, on deck, and asthe vessel careened and slowly swung round to the northward, they either climbed up on the port side of the hullor clutched at the standing rig- ging. THE WORK OF RESCUR. Meanwhile the unfortunate and bewlldered occupants of the cabin were unable to escape to the companion Indder, owingto the sudden flow of water and the dreadful inward surge of the sea It was a moment of thrilling horror. Six persons, three of them ladies, were thus imprisoned within the nar- row compass of the cabin and hope seemed lost. Commodores Garner had been on deck when the first whift of wind struck his yacht, and, having given the necessary orders, had gone below to succor his wife and friends. As the yacht careensd Mr. Garner seized his wife by the hand, but the sudden Iurch threw a sofa against ber and hold her fast, Yethe had almost exiricated her when the vessel, settling, gave impulse to another sofa and held both husband and wife hard against the cabin wall. Such was the agony of the moment that Mrs, Garner, in clutching ber hus- band’s hand, drew from his finger his ring. Then tho water surged in upon them and they were both at rest in death, 4 While this terrible scene was being enacted Mr. How- ‘and made superhuman efforts for Miss Hunter, Miss May and himself. He caught Miss Hnnter’s hand in one despairing clasp, amid all the confusion in the nar- row limits of the cabin, but scarceiy did he feel her clasp than the heavy body of water, rushing in through the doorway, drageed her trom him. At the same moment he found himself hurled against the skylight, which gave woy at the mo- ment, and, finding Miss May by bis side, he pushed her before him through the t- tered sashes, and was himsell fortunate enough tobe able to follow her imto the open water. The boats from the shore completed the work of rescue, and these two, the solo survivors of the cabin, were ickly rowed to shore, The yacht, having dragged her anchor before the force of the tide, slowly drifted along the shore to the Killa, until finally the hull grounded on the mud flats off Bergen Point, Tho boats and divers of the Coast Wreckin' Company were soon ‘on band, and began the work of recovering the bodies ofthe drowned. Four long hours of work were per- formed before it was ascertained that the yacht must de righted to in the cabin. the of going to press none of the bodies had been recovered, though one, that of a lady, had been discovered and a ine fastened to it. pha: We herewith give the statements of survivors and tye witnesses of the dreadful occurrence, which will be found full of mournful interest and graphic features :— i STATEMENT OF R. W. CAMERON, Mr. R. W. Cameron, who was in the club house when ebe squall struck the vessel, made the foliowing state- ment;—"Mr, Ball and Mr. Jones were lunching with me atthe ciub, Commodore Garner and the iadies and gentlemen who accompanied him had been aboard the Mohawk I should say about a quarter of an hour to twenty minutes when I noticed a squall strike her from the shore, She careened over slightly and seemed to be righting again, when, @ minute or two afterward, another squali struck her and she toppled over, She had ail her sails up at the time, with the exception of her foretopsail, which was flapping as though it had not been hoisted fully. Commodore Garner was on the deck when the second squall struck her, and he ran down apparently into the cabin, As his wife was in the cabin he went down, no doubt, to save her. The moment she careened over boats pat out from the Dreadnaught, the Countess of Dat ferin and a éailing schooner, as well as from the shore, The assistance was very prompt— 1 NEW YORK HERALD, FRIDAY, JULY 21. 1876. 80 prompt, indeed, that had a man aboard of her who was thrown into the water been made of lead he would have been savea. Those who were in the cabin, of course, could not be saved, for they had no chance of life, being engulphed at once by the water that poured in upon them through the cabin doors and windows. To us in the club house the scene was a harrowing one. We could not distinguish faces at the distance we were from the vessel, nor could we, of course, know whether any one was in the cabin when she went under bat seeing her go over, and then the people struggling in the water—it was all so sudden that we were thor- oughly demoralized 4 while, 0 to speak, When she tay on the water, with her sails laying flat out for a short time, she began to sink at the stern, This raised her bow up, and she yung completely around. Her bow was headed down the stream when the squall struck her, and shortly after she went over it pointed up stream, showing to our minds that she was held by her anchor. A gentlo- man told me that he could plainly see the crow swing- ing their hats and bear them hallooing for the small boats that put out to the vessel to come to their rescue. Te us the whole scene was one that! cannot recall with- out shuddering. CAPTAIN HAIGHT'S STORY. Mr, Jobn E. Hatght, an old sailor and former keeper of pilot boat No, 2, who was an eye witness of the dis- aster, was found at his bouse in Vandam street, and related the occurrence as tollows:— “I was at Captain Stillwell’s place on the shore at Clif. ton, Staten Island, this afternoon about half-past four o'clock, in company with Captain Silvey. The latter gentl , Who was looking out on the bay, suddenly cried, ‘There goes the yacht Mohawk over!’ I jumped to my fect from the lounge on which I had been lying and, looking toward Stapleton, saw at a distance of half a mile or more the yacht referred to, which had just righted again, having been clear over on her beam ends, She remained upright some three or fqur minutes, and then, caught by a stiff puff of windfrom the land, went over on her broadside again. Thp craft had just got under way when tho squall first capsized her, and while she remained righted 1 watched intently to see what would be done by those on board. Every stitch of canvas was sét, and yet, so far as I could see, not tho slightest effort was mate to save her, Nota single sheet wag started that we could see from the shora Captain Stillwell was very much excited and cried out, ‘That’s the damnedest piese of work I ever saw in my life; why don’t they let her come.up in the wind?’ There was plenty of time after she righted to let go all the sheets forward. If that had been done and the peak of the mainsail slacked away she would have come up in the wind and no harm would have come. As the yacht went over I looked at her through aglass, Her masts were lying flat in the water, and her bead was toward the shore, One side was lying high out of the water, exposing her keel, and on the bilge some fifteen or twenty people were gathered. Several laities were lying down clinging to the planking, and some gentlemen were standing up. Out upon the topmasts, which were flat in the water, a number of sailors wore struggling, and several others bestrided the jib, A great many boats at once started to the rescue, The steam yacht Ideal was lying with steam up only about three-eightbs of a mile from the Mohawk when the latter capsized, and she started at once to render assistance to the unfortu- Mate passengers. Instead of going directly alongside the capsized vessel, however, the Ideal steamed clear around her, even going outside of a craft that lay some 300 fathoms beyond the latter; and when she did reach the Mohawk, Instead of making fast at the bow, which was highest out of water, the Ideal made fast to the stern,.and actually pulled the Mohawk under water. There was only six or seven fathoms where the accident occurred, and as the Mohawk has some forty-two tect of beam, a portion of her side was still visible above the water, the other Probably resting on the bottom. Two small boats, which put off from the shore, reached the capsized vessel before the Ideal had Ontshed her circuit of it 1 at once started for the club house, and saw no more of what occurred at the scene of the disaster,” Mr. Haight was intensely emphaticin his condem- nation of the person !n charge of tho luckless vessel, as were also several other beating men who witnessed it, STATEMENT OF ONE OF THY CREW. One of the seamen, who refused to give his namo, made the following statement It was about ten migutes after four, I should think, when the accident oceufred, Commodore Garner and his party had been on board about a quarter of an hour when it began to rain. The Commodore and the ladies and gentlemen were on deck at the time, and when the rain. set. in tbey all went down into the cabls. We bad all sails set and the anchor was down; even the head sails were up. A snuden squall struck wus, which was not very severe, andi don’t think anybody on board thought much about it as tho yacht careened but slightly. However, before she had well righted, another squall struck her ful! broadside, and in a second she was over on her side I was standing at the timo near the bow, on the port side, and, as I felt’ her go over, I scrambied up the deck and managed to escape, falling into the water, I got into a small boat that came out from one of the yachts—the Dreadnanght or Countess of Dufferin, I could not tell which—atter I slipped of, I do not think that there was anybody on deck except the sailing master ond the crew when the second equall struck the boat with the exception of one of the gentlemen of the party, who seemed to be just coming up ont of the cabin as we went over, Who it was I can’t say, The Commodore himself I know was on the deck a little before the first squoll, but I did not see him when the vessel careened, and I think that he must have gone down into the cabin. From whatI have heard since I believe that he apprehended danger on the first squall striking us, and ran down to get his wife out of the cabin. I have heard it said that either the Commodore or some one on board called ont to take 1m sail just before the squall had reached us from the shore, but 1 did not hear anybody give any such order. Whether the centreboard wi jown orenot 1 do not know. Heid down by her anchor, as I believe she was, and with hor sails all set, it 18 no wonder she upset, She could not have done otherwise.”” MR. PRTER JACONSON’S STATEMENT. Mr. Peter Jacobson, a well known boatman and pop- ular saloon keeper of Stapleton, gives the following particulars of the disaster, as they came under his observation, and as he participated in the subsequent occurences. Being interviewed by a Hexa:p reporter he answered all questions freely. Thero was one point, however, which Mr. Jacobson eschewed until the thought to whom was the blame of this great catastropho due camo upon him with a deep feeling of all its con- sequences, and then he spoke with force and feeling. He satd he had witnessed the accident to the yacht; he had been loading his boat with provisions and various supplies for the Dreadnaught; his boat was at the time pretty heavily laden, anit he was about | taking bis seat to row off when he heard & dockman cry out, “There goes the Mo- hawk.” A squall bad just come up—nothing very severe—and ho had no suspicion of how disas- trously it would affect the yacht, He. however, looked out toward the Mohawk, and to nis surprise sho was going down fast, He immediately abandoned his heavily laden boat, got into another and rowed with other help to the wreck. -Ashe neared the yacht the mate of the Mohawk, who had jumped overboard, hailed him and him he took on board. There was a large number of bonts around at time, all zealously engaged In sescuing the people from the wavos and the still floating portion of the wreck, Mr, Jacovsun went on board with an axe, and, with others, strove to reach the cabin, bat it was too deop!y submergod and their efforts were in vain, and to save them- selves they were compelled to abandon the fast sinking vessel. With regard to the Capthin’s conduct, be said that no man would have set all sail with his anchor below, and that in the face of a coming squall, Under such circumstances he should have been prepared to take in sailor jet bis anchor go ata moment warning. Anchored as she was when the squail struck her, with her gails all sot, she was bound to go over. STATEMENT OF THOMAS MB. HUNT, OP THR YacHT COUNTRSS OF DUFFERIN. Three seamen of the yacht Conntess of Dufferin, who exerted themselves and efficiently in efforis to render Assistance irow the first moment of appretiiended dan- ger, give the following account of the catastrophe as seen by them. They #1 that avout twenty minutes past four P.M. the clouds grew suddenly dark and threatened an immediate storm They bappened to took toward the Mohawk, which had thon ali sail set, with the exception of tho foretopsail, but still hela by her anchor. The Mohawk, not being under weigh and so peculiarly placed, the word passed ve- tween the three Countess of Dufferin’s men, **Here is a Squall; let's see how the Mohawk will stand up to it’? In almost a moment afier, the squa!l—not a very Violent one—struck the Mohawk broadside. She reeled’ under the blow, then righted for @ moment and instantiy went over. The three lookers-on from the Countess of Dufferin’s deck rushed to lower a boat; and at the same time Captain Cuthbert, of the Dufferin, ordered other boats to be lowered. Thomas B, Hunt, George Clancey and —— Foatherstone—the three allors who = had been tooking ont for the effeet of the squall— iad anticipated the orders of their captain, apd, like true seamen, wero already engaged in lowering one of the boats. They threw their ojiskin coats ito the boats, a number of life preservers and grappling hooks, Captain Cuthbert hastened the move- ments of the other boats, the crews working with a will, The men in the first boat rowed toward the stern of the Mohawk, which was then fast sinking, and when they reached near the spot beth stem and stern of the yacht #ere completely submerged, her midships only being above water, looking, as tho Countess of Duflerin’s men said, ‘‘just like the back of a whale.” As they rowed toward the wreck a number of people were seen struggling in tne water, while a larger namber were still on the side of the vessel shrieking for aia. The men in the boat picked up but one person, Mr. Schuyler Crosby, whom they transferred to one of the boats of the Dreadnaught, as their boat was fast filling with water. Atthis time the sceno ot the ill-fated Mohawk’s disaster was covered with boats and ‘small craft of various descriptions, renderingjall the as- sistance that was possible, efforts which resulted in rescuing very many valuable lives, Among the strug. glers in the water Hunt says there was a lady, whose namo he afterward learned was Miss Edith May, who was fortunately saved after some heroic efforts on the part of a gentleman whose name the sailors could not give, but who, it was afterward understood, was Mr, Morant, one of the party who bad been invited on the cruise. One gentleman, whose name we ualortu- nately, could not ascertain, maintained his position on the sinking yacht to the last moment, rejecting all aid for himself, and calling to the men in the boats to give all their attention and help to those whose appeals for succor from the water and clinging to the side of the yacht showed they were most in need of their help. In sad contrast to this is the current report that the captain (or sviling master) of the Mohawk seomed to have been bereft of all presence of mind and to have lost all tne attributes of aman and of a commander responsible, #0 far a8 good sea- manship and disregard of self-preservation are con- cerned, to preserve the lives of those intrusted to hischarge. tis tobe hoped that further investiga- tion tuto the circumstances attending this untoward event will disprove this rumor. Overlooking this for the moment, Mr. Hunt, of the Countess of Dulferin, and his associates, say that nothing but the grossest disregard of all seamanship could have brought about #0 great a calamity. But on the point other statements are given, which will be found below. After they had rescued Mr. Crosby from the the waters and transferred him, as before stated, to one of the boats of the Dread- naught, and heving watched with anxiety the rescue by other parties of the young lady, the Dufferin men, whose boat was then pretty full of water, rowed back to the Countess of Dufferin, At that time they say that in their judgment all the pgople that were not below in the cabin at the time the squall struck the Mohawk had been rescued from her midships .or from the waters, One of the boat's crew, Mr. Cluncey, went on board the Mohawk and made aneffort to reach tho cabin, but she was going down fast atthe timo, and aftor a bold effort to rescue the occupants, Commodore Garner and the others, ho was forced to retire, As they reached the Countess of Dufferin three tugs bad the ill-fated Mohawk in tow, heading toward the Kills off New Brighton, where sho still lics submerged, with the unfortunate victimsto tho dis- aster that transformed her from a yacht of pleasure to a tomb. . STATEMENT OF AN EYR WITNESS. The accident, as seen from Staten Island, is thus described by an eye witnes#:—I was standing on the hill, overlooking tne bay, upon which St. Paul's ,memorial church and rectory stand, gazing out upon the water, when Isaw the Mohawk weigh her anchor and safl up and down past the yacht house two or more times. Sho then headed toward New Yerk and was going at a spanking rate, when sud- denly every sail on the yacht seomed to quiver, the noble vessel rocked and then, keeled over on her port side with her masta to the Island shore and began rapidly to sink. I ran for glasses, and saw through them the crew and pleasure party dart hurriedly up, and while some sprang over the sides into the water, others clung on to the canvas and spars antil help arrived. None seemed to have their senses; evoryone was apparently—as well I could see through the — telescope— utterly demoralized. The little boats came alongsido the fast sinking craft, andthe men and ladies, of whom I observed but one, sprang into them and were rowed away. When tho Mohawk first capsized I saw the steam yacut Ideal, which lay east ot her, dart forward to the stern of the Mohawk to which she attached a hawser, apparently with the in- tention of righting her, but which seemed to pull down the yacht’s stern rather than to raise it, In tho in- tense excitement which then prevailed no one seemod equal to the emergency except the tugboats and the littio row boats, the ‘ermer throwing their cables on to tho Mohawk, the Jatter darting away with ber crew. Then I saw the tues tow the Mohawk away north and sick at heart | left. A Hewat reporter who witnessed the accident of the Mobawk from the Staten Isiand shore, at onco took a small boat and was rowed out to the steam yacht Ideal, on which, be was informed, those saved were, As he jumped on the deck of the steamer a m attired in a not very clean shirt and old light trousers, without a hat, came for. ward and requested to koow what was tho pleasure of the reporter, On being informed of the reporter's object, the person who accosted the HeraLp representative said, ‘Yes, sir, we have had a fearful accident, an awful accident. William T. Garner, his wife and Miss Hunter, Miss Adels Hunter,’’ he re- peated, “are drowned, drowned,” and our informant began pacing the deck in a nervous way. Again he stopped betore the reporter, and said, “Yen, we started happily this afternoon at fifteen past four o’clock frouv our anchorage off the club house, and had sailed but a few minutes, when the yacht suddenly gavo a lurch, throwing us all over on her deck, and vefore I could recover myself the water rusbed over the side and swept the deck. Our party clang to the taffrail, spars and sheets antil a small boat came alongside and took us off. Then we asked In one voice, ‘Where is Will?’. meaning Mr. Garner, and somo one answered, ‘He and his wife and Miss Hunter are forward down stairs,’ and we did not need to hear more. They were drowned."’ Then our informant continued :—"I am Sebuyler Crosby, and in our party were Miss Edith May, Miss Hunter, Mr. and Mrs. Gar- ner, Gardner Howland, myself and Mr. Montant. Three are drowned and four aro saved.’ Thon the Colonol walked away, As the Heratp representative was on board the Ideal & boat, rowed by two sailors and containing two gen- tlemen, ran along side, and one inquired if any one on board the Mohawk hat been drowned, to which Colonel Crosby answered, “Y: Will, bis wife and Miss Hunter are drowned,” “Not honest,” returned the other, in thanderstruck tones od, again being an- swered ‘‘Yes,’’ he ordered the sailors to give way, Another* it shot alongside and its occupant shouted, “Any lives lost and the same answer as had been just given to the first party was returned bim, and he replied, “Good God!” and he bowed his head on his hands, ana bis boat moved away. The Mohawk was towed for beaching to the Jersey meadows, on the bay, near Greenville, whore divors, if necessary, will be at once employed to recover the bedies from the cabins of the yacht. The HxRatn reporter was informed yesterday after. noon that the Captain of the Mohawk was unfit for bis position, and the informant cited a late narrow escape of the yacht, with Mr, Gargerand a party on board, which took place a few weeks since while crutsing in the lower bay. It seems. the Captain allowed his yacht to drift mght under the very bows of an inward (*) bound bark and narrowly escaped being ran over by the heavier vessel. There were in the elu house at the time of the acci- dent Mr. Frederick A. Ball, of Toronto; Mr. Hamilton Bruce, of Now York, Clarence Ball, aud Mr. Jones, o the Countess ot Dufferin; Mr. R. W. Cameron, Mr, Mortimer Fowler and Mr. James Pendleton. A SCENE IN THR CABIN. A gentleman states that when the first premonition ot.the blows trom the squall was noticed, Mr. Garner and Mr. Crosby went down to the cabin, where Mrs, Garner, Miss May and Mr. Hanter were at the time, ail unconscious of the sad fate attending at least three of them. ‘Tho gentlemen had no sooner reached below when the squall struck, and the vessel at once careened, throwing the ocenpants of the cabin with great violence on one side, seized his wife by the hand, but the force of the con. cussion broke the grasp that would have saved Mrs. Garner as the statement is, forcing the ring off her bu: band’s finger. Mr. Montant endeavored at the same time tosaye Miss Hunter, and Mr. Crosby to save Miss May As the yacht rebounded another attempt on the part of | Mr. Garner to rescue his wife was rendered entirely futile, she was thrown with great violence behind one of the sofas in the cabin, Inthe last supreme effort, however, he lost his life, and his spirit passed with that of hers he so loved from that scene of his sacrifice and devotion. The samo lurch that = proved fatal to the owner of the yacht and nis wife was the safety of Mr. Crosby, Mr. Montant and Miss May. It righted tho vessel so that the skylights of the deck were opened above their hends, offering the last chance of eseape, Mr. Montant was unable to savo Miss Hunter from her position in the cabin, but Mr, Crosby saw his chance of escape for himself and rescue for Miss May, who was still in a position to help herself, With an effort impelled by the fear of perishing there in that now terrible cabin, a rush was made to the friendly skylights, they were seized, and the mon be low had just barcly timo to fore Miss May through and follow themselves, when tho yacht finally sank with its owner, Mrs, Garner, her brother, Miss Hunter and the cabin boy. SCRNE OF THR DISASTER, \ oo \ QuaRaxrine Deg ote 7” VANorr aie af Dock, ee is / YACHT x! <> 4\ MOHAWE. z = » Be s, Ss ppt Pee \ if rc THE 5 NARROWS, “a af z g\ 5 bag \ 402 ‘ z ) re \ THE SCENE AT THR WRECK. A Henan reporter visited the scene of the wreck of Bergen Point soon after tbe arrival of the em- ployés of the Coast Wreeking Company. The fact that the submerged yacht Mohawk was hard and fast m the mud, and that search was being made forthe bodics of the drowned, naturally attracted a large number of people, who came from New Brighton apd Vanderbilt Landing, all anxious to learn the worst and seo the work of extricating the bodies performed. Tho Mohawk lay on her beam ends in abont twenty feet of water, and nearly alongside was the schooner Meta, of the Coast Wrecking Company, All around the wreck were clustered a whole fleet of row and sail- boats, all full of people, who wero fimply spectators, Right in among the submerged rigging of the Mohawk stood a big white heavy-built iifeboat, Amid- ships were the air chests and pumps used for supplying the divers. Near the stern sat William Carle, the only diver present, and when the Huratp boat ran in among the fleet he wag putting on his sub- marine armor. In a few minutes after the signal was given and Carls soon disappeared beneath the water, Then a long period of suspense ensued. The air pumps moved up and down monotonously, the air bubbles, rose to the surface and everybody waited with sip. pressed impatience for the result of the search by the diver, Minutes grew into hours, and yet there was no sign. The sun went down flery red, its setting rays gilding the water and throwing every object into the picture with a vividness never to be forgotten by those who were present. Then darkness came, and the heavy clouds of the threatening storm made the air appear thick. Frequent and exceedingly vivid flashes of lightning illumined the scene, the brief intervals of darkness seeming blacker and aetser by the contrast The shore near New Brighton was thronged by people who wero evidently waiting pa- tiently to hear the worst and expecting the bringing up of the dead. They were doomed to be disappointed, for as the hours wore on there was no sign of success, and the rain finally drove them to their homes and families, Meanwhile sturdy William Carle was hard at work under tho water trying to force his way into the cabin of the Mohawk and find the bodies of its i!l-dated ovcupants, After nearly four hours’ hard labor be signalled his re- turn to the surface, and in a few moments after clam- bered into the boat, As oon as he had removed his headpiece and had taken a few long breaths of the free, open air, he made his report. THY DiVRR'S STORY, “{ went down all right and soon found the com- panion hatchway, which was fast, But I managed to foree my way in and afier considerable trouble made my way safely inside. The loose furniture and fixings were all adrift, and as the yacht was on her side they had + became all jammed together almost right np to the cabin door, There was no way of getting them to float out, and I could not make my way in, as [ might have done had the vessel been standing on herkeel. I tried hard to get im, and just managed to go tar enough to see the body of a lady; but t was jammed hard and fast by the floating wreck, and the best | could do was to pass @ line around the body and make it fast for the time being. This was the only body I saw.” RIGHTING THE MOTIAWK. Mr. Carle had been under the water for nearly four hours, and Was naturally much exhausted by his suo- marine labors, A brief consultation then ensued, when it was decided that nothing could be done until the cap- sized yacht was righted. By this time the tugs Reseuo and McRoberts had arrived, together with the schooner Meta, of the Const Wrecking Company, and the schooners Call and Thompsou, Tho steamer D. [. Martin, of Commodorc Garner's lino of ferryboats, was also present (0 renaer whatever assistance she could. The two schooners were then Iaid alongside of cach oth ind, being lashed bard and fast, were towed to a favorable position alongside the wreck. Strong falls were then rigged on board the Meta, which, being made fast to the mainmast and foremast ot the Mohawk, the work of bringing the sanken yacht on on even keel was begun. It was then nino o'clock, and many of the small boats bad let, the scene. Slowly the windiasses went round and the masts of the Mohawk bogan visibly to rise from the water like spectral ghosts, the soddened canvas clinging to them as thoogh loth to leave the depths from which they were being dragged. ‘The lightnimg flashed, the dark clouds settled and hoarse thunder rattled over our heads as we sat in our boat, and as the writer thus sat and waited the diver Carlie remained quiet and undisturbed, only waiting for the moment when he was to be called to re-enter the cool deptns below in search for the bodies of the lost. Ateleven o'clock tho task of righting the Mohawk nad been only baif accomplislied, and it was evideat What but little could be done until daylight, But still Mr. Garner | fast | Scene there was an air of intense watching among those who were present, AT THY HOTELS AND CLUBS. The upsetting of the yacht Mohawk and the attend- ant loss of life was the aniversal topic of conversation the hotels and clbbs last evening. At the Fifth Ave- nue Hotel several telegrams were received early in the evening, giving the bare outlines of the terrible affair, [$2 these were pieed on the bulletin, where it could) see them. About nine o'clock the extra edition of the Telegram, giving many par- ticulars of the sad affair, was being cried on every street corner, and was very soon in the hands of nearly every passer-by. In the corridor of the hotels, and in the bar and reading rooms, little knots and groups ot men gathered bere and there, and the theme of conversation was invaria: bly the disaster, Of con’ in the absence of anything like full particulars as to the actual cause and extent of the calamity many theories were in dulged in by the conversationalists, none of them, however, being of particular importance, At the Union Club, corner of twenty-tirst sirect and Fifth avenue, where Mr. Garner was an esteemed member, the ut- most consternation was occasioned by the news, The first intimation the members had of the affair was con. veyed through the following despatch :— Sraptetox, 8. 1, July 2 To Usion Cron:— Mohawk upset in a squall. Crosby, Howland, Mop- tantand Miss May saved. Mr. and Mrs Garner and Miss Hunter lost, ML. FOWLER, 5:30 P.M. telegraphed over the country innumerable telegraphic inquiries as to the aciual loss of life were received at the club house from almost every section ot the land, Later in the evening the following additional despatch from Staten Isiand was received :— | Immediately upon the receipt of this despatch | soveral gentiomen, who chanced tw bo abont | the house, started at once for the scene | of the disaster and most of them remained | | over night. As soon as the news began to be | {Received at Union Club at seven minute: W. P. Tannoys, Union Club;— Mohawk capsized at twenty-five minutes to five P. M, inn squnil, expecting to go out, Mr. Garner and Mrs, Garner and Miss Hunter drowned. Ali tho rest saved, STEWARD, Mr. Garner has been a member of the Union Club several years, and was hold in high esteem by all his associates. A meeting of the club wilt provably be held tits afternoon for the purpose of taking some actron relative to the terrible affair, AT THE NEW YORK YACHT CLUB, At the hour appointed forthe meeting of the New York Yacht Club a more than ordinary attendance was observed, The rooms of the club were absolutely crowded with gentlemen anxtous to obtain any infor. mation that might be vouchsafed by those who had been eye-wituesses of the sad disaster, And if an eso. | witness could not be found to teil of the dread ful accident the members of the club gath- ered what information was possible trom those who bad spoxen to eye-witnesses. Owing to the {act that | the news received from Staten Island had been brought to the house by individual members: piecemeal it was some time before the meeting could be ealled to order, Despatches came fast and in confirmation of the bad news. When Commodore Kingsland arose to call the mecting to order there was a dread silence as he an- nounced tho loss that the club had met with in | the person of Mr. Garner, and he then referred to the calamitous occurrence which had deprived society of | two of its brightest ornaments, Mrs, Garner and Miss Adele Hunter, There was a deep pathos in the few words uttered by Commodore Kingslani when he an- nounced that the business of the meeting of the club was postponed, and that the club would meet to mako proper arrangements at No. 54 Broad street on Mon- day next, The Brenton’s Reef race was postponed from Monday, July 24, until Thursday, July 27, at twelve o'clock. The club took action on the motion of Vice Commodore Kane to adjoutn until the time and at the | place named as above and all business then ceased, At the house of Mr. Louis Montant, No. 49 West Twenty-second street, (our different despatches were received to assure the family that the number of lives reported to be lost had been exuggerated vy | mistaken rumor. Among the members of the club opinions were freely expressod ag. against centre-board boats, They were said to be unsafe tn caso of any sudden blow or squall, particularly if the | boat was lightly ballasted, and in case of accident, Several members declared that it would hardly be pos- sible to right the boat after she had once gone over, Ex-Commodore Kidd, in answer to a question, stated | that he did not know what to say of the accident, ns it completely overcamo him with astonishment that such | a large vessel could be capsized 60 near shore and in | the harbor of New York. Major Gifford, of Canada, seemed very much moved by the terrible accident He was not at the club house at Staten Island at tho time that the Molawk capsized, but bis son, Mr. W. Gifford, Mr. James K. Cameron, of Coburg; Mr. W. G. Ball, of Toronto; Mr. | J. Carville, of Montreal, and Mr. Beverly Jones, of Toronty, all of whom were guests of the club, and who accompanied the yacht Countess of Dut- forin, were at the club honse at Stapleton at tho time | of the disaster, Mr, George L, Jordan, Mr, Alexander, Mr, William Bend and Mr. Bassett were among those present at the time of the accident tothe Mohawk, Major Gifford stated. that the Mohawk and the Countess of Dufferin wero lying abreast of | each otter. Ho statod that a flat-bottomed centre board boat would not come up, as there would be no movo- ment tn her, while a kcel boat would come up at once, Major Gifford spoke to members of the club of the yacht Foam, which was on its way to Niagara, from Toronto, with seven gentlemen as passengers, She | had too much ballast In her and she pooped too much sen and the passengers were lost, SKETCH OF MR, GaRxER, Mr. Garner, whose early Iiie is not very familiar to those of his associates in the club who were visited last night, was born in 1841, and was consequently thirty: five years of age when his brilliant carcer was so sud- | denly brought toa close, His family, which was ono | of the most respectable in the society of the Filteenth ward, when that was the home of many of the | old funities of Gotham, resided in Washington | square, where young Garner was born, and where be grew upto manhood. After receiving @ liberal ediica- tion he embarked in mercantiJo pursuits and mauufac- turing, and has amassed a handsome fortone, much ot it having been accumulated in the vast cotton factories run by him at Cohoes, Rochester, Wappinger’a Falls and Reading, a, He was probably the largest cotton manufacturer in the United States, and years ago | established a reputation for executive ability in — the management of great estates that few young men of bis years have achieved. The | New York braneh of his gigantic business is at Nos, 2, | 4, 6,8 and 10 Worth street, where almost datly ior | years past he bas spent some portion of business hours in personal superintendence of bis business, that yielded him a princely income. In 1871 he beeame a member of the New York Yacht Club, and his genial manner, liberal contributions and superior jnig- | mont on all intricate questions soon mado | him one of its most popainr members, He entere® into all the sports of the club with an enthasiasm equal to that of the veteran yachtsmen with whom he came in contact, and to him much ot the success of the club i# due, It was not until two years after—some time in 1873-—that he became a yacilit owner by the purchase of the sloop Vixon, Lu the fol lowing year Mr. Garner purchased the Magie, but still he was not satisfied with his ownersbip, and in the winter of the same year he began the construction of the Mohawk with a view of combining all the Intest improvements. At tho election of 1875 he was chosen Vice Commodore of the club, and was suc- ceeded by Mr. Kane, the present Vice Commodore, The Mohawk was finished in July of last year, and made her first cruise with the squadron to Cape May on the 9th of July, when sho developed fine railing qualities, The subsequent careor of the Mohawk ts weil known to the readers of the Henato, Among the many generous contribu. tions of this enthusiastic yachtsmon to the club may be mentioned tho present club house, at Stapleton, which he built and presented to tho club. The death of the Commodore and Mrs. Garner leaves three children parentiess, Mr, Gari parents are dead, but among his near living relatives are three sisters, one of whom is married, Since Septem. ber of Inst year, when he sailed the Mo hawk against the Madeleine aud was beaten Mr. Garner has been cruising much of his time, He was celebrated ali along the coast whero he cast anchor and farled sail as a genial, polite gentleman—always liberal, alweys approachable, and always his plethoric porse to relieve the neeossii | poor, Tho residents of Staten Island, who bad come | | Area ot fore cluly topsail | Length of jib on the | Horst of jrb on the si | Length of square sail on the head the work went on, and when our reporter left the | to know him so well, and love him for bis many vivé tues, will not soom forget him, forin bim they have Jost a friend and public-spirited patron, THK MONAWK’'S FIRST MISHAP. The Mohawk met with @ serious accident on ti night of Octoder 16, 1875, about eight o’clock. She was passing through the Narrows returning from short trip outside, when she was suddenly run into by the steamer John Gibson a little below the Narrows, The latter vessel struck tho yacht on the starboard bow and cut off hor bowsprit and jibvoom. With these all the headgear of the yacht was carried away as well as all the ironwork attached to it, A very serious wreck was thus caused. The star. board cathead was also carried away. The Mobawl was taken tothe foot of North Seventh street, Walk jansburg. The steamer was badly damaged, being cut down on the port side amidships within four inches of | the water’s edge, and fonr or five feet of the frames rried away, as well as fourteen feet of the deck- house, The steerage gear was smasiied and the Cap- tain was covered with the débris. Sixty feet of the railing, netting aud bulwark were carried away. THE MOMAWK’S MAIDEN VICTORY. On the 18th of August a regatta was sailed over the Block Island course for four prizes given by Vice Com modore Garner, alter which tho Newport regatta con. cluded with a race over the triangular course from Brenton’s Reefto Block Island buoy, thence to Sow and Pizs and return, The schooner prize was won by the Mohawk, scoring her maiden victory. RACK WITH THE DAUNTLESS. On the 26th of October a raco took place between the Mohawk and the Dauntless, off the Lightship. After an intensely interesting race darkness set in, and the yachts were making for the Lightship in a parallel line, when a signal was given which was mistaken by the Mohawk, and she thereby lost the race when she was ina fair way for victory. THE MOMAWK, The Mohawk was built by Joseph Van Denser, the architect of the Fieetwing, Magic, Columbia and other celebrated yachts, and was launched June 10, 1875, from the foot of North Seventh street, Williamsburg, 19 the presence of nearly 1,000 people. Vice Commodore Garner chartered the steamer Pleasant Valley aud ine vited some 300 or 400 ladies and gentlemen to the fea tivities ‘The Pleasant Valley left Pier 1, at the Bat. tery, at fifteen minutes past eleven, and, after making a call at the joot of East Twenty-third street, steamed over to a dock alongside the yard where the Mohawk was in her cradle, The weather was unfavorable und the ladies had to keep under shelter, Tne yacht was gayly decked for her bridal with bright colored flags, the New York Club signal to the foretopraast aud Mr. Garner’s private signal, which the Magic had sa often borne to victory, on the main. She was built ag strong as a 600-ton trading vessel and of the very best seasoned timber that money could purchas® The fole lowing are were HER DIMENSIONS, Feet, Length over all from knightheads to taffrail.... 150 00 Length on decks... +6 sevens 144,00 I, vgth on the water line. 121.00 Length of keel. . Breadth of beam... Length of overhanging Length of rake of stern.. | Length of mainmost... Length of maintopmast. . Length of maimtopsatl ¢prit. ... i | Length of matutopsail clab.. 44.00 | Length of forema: 94,00 Length of toreto 55.00 Lengih of toreto 67.00 Length of foretopsa: 4000 Length of main boo 90.09 of main gatt, 41.06 39,00 63.00 30,00 1 from cap to hounds. . 24 00 eme length of bowsprit...... CANVAS. Area of mainsail Area of balloonstay Area of squaresail Area of bulloonjib Area of toresi Area of jibto Area of jib 5 Area of main club topsal Area of working staysail. Area of tlying jib, Area of main gai! topsa Area of fore gall topsait Length of jib on the foot, Hoist of Jib topsail on the stay Length of square sail on the foot Hoist of square sail... e.e 52.00 Length of fore gaff top-ail on the Iufl, 88.09 Length of toro ga topsail on the foot, 56.00 Length of main ga topsail on the luft.. 95.00 Length of main gaff topsail ou the foot, . 63.00 DESCRIPTION OF THE MOHAWK. Such is the extreme height of the spars that the top. masts will have to be iowered to pass underneath the famous Brooklyn Bridge. She measures 163 feet from the top of her ¢:ub topsail to the water, and 235 feet from the end of her main boom to the end of the flying jibboom. No expense has been spared in her building, as the floor timbers are of white oak and the timbers in tho top frame are of locust and hackmatack. The stem and stern frames ate of oak, and the deck stanchions are of locust, The plank shear is of Georgia pine, with walls of oak, and bottom plank: ing of Georgia pine and oak garboards. Tho ccntre. board trunk is built of solid onk up to the water hne, and [rom there up in yellow pine, Tne deck frame is of Georgia pine, with hackmatack knees, except dows below. where iron ig used as a substitute, The inside ceiling is of yellow pine, and all of the hate! combings, partners, bits, &c., are of mahogany. Tly catheads and breast hooks are of white oak, and th yacht 1s built with a flush deck fore and aft, exceptin; a small cockpit at the entrance to the main saloon The last named place is one of the largest ever seen it a yacht and measures twonty-cight feet square, with seven feet of standing room, and lighted by a skylight fourteon feet by six fect, When completed the walls of the saloon will be fitted with paintings of ma- rine. subjects, executed by De Huss, alternated with mirrors, and on each side will be handsome — bureaus, bookstands and other drawing room articles’ The furniture willbe very richly upbolstered and scattered about without any stutied effect, The Vico Commodoro’s stateroom is on the starboard side, and measures eighteen tect by thir- | teen foot, On the opposite side are throe staterooms, each measuring nine fect by seven fect, and fitted with hot and cold water, steam heating pipes and eleotria call bella, Forward is the pantry, tceboxes, kitche en, rooms for the captain, mates, steward, boat- swain, and a roomy forecastio for the men, There are also two staterooms, each twelve feet by eight feet, located on each side of the companion way. Tho sail room is right im the stern and | reached from the deck by a scuttle, The wator tanks, four in number, with a capacity for 1.500 gallons, are located beneath the cabin flooring. The rigging is en- urely of steel, manufactured especially in England, and the ballast is of lead mouided to suit, The centres board and sails are worked by hand cranks especially adapted for the purpose. AYTER A PLEASANT HOUR had beon whiled away inspecting the yacht the party returned to the Pleasant Valley, which backed out > the strean and awaited THe LauNen, Vico Commodore W. 1. Garner and a party of personal friends remained on board the yacht, and at thirty-five Minutes past one the Inst bleck was knocked from under her and she glided majestically into the water, striking her waterline to the inch. Mra Garner officiated at the ceremony and smashed the regnlatign bottle of champagne over her bows ax she ch od her the Mohawk. Miss Robinson, of Staten Istand, and Miss Dewer wero the spousors fot the baptized, and achieved such a success in their avo umber of gentlemen were anxious to be christened over again. Ou the water the Mohawk reminded one greatly of the Colombia, with a bow somewhat like that of the Sappho. She was fivaily taken in tow by # tugboat and brought alongside the dock, where the finishing toncher wiil bo given. guests all returned on board the Pleasant Valiey, which steamed down to THR NEW CLUB HOUR of the New York Yacht Club, off Stapleton, & 1. O@ the way down, a Delmonico collation was uncovered and ample justice was done to it A mumber of #peechos were made wishing all kinds of good iuck t¢ the Mohawk, her enterprising own d the burider, Mr. Van Deusen, who is 1 man really deserving @ praise. THE NEWS AI NEWPORT. Newronr, R. L, July 20, 1876, The sad news of the accident to the yacht Mohawk and the loss of Commodore Garner snd others erenten no little excitement here. Commodore Garner's sister w, Mrs. Thomas G. Garner, who ix orcupying + cottage bere, received the nows at a late hour Wags. , aud will leave for New York at euca,