The New York Herald Newspaper, July 22, 1876, Page 3

THE MOHAWK: DISASTER. Graphic Details of the Terrible Accident. COMMODORE GARNERS HEROISM. Description of the Thrilling Scenes in the Cabin. RECOVERY OF THE BODIES. Statements of Colonel Crosby, the Captain, Mate, Quartermasters and Others. SEU ea shee ACTION OF THE VARIOUS YACHT CLUB. erent Owing to the wild state of"excitement into which wWerybody was thrown who was on board the Mohawk ‘on Thursday, when she was struck by the squall which ended so disastrously, as well as everybody who wit- nessed the accident from the shore, there was, very turally, a great deal that was erroneous in the various accounts of the disaster as published in the papers yesterday, ach “‘eye witness’? had a different ory to tell, and, indeed, many of the stories given were founded upon hearsay only, In order to obtain the most reliable information possible concerning the disaster and its immediate causo, a Herald reporter yesterday visited the wreck, where the work of search- ing for the bodier had been going on almost incessantly from the time the yacht was hauled into the ki!l, off Allen’s Point, until they were all iscovered, and tho mansion of the unfortunate Mr. Barner, to which they were taken, and where the sur- rivors, J... Crosby, Gardner Howland and Louis B. Montant, ropaired after the Commodore's body was found, and who, despite the saffering thoy had under- gone the evening previous, had remained up all night At the wreck giving every assistance in their power to nose immediately engaged in searching for the bodies. ‘The vessel, it will be borne in mind, was, after the tocident, towed up to the mouth of the Kill Von Kuil, wf Allen’s Point, where immediate steps were taken by William Carroll, the diver, to extricate the bodies in the cavin, Although he worked unceasingly all night until the storm and darkness made it unsafe to continue the work, he found it impossible to get the tabin doors open! About midnight, by placing oa whoonor and a sloop alongside of her and fastening topes to the masts of the yacht which lay om the water, making use of the dMmsts of the other craft as levers, she was righted sufficiently about six o’clock yesterday morning to enable the diver to get into tho cabin by way of the skylight. At half-past seven he succeeded in roaching Mrs. Garner’s body, which ho found wedged in against the fireplace by a sofa, and the lead ballast under the flooring, wich had apparently rolled over with the carpet when the yacht careened over, covering her almost completely. Aftor a great deal of bard work Mr. Carroll managed to extricate the body and attach a rope to it, when it was hauled to the surface and taken ashore in the steamer 1). R. Martin, Renewed efforts wero made after this to still further right the yacht, and with some success, for by nine o’clock the diver was able to jt into the cabin without much difficulty. In search- ing about among tho floating furniture tor the bodies he saw to his astonishment somebody standing at the doorway right in front of him in the water, Itturned but to be THE CABIN BOY, PETER SULLIVAN. He was standing bolt upright by the cabin door, his arms stretched out on either side of him and his hands clutching the sides of the doorway, as though ho was im the act of groping bis way out whea death overtook him. The vessel by noon time be- tame go thoroughly righted that when the diver again went down after recovering the cabin boy’s body he found that the débris of the cabin furniture, which had weighed down and had hidden from view the bodies of Mr. Garner and Miss Aunter, had scattered. It was then an easy matter to get arope fast to the body of Miss Hunter, it being the first one hoe espied, and to bave it raised. This was done about hali-past twelve. The body of Mr. Garner was recovered abalf hour afterward, The only body that was yet missing afier the Commodore’s had been reached was that of Frost Thorne, brother of Mrs. Garner. The diver alter resting awhile again went to work to discover the missing body if possible, but up to a late hour be had not come across it, although he made diligent search for it in every part of the vessel that was accessibie. It is the belief of those who were on board the yacht when she was struck by thesquall and who were saved that Mr. Thorne was got inthe cabin at the time. Mr. Crosby is of the opinion that ho was on deck on the lee side when tho accident occurred, and that it is quite possible, there- fore, that he was pitched overboad by the lurching of the yacht and was kept down in the water by the mainsail coming over on bim as the masts fell on the water. REMOVAL OF THE BODIES. The bodies that were recovered were, when hauled to the surface, at‘once placed ina pine box furnished by au undertaker, covered with a sheet and taken ashore in the gig of the Mohawk. The boat was rowed to the steamboat landing, and on every one of her sad trips she was followed by ascore of the small boats that bad surrounded the yacht since morning, the boat- men slowly rowing in the wake of the gig, which gave the scene the appearance of a funeral on the water. A great crowd of villagershad gathered on the wharf early in tho morning, and though the maijor- ity of them were women, they remained on the landing all the forenoon in the burning sun, eagerly awaiting the arrival of the boats with the bodies It ‘was not until the Commodore’s body was brought ashore that they dispersed, and then it was amid tears and lamentations Poor Mr. Garner had evidently made many warm friends amorg the Staten Islanders, and the mourning where he was best known—among his neighbors—over his melancholy deeth is as sincere as it is universal on the island. The fact that hereally Jost bis life in a noble effort to save bis wile, to whom he was deeply attached, as is ovidenced by the state- ments of Colonel Crosby and tho seaman Fergussen, hes very naturally made everybody who knew him feel all the more admiration for the man, even while they grieve over his sudden death. Shortly after the bodies of Mr. Garner, Mrs. Garner and Miss Hunter bad been taken to the Garver man- sion Coroner James Dempsey empaneiled the follow- ing jury:—William Krebs, William K. Smith, John C. Bailey, Robert 4. Minturn, Berry Richards, Ji James G. Proudfoot, Thomas Melville, J. Kingsley Mar- tin and Cornelius A. Hart. Alter the jury had viewed the bodies the Coroner decided to have the inquest proper held at the village hall, Now Brighton, at hait- past eight o'clock this morning, and at the request of ber brother a certificate was granted for the transfer of the remains of Miss Hunter to her late dence inthis city. The formality was gone through with before the removal of the body from the Garner mansion of taking the testimony of Louis 8, Montant, on the strength of whose evijence a verdict was brought in that ‘Adele Bunter eame to ber death by drowning on the yacht Mohawk on the 20th day of July, 1876."’ The witnesses who bare been summoned to appear at the inquest to- day are the crow of the Mohawk; Peter Comstock, of the yacht Phantom; William Carrol, the diver; Captain Smith of the Dreadnaught, and James Stillwell, of Clifton. The tuneral of Mr. and Mrs. Garner will take place {rom their late residence at New Brighton at one P. M. on Monday next, A special steamer for the accommo- dation of the friends and relatives of the family will jeave the foot of Whitehall street at twelve o'clock on that day, COLONES, J. & CROSBY'S STATEMENT. Colonel Crosby, whom the Hrratp reporter met at the Garnor mansion, gave the foliowing tbrilling de- scription of the death struggle on the til-tated yacht :— “The party who went out on the yacht on Thuraday consisted of Commodore and Mrs. Garner, Miss Adeio Bunter, Miss Editu May, Mr, Garduer Howland, sr. Louis Movtant, Mr. Frost Thorse, brother of Mrs. Garner and myself, We took tha Mohawk’s steam Jeuuch (rom the yacht ciub house aud woat ou board eo EEE EE CR RAC ORES ARIAE RMN a Ran A Maer Ma SPN SAEN HS a Ree RRO ACER MET oe RSE EAs Cea MONON NE NMR CRN A/T AONE ER, | REM RE OI RIN MENTE Rg As gpi us Manners FA AUR -Bw YORK HERALD, SATURDAY, JULY 2% 1876. ; the Mohawk about half-past three o'clock. As soon as we got on board the Commodore gave the captain directions to get under way. At this time the Mohawk was lying at anchor, with her fore and maintopsail staysail and jib set, There was every ap- pearance of a squall coming up from the westward. Just as we broke the anchor, and as the vessel was pay- ing off, but betore we got under any headway, the rain began to tall very heavily, which drove the whole party of ladies and ge! men who were on the deck into the cabin. In about three or four minutes we felt that the Squall bad struck us‘and very heavily, (oo; for the fur- niture in thecabin began to move down to leeward. When Commodore Garner, Mr, Thorne, Mr. Howland and myself ran up the gangway to the deck to see what was the matter. We found the boat making no head- way and with the water rushing over her ice rail and running down both into the cockpit and through the lee skylights into the cabin, Commodore Garner and I immediately jumped into the cabin, where we heard the ladies calling for help. Everything was in the wildest state of contusion, All the sofas, settecs, chairs and tables had been thrown over to the lee side and overturned, and water was pouring in through the forward hatehways and from the side lights on the port side and from the cockpit. The drst person I saw was Miss May, who was still in an upright position, clinging on tothe fireplace, I creft along to where she was and caught hold of her, and we made our way over the general wreck of cabin furniture until we got to tho after hatchway; but the vessel being on her beam ends Miss May was unable to get up the steps, I pushed her up through the opening, where Mr, How- land gallantly rescued her, he being at the time at the entrance of the cabin opening. I immediately turned round and made my way through tho water, which was then nearly waist deep, to the side of Mr. Montant, who ‘was struggling to remove a sofa that had been thrown over on the lee le, covering both Mrs. Garner and Miss Hunter, who wero loudly calling for help, When I reached bim Mr. Garner had hold of Mrs, Gar- ner by the right arm, and both she and Miss Hunter were begging that they might bo relieved from the weight that was holding them down, Mr. Montant and I succeeded in getting the lounge to the after hatchway, where we pushed it up to some one on deck. I then lost sight of Mr, Montant, Returning to where Mrs, Garner and Miss Hunter were, I still tound Mr, Garner holding on to Mrs. Garner’s arm and both she and Miss Hunter still begging to be released from this weight that was holding them down, I caught hoid of Miss Hunter's hand—in the meantime the water was rushing in from all sides—and tried to pull ber out, the water being nearly up to her neck, she being wedgod in only a few feet from where Mrs. Garner was in tho same position. In trying to pull her ous my hand slipped and I fell over backward in the water. When I recovered myself the water had completely covered her, TRYING TO RESCUE MRS. GARNER. I then went to Mrs. Garner’s assistance, when Mr. Garner oxelaimed, “Schuyler, for Gou’s sake try and help me pull her out!” I caught hold of her left hand and arm, Mr. Garner still having hold of the right, In the meantime a sailor, who with Mr, Garner and my- self were the only men left in the cabin, tried to re- move some of the furniture that was evidently holding her down, while Mr. Garner and myself pulled as hard an we could to extricate her, but to no purpose. Just then the vessel seemed to give an extra lurch, and the water washed ail over us. This was the lust that I saw of Mr. and Mrs, Garner alive. I half pushed, half swam to alight spot, which proved to be an opening cut by the boatswain through ono of the side lights, and crawling through tho’ hole I found the sailor wno had been in the cabin with me just beforeme. We both swam over to a small boat that haa three men in it, but in trying to get in this boat she was swamped, and as she came bottom up I clung to the keel, together with the other man, until I saw a boat from the Dr baught approaching, which I swam over toward, when an oar was thrust out by ono of tho sailors, which [ grabbed hold on. They pulled me into the boat in a very exhausted condition. I. would like 1o say hero that great credit is due to both Captains Usborne and Osgood, of the Dreadnaught and Phantom, who were promptly on the ground and rescued many lives; also to the officers of the Countess of Dufferin, who rendered. very valuable assistance. I am too much overcome by this overwhelming blow, whereby [ have lost such dear friends, to feel that I can dispassionately give any opinion as to any criminal neglect on the part of the captain, Roland; but in my opinion he deserves the greatest censure for the bad judgment lio displayed in having a boat, with the immense spread of canvas that the Mobawk had, with every sail set and sheeted home while riding at anchor when there was a thunder ‘storm apparently coming up from the west, although when it struck us we were just paying off, and which proved the uttor destruction ofone of the finest yachts in the world and caused the loss of so many valuable lives. CAPTAIN ROWLAND’S ARREST. On Thursday evening Terwald Fergessen and Fred. erick Palm, quartermasters of the Monawk, appeared beiore Coroner Dempsey, of New Brighton, and made the following affidavit:— ‘ounty of Richmond, 64. rick Palm, being duly sworn, rs of the yacht Mohawk; th 8. Lone Uapt . carelessly and negligently yacht so.as to cuuse her to capsize and e death of W, 1. Garner, his wite and other mismanaged thereby cause persons. Wherefore complainants pray sail Rowland may be ar- to lnw. rested and dealt with accordin; FERWALD FERGESSEN, FREDERICK PALM. Swern before me this 2ist Juiy, 1876.—Jamus Demrsey, Coroner. The Coroner at onco issued the following warrant:— State or New Yore, County of Richmond, ss:— To Tax Ca. Ponsc: eric Pal made com| of the of said cv one Rowland, in of th 20th of July, 1576, off Stapleton and negligent y mismanaged sa Mohawk, so 4s to cause her to capsize and thereby the death of W. T. Garner, his wite and other persons _ Theretore the people of ‘the State of New York command you forthwith to arrest said Rowiand und bri ime, to be deait with according to law. —Date JAMES DEMP: On this warrant Captain Blake made the arrest, about ten o'clock on Thursday evening, and confined the pris- oner in the police sta@on at the Village Hall, THE CAPTAIN'S STATRMENT. The Captain was visited in bis cell at Village Hall by a Henan reporter yesterday. He seemed quite ner- yous when addressed by the reporter and was suffering severely trom the heat, Ho asked for a few minutes to regain composure, saying he had slept but little during the night and Was suffering trom the closeness of the coll, He told the following story :— “On Wednesday last, at three o'clock, Mr. Garner told me that he would wish to have a suil on the follow- ing day, I came down here from New York ou Thurs day and found the steam launch waiting for me. Some of the members of the New York Yacht Club were on shore here and wanted to go on board the Countess of Duflerin, and I took them over on ihe steam launch. Some of the party on board the Dufferm wanted to go onshore, intending to go on board the Mohawk, and the launch took therm back, I remained on board the Dufferin, and the launch was to return forme. When the party got onshore they met Commodore Garner and his party, and those from the Dafferin with the Commodore’s party then went on board the Mohawk. | Afler remaining onthe Mohawk for some time the Commodore took back to shore all those who did not belong to his own party for the Mohawk and then sent | the launch for moto the Dufferin. When 1 got on board the Mohawk the Commodoro inquired of me if 1 thought there was a chance for a sail, Thero was very little wind ut the time, but I said I thought there would be a good breezeat theturn of the tide, It was thenabout high water, and the tide rans up for an hour and a bail | orso alter high water. The yacht’s sails were up at the time. I had given the men orders two get her sails up by two o’elock in the afternoon, and to bo ready for starting, It was about half-past three o’clock when the Commodore returned to the Mohawk alter seeing the party on shore, I gave or- ders to get under way. Thore was little or no wind at the time, While we were breaking anchora little squall of rain sot in, and the Commodore and his party went below to avoul the ran I wemt on getting the yacht under way. All th ils were up, the head sails were filled and we paid off, At this time a squall strupk us, (bough there was no appearance of a squall or whadatall, The squall struck us in our topsails and upper part of our lower sails, but there was very little wind on deck at the time. The vessel went over her rail in the water. leung out, “Light up the fore sheet; let go the jibsheets; let the foretopsail run down.” No orders were obeyed except that the tore- topsail was hauled down, The leo rai! and part of the deck were now in the water, and she had just begun to forge ahead, My orders not being carried out forward, T let the mainsheet rua, which went off a short dis- tance and Jammed in the block and the vessel now soil over on her beam eat. Cowmodore Garner was stand- I callea out to him to come up on deck, to bring his wife and party, that the ves- sel had lost her steerago way, and I feared sbe would sink, the rudder being out of water, I thought that the rudaer was out of water from the feeling of it The Commodore said in reply that ‘there was no danger;’ that ‘it was all right,’ and tooked very pleasautly at the time, But upon my insisting on bis coming on deck and bringing up bis wife and party he wert into the cabin, and I never saw him again. A gentleman, Mr. Howland, came out with a lady guest, Miss Muay, at that tim Twas holding on to the wheel at ths time, which kept con- stantly turning with me, obliging me to constantly shift my hold. I had given orders to lower one of the boats aft, to receive anybody who might come out of the gaugway. Some sailors at the other side of the vessel had been preparing to lower this boat, and were just lowering ber, when I lost my hold and dropped over the side into the water aud partly underneath the main: 1 soon got up, however, struggled to a boat that was near by and got into ber and got the parties to set mo on board of a steam tug. 1 immediately took tho yacht in tow and sent for the divers at the wreck- ing dock. The yacht was then nearly all under water except very little of the bow, Some parties wanted me to tow her on shore opposite where sho lay, I did not think proper to do this, as I believed all partics below deck wore dead at that time, and feared that tho bodies would bo washed out {rom the action of the ferryboats constantly passing up ana down on their way to and from New York. 1 towed the Mohawk into the Kiils and on to the flats, where she now lies, As soon us the divers arrived we cut holes in the deck and made every effort to securo the bodiea, Failing to do this we procured two schooners, got them alongside and endeavored to right the el. While in the act | of doing so, and at about ten o'clock that night, I was arrested on a warrant, issued by the Coroner, upon affidavits made by Quartermasters Palm and Thomp- soh, to the effect that I had neglected my duty on board the yacht, One of these p rties, Frederick Palm, was asleep at the time of the disaster. He was asleep in the sailroom, underneath the cockpit, in the after part of the vessel, and so knew nothing what- ever of the matter, notwithstanding his oath to the con- trary. Thompson had also deserted his post upon the quarter deck, had gone forward without orders, and I a satisfied must have been below at the time. I called him several times without getting an answer. Mr. Garner, whose vessel I joined in November last, was one of the finest, best and kindest men I ever met with in my life. shad entire charge of his vessel and all business connected with it, I not only looked upon him as the owner of the Mohawk and my commanaoer, | but as my friend also, I cannot soe why I should have been arrested. In reply to some questions put by the reporter, Cap- tain Roland stated that he would jose money and prop- erty to the extent of about $1,000 by the loss of the Mobawk, the money and valuables being in his room, He said that he was never Intoxivated in all his life, He bad been twenty-seven years taking vessels into and out of New York Harbor and wis character tor seamanship could stand tho test. The vessel, he said, had not gone three times her length when the squall seized her, There was no time except for the promptest action, and even with that there was but little time, for at the utmost the calamity was over in less than three minutes, If the anchor had been up the yacht might have started ahead a little quicker, But when the squall struck her the anchor was clear of the bottom, that is to say, It did not hold the vessel by hooking into the bottom. ‘The squall was so severe and sudden, and so unusual, Deing altogether aloft, that all on board were astounded at seeing the vessel affected as she was. It was impossible, continued the Captain, for bim to render any moro assistance than he did; for, being aft at the wheel when the squall struck, he could not, to save bis own life or a hundred others, go forward. The yacht was lying about half way between the club house and the wrecking dock when the party got on board, and it might, theretore, be understood how little was the distance made before the accident. Captain Roland asserted that his pres- ence of wind did not forsake him at avy moment, and “that he realized fully the desperate situation, but was powerless to avert the ' anger.” THE CARPENTER’S STATRMENT. Alexander Slegar, the carpenter of the Mohawk, gave tho following account of the disaster, as scen by him :— All the working sail was set before the anchor was weighed. The foresail was hauled over to starboard, the mainsail to port, the staysail and jib sheets to star- board. Then the order was given, ‘*Heave the anchor up,”? by the Captain. When it was weighed the Doatswain sung out, “The anchor 1s weighed, haul off your sheets, port sheet jib and staysaiL’? The rain then commenced to fall and the passengers went down to the cabin. The crew were all on deck except the cooks and stewards. When the passengers had all gone down to the cabin the wind struck the yacht, and she began to careen, I was down to leoward, and seeing all hands getting to wind- ward I commenced to get up to windward, too, The cook’s funnel hit me when I got half-way up and drove me back avain. Then I caugbt hold of a rope and hauled myself up. When she was leaning over near ber bearin; the Captain sung out, “Let go the foretopsail halyards,”? and it was done. There were no more orders given after that, When I got to windward 1 looked about and sho was then past her bearings. One could not stand on bor deck or on her side, but had to hold on by the rigging. The Captain at this time was standing over the wheol and the crew stood on the rigging ready for orders, The boatswain, a man named Charies Maxwell, broke the skylight and tried to rescue the passengers, STATEMENT OF THE MATE, Mr. George B. Veborn,. the mate of the Mohawk, made the following statement :— We commenced to get under way about ono o'clock, The Captain went ashore in the morning and ordered me to get the yacht ready for a party at two o'clock, Atthat hour we bad foresail, mainsail and gailtopsail on, with the anchor hove short, waiting for the party. About three o'clock they came on board and we hoisted her fore staysail and jib and hove her ancnor up clear of the bottom. About that time the |, Squall struck us, The Captain was atthe helm. When I found she was going down I went aft for orders. Just as I started the Gaptuin sung out, “Let go the topsail halyards.’” I passed the orders forward for the foretopsail and I went myself for the maintopaail, Be- fore I got there she had got so far over thatit was im- possible to stand on deck, When she went down I slipped and went under ott of sight, When I recovered myself she was over, with her sails under water an@ no possible chance of doing snything with her. So far as I could sec it was an unavoidable accident. If | we, bad been sailing and every man at his post it might have beon avoided, but everybody bad just been at the anchor when the squall struck her, and tho whole thing occurred s0 quickly that nothing could be done. The wind waa all alott, deck at all. It struck her topsails and the upper part | of her lower sails. QUARTERMASTER PALM'S STATEMENT. A Haran reporter found at the New Brighton dock Frederick Palm, one of the quartermasters of the Mo- hawk, who made the following statement :— When the squall struck us I wast tho cockpit, asiecp. On awaking I found that the yacht was going over. I escaped through the cockpit and found the mainsheot closed aft and fastened. The Captain was by the wheel, holding on to the screw of the wheel, about three feet from the mainsheet. I endeavored to slack the mainsbeet, but the squall was so sudden that 1 bad not time to do so, Sezing bold of the cabin door to keep myself out of the water, which was up to my walst amidships, { saw Mra. Garner and Miss Hunter como to the cabin door to effect their escapa One of the gentlemen of the purty said, “Come back; don’t go inside.” Allot the party who had followed Mra, Garner and Miss Hunter retired, with the exception of Miss May, to the cabin, This lady, who was quite cool, roma.ned mm the cockpit, and one of the gentlemen came and caught hold of her, If all of the party had followed the example of Miss May, and left the cabin for the cockpit, in my opinion they would have been saved, The calamity, Lwouid swear, was the fault of the captain, who failed to slack the main sheet and put his helm up when tho squall strack us, THERWALD PERGUSSEN’S STATHMENT. Forgussen, the other quartermaster of the Mohawk, made the following statement (seriously implicating the captain), He is an intelligent Swede, who keenly felt the loss of his old commander, who had made him- self deservediy popular with the crew. He said:— struck eight bells (four P. M.) and taking my spy- glass scanned the waters of the bay and the shore, I ing im the gangway at tho time aud looking at me. | discovered # party coming over ia @ steam ch and made As they crossed the accommodation ladder they sat down on the chairs aod rails om the port side; about three minutes later it commenced te rain and heavy clouds obscured the horiaon; we were heaving on tho anchor at the time; the guests s@ mained sitting on deck until driven in by the Tait Commodore Garner being the last to take refuge below: it was a part of my duty to remove the chairs to the cabin in the event of rain aud I had begun to do 60, when the Commodore esclaimed, ‘Forward there!” this was all I heard; the squall then struck us with its fuil force; I ran to the maingafltopsai! halyard and let it go, then to the foroboom preventer tackio and let itgo. While trying to get up to the foresheet the vessel heeled over, and I feilto leeward in the water and tried to save myself, I got on the skylight and knocked out one of the windows. I then went below to the C jodore’s state rvom and found him pulling to get Mrs. Garner clear of a bed. She was jammed in between the bedstead and bed and the centre board box. All the furniture in the cabin was loose, Seoing that the Commodore was not likely to release Mrs, Garner without assistance, I took hold of one of her arms to aid him. The water at this time came upto ourchina. Seeing that it was impossible to save Mrs, Garner I told the Commodore we had better try and save ourselves. He mado no answer, but still pulled at his wife’sarm in vain cn- deavor to release her, while the water came down through the skylights iu torrents and rendered it im- possible for us to breathe, At this time the water was about one foot from the “skin”? or side of the yorsch I let go of Mrs. Garner and made my exit through the skylight window. As 1 swam toward a little rowboat that had put off from one of the yachts to render as- stance to us I felt some one clasping my left wrist, and I was drawn under water. With a vigorous kick I re- leased myself. I was convinced that the grasp was that of a human being. and, diving down with my Tight arm, I caught hold of a lady. Arriving at the surface, I recognized her as Miss May. Her lips were blue,” said the rough sailor, | “but she seemed to understand all that passed about her, It was with difficulty that I could support her, but, providentially, one of the crew— Charley Tosper—came to my aid and assisted to put her in a rowboat, which transferred her to the steam yacht Ideal, As I knew the part of the vessel in which Mr, and Mrs. Garner were confined I got a hatcnet and tried to cut a hole in the side, which was out of water, The yachtsmen told me I had better desist, itt cut a hole tho water would rush in, fill and sink her, I desisted but remaivod aboard, and was among the lust to leave. When called off I swam toa row boat of tho Magic and was picked up. 1 think the captain 18 responsible for the casualty. Ho gave no orders and I Jet go the balyards on wy own respon- sibility, Speaking of the Captain Fergussen said:— “As I passed out of the skylght I saw Captain Rowland in the stern of the vessel, with life line fastened arouna his wrist and made fast to the gear, Ho could not swim,’? Fergussen here resumed the thread of his narrative, and said:—‘Captain Kinney, of the Magic, then cut a hole in the Mohawk’s main deck, where wo supposed ar. and Mrs. Garner were confined. Charley Maxwell, one of our crew, went through the hole thus cut. The yacht was then on her beam ends, but the Commodore was not in that room, Maxwell then cut his way through the bulkhead, expecting to reach the cabin of the Commodore, but it proved to be the wine locker, ond they were forced to abandon the effort to release our chief and his unfortunate associates. I wish you would say that Charles Pratt, boatewain of the Mo- hawk, was very active in cutting in the skylight and diving to rescue the Commodore and Mrs, Garner.” THE RECOVERY OF THK DODIES. Captain Anning Smith, the superintendent of Mr. Garner’s ferry, described, in part, the search for the bodies. Tcame to the wreck, he said, at eight o'clock this morning. They had got Mrs. Garner’s body out when Tarrived, The divers found her near the cabin door, She was lying in the cabin under a bedstead, on the port side, with several pigs of lead—portion of the yacht’s ballast—lying on her clothing. The pigs of lead cach weigh about 150 pounds, There were about threo pigs on her fect and clothes. The diver was obliged = to cut a portion of her dress to free it from the weight that held her down. The lead was kept stowed under the cabin floor, and when the yacht keeled aver some of it forced itself through the flooring and lodged on ber dress. When the body was discovered the diver noticed that the lady’s dress had been torn in the efforts made to rescue her from the fatal weight that preasead her down. The diver was obliged to cut her clothing in parts to release the body from the terrible weight upon it When the lady’s body was recovered it was removed to the New Brighton dock by the steamer D. R. Martin, and wi conveyed thence to her late residence on Staten Island. Alter the recovery of Mra, Garner's body the cabin skylight was removed, and one of the divers made a second attempt to enter the cabin; but the yacht lay so flat on her side that he could not enter far. He could barely enter, but could not reach the other bodies. Then, continued Captain Smith, we took a hawser to the masthead of the Martin and hauled the yacht up straight. When we bad righted her tho diver entered the cabin again and recovered the body of Miss Adele Hunter, The next body found was that of the cabin boy, Peter Sullivan. He was found standing up in ono of the after stateroom doors with his hands up, as if grasping at something on either side or groping his way through the door, His position evinced the struggle he made to escape. Mr. Garner’s body was next foundin tho forward part of the cabin, a few leet from his wife, Scarch was then made for the body of Mr, Thorne, the brother-in- law of Mr. Garner, but it could uot be found anywhere, 1 have heard, said Captain Smith, that Mr, Thorne was not in the cabin when the yacht capsized, and bis body may have become detached from the yacht on her way to this point. Mrs. Garner’s re- mains were recovered about haif-past seven o'clock, and the others were all discovered by noon, They were all slightly discolored trom ‘he water, but the moment they Were brought to the surface they were covered from the gaze of the curious crowd that gath- ered at the scene of the wreck. The divers will to-day coutinue to search for the body of Frost Thorne, They were at work up to a late hour last night without suceess, although they bad every chance of being able to explore without much difficulty every part of the vessel, as the yacht had been righted so well by nine o'clock that her hull showed above wat She isnow lying with a sloop on one side of her and a schooner op the other, 1 being necessary no longer for the purfose of righting her to have the two on the same side. ACTION OF THR NEW YORK YACHT CLUB. The following order was yesterday issued by Com- modore Kingsland ;— Ney Yonx Yacut Sqvapnos, ALAR, New Yous, 30. tate, $ of the mmodore to announce to of W. T. Garner. Asa mark of re. the squadron will be displayed at hit taast, from the recerpt of thiy order until sunset of the duy which may Le appo.nted Jor the tuneral, KORGE L. KINGSLAND, Commodore. AMONG THE MERCHANTS. Inquiries among the fellow merchants of Mr, Garner developed the fact that he was as popular in the com- mercial walks of life as he was bighly esteemed in social circles, An open si:n with the great letters Qrocesnsineidasdtinlasanabunieembeebesteooie ion ba GARNER & CO, ™ POCe tb aC POOLE LEOLELELETELOLELEOLEIODEDELELE HELE is on the vatldings Nos, 8, 10 and 12 Worth street, and here the immense business of the firm was carriod on in this city. Yesterday the stores were closed, the follow partners of Mr. Garnor having gone down the vay in a tugboat to recover and care for the bodies ot their dead {rienda, Only one door of the large edifice open, and in as well as about this were gathered the watchman and employés of the ware- house, A Henatp reporter conversed with all of these men—two colored aud three white—and the testimony to the high character of the deceased employer was warm and genuino, Said one of them tn answer to = > questions ou may be sure, sir, tnat every man about this place joved Will Garner, He was an employer, he was a friend to in the establish ment—always a merry smile on bis face and a kind word for usali’’ One of the colored mon said:—“Wby, we can’s believe he’s dead, It seems to me as if this blow bad struck every maa in his own family. I feel kind o’ stanned, and almost as if he ought to be comin’ down Worth street this minute.” Among the merchants who had dealings with Mr. Garner the sentiment of regret was universal, One gentleman, in s large business on Broauway, told the writer that a fairer man to transact business with than William T, Garner he had cever knowa Thora wag ready to receive them. | who could hardly credit it, 3 an ee nothing small or grasping about him, although in a trade he stood squarely on business principles and un- derstood their meaning perfectly well. Str, Wilson, the manager of the print department of the great house of H. B. Clafin & Co., told the Herat reporter that he bad knowa Mr. Garner in business matters for a number of years and had dealings with him for the house of Ciailin aud Co, to the amount of millions of dollars annual . AB WAS THK SOUL OF MoxoR, and was always willing in regard to every business dis- pute to have it adjusted on fair priuciples, Mr. Garner had his business so thoroughly systematized that be could sit down at his desk and almort any time see the condition of affairs, Their business 18 managed close and they bring up their employés trom the loweat grade, giving them an interest when capable, Thus they are surrounded with honest, faitutul workers. As an evidence of the Commodore's kindness of heart and bonhommie a mill owner was in here to-day who failed at Amoskeag some time ago, and he told me the following anecdote:—He had been in direct oppo- sition to Garner, but when, after his misfortune, the latter mot him he grasped his hand cordially, saying, “Qld fellow, I'm glad your mill is shut down; burl wish, with all my heart, it had happened to some other fellow |" Mr. Wilson continued to say that he had been down on a tug to Staten Island with Mr. Thompson, a cotton broker, and the partners of Mr. Garner, dnd that the bodies of the drowned seemed but little altered from Mfe, AMONG THE STOCK BROKERS, ‘The one universal theme at the Siock Exchange yes- terday and in all the brokers’ offices was the death of W. T. Garner aud the catastrophe in the bay which carried desolation to so many households, Knots of men discu sed the affair at the street corners, and there seemed to be but one opinion, and that was, the onus of blame rests on the incompetent sailing master, wha should be held to a strict accountability. A yacht ow: who desired that nis namo should not be printe told the writer that the Mohawk was a stiff boat and always behaved splendidly in bad weather, and there was no eartbly reason for her capsizing in the sudden squall, but for the grossest and most criminal misman- agement, William B. Bend, whose office is in the Drexel Building, ts an intimate friend of Mr. Garner, Ho said:—*‘A more gallant gentleman never lived than Commodore Garner; his death is a public loss; he was agenial companion, charitable and generous to a fault, and did a great deal of good ina quiet and chivalrous | manner, He was a public spirited citizen and an en- ‘thusiastic yachtsman. '? John Tobin, the veteran stock operator, whose feat during the days of tho Harlem ‘‘corner’ will long be remembered, said to the wrifer:—"Garner was a splen- did fello’ live at Staten Island, and the people dowa there think very highly of the late Vice Commodore, It was believed by many that his line of steamboats, Tuning in opposition to Captain Vanderbilt's line, would inaugurate cheap fares to tho island. I cannot tell what result his death will have on the continuance of the company.’” HIS COTTON BROKERS. Messrs. Walsh, Thompson & Co., No. 65 Stone street, were waited on by a Hxratp reporter. The senior member of the firm, Mr. Wa'sh, told the writer that ‘as & business man Commodore Garner had rare good qualities; for a young man his abilities were large, and coming into such a great fortune from his father he had managed it and his business with good Judgment and common sense. He was, perhaps, the largest manufacturer in the world, running more spindles and employing taore hands than auy man I know of, His judgment in regard to the cotton market was excellent, and his foresight in the matter of the crop, &c., an- usually sound. His death is lamented very generally ‘on Change,’ not only on business but on social |, aceounts.”” THE BROOKLYN YACHT CLUB IN MOURNING, New Haves, Jaly 21, 1876, Atthe meeting on board the flagship Madeleine at Glen Cove this morning Commodore Dickerson re- ceived the sad intelligonce of Mr. Garner's death, and he communicated the same to the assembled captains, Later im the day, recog- nizing the great los§ the yachting world has sustained in the sudden death of Mr. Garner, the Brookiyn squadron was officially notified of the Mobawk disaster by Commodore Dickerson in notices similar to the fol- Jowing:— Fracsur Manetenn, Brooxurx YAcuT O1vs Squaprox, July 20, 18i8. s Vico Commodore Joun R. Piatt. yacht Olio Duan stt—Having received news of the death of our fel- low member, W. T. Garner, captain of the yacht Mohuwk, it ishereby ordered that the fixgs of the Mevt be carried at half-mast until further orders. JOHNS DICKERSON, Cormmodvre Brooxlyn Yacht Club. The order was at once obeyed by every yacht in the fleet, and from what can be learned otner and suitable action will at the first favorable opportunity be taken regarding the terrible disaster in New York Ba: But little else has been taiked of during the morning, and if words mean anything there are many sad hearts among the Brookiya yachtamen because of tho lamepta- ble vecurrence With a iair wind from the nor’west, the fleet left the harbor of Glen Cove at ten minutes past eight o’clock, under orders from the ‘flagship, for Moriis Cove, tour miles from this city. The run was very pleasant throughout, and, though but little of stirring interest occurred, it is worthy of a paragraph or two, as the in- troductory brush of tbe cruise, Vice Commodore Plait’s yacht, the Clio, was first to get under way alter the gun from the flagship bad been fired, though ove or two of the smalier and slower crait had nov waited lor the order, but endeavored to makeup in time what they lack in speed. The littl: sseamer New Amsterdam was among this number, but tho breezs holding steady for | a time these were soon put fur usiern. At twenty-tive minutes past eight, in running out of the harbor, the Clio met the Comet on her way in, doubtless with the intention of starting with the fleet, and tua voice of utter astonishment the latter bailed the former with “Why 1s your flag at bali-mast/” “Captain Garner was drowned last night,’? we quickly returned, and though there was no difficulty in making ull on (he Comet’s deck bear the answer, there came— “What do you say—who's drowned “Captain Garner and bis wite,”” was again shouted, and this time they not only heard bot fully compre- hended the extent of the dreadful occurrence of yes- terday. “Where?” again was shouted, “Off Stapleton,” was returned, when the Comet’s owner turned and gave the necessary order to place the yacht’s colors also at half mast. And in this way the fieet, mourning the loss of its liberal hearted fellow member, reached Jong Island Sound, TRIBUTE OF THE SCHUYLKILL NAVY. Punaperema, July 21, 1876, The foliowing order was issued this moruing:— MUYLRILL Navy, By order the Sehu; afcer the York Yac nial Regatta. JOUN GILLINGHAM, Secretary. EFFECT OF THE NEWS IN NEWPORT. Newront, R. 1, July 21, 1876. rrible yacht disaster off Stapleton has been Unit The the leading topic of conversation here to-day. the pu leation of the Nowport News this evening, containing the New York Hexap’s telegraphic report of the disaster, the public were obliged to be content with meagro reports in. Providence and Boston papers, There was a great demand for the news, Tho news- rooms were crowded this ovening with auxious m and women awaiting the arrival of New York papers, and every copy of the Herat was sold within thirty minutes of their arrival, and notwithstanding this fact, the dealers were besieged in vain lor a copy until the hour of their closing. Early this mornivg the yachts Pirate, Gypsic and the English yacht Helen, placed their fags at bali mast. Commo- dore Kingsiand’s yacht Alarm arrived this afternoon from New York, having on board A. A. Kingsland and several guests, A telegram awaited her arrival trom Commodore Kingsiand, at New York, requesting that her flags be pieced at bali mast at once. This waa done. The purty bad uot heard of the deatu of Commo- dore Gartner antl their arrival hore, IN conoEs, Couons, N. ¥., July 21, 1876, The sad death of Mr. William T, Garner at New York bas casta gloom over the entirecity The ext e works ol the Harmony Mills in this city, of which Mr, Garner was President, will be closed at noon to-day in respect to bis memory. His loss will be aniversatly mourned, bi ——_—- | THE TROY YACHT DISASTER, SWAMPING OF THY YACHT STELLA—FIVE MEN DROWNED—MUCH EXCITEMENT IN THE CITY. [From the Albany Argus, July 21.) A aad calamity occurred upon the Hudson River about a mile and a haif bei» Burden's blast furnaces at about twenty minutes past cight last evening, About two o'clock yesterday alternoou Thomas Edgely, Henry Haynicke, George Bloomfield, Gregory Fox, Jonas Faulkuer, George H. Baker, Jerome De Freest, Archt- bald Aston and Gilbert Jewett started from [roy fora pleasure sail on the steam yacht Stella, owned by Jerry De Freest, of the Volunteer Steamer Company. They had evjoyed a pieasant time, aud were returning home when overtaken by the calamity al.uded to. Atthe time and place first mentioned tha steamer City ol Troy passed by the party ata high rate of speed. The swell from the large vessel was 80 great that the yacht became filled with water and sank almost immediately, Maynicke, Edgely, Broomfield, Fox and Faulkner are supposed to have been crowned, as their com- panions, who succeeded in swimming ashore, could not discover that (nose named had been equally fortunate, Faulkner has been a teller of the State Bank of Troy and was an admirable young man, as also were the others. Tho survivors managed to reach home about ten o’clock last night in a very exhausted condition in consequence Gf their severe exertions to reach the shore. ‘Tne party consisted principally of members of the Volunteer Steamer Company. Coroner Flood started for tue scene of the disasier about halt-past ten st night The excitement around the house of the ‘cluntecrs was intense after the horrible news reached there and scores of people rushed to the building hoping to hear the story disproved. The foundered yacht was @ new one, about which a great deal bas been Suid in tne papers of late, The survivors say that the City ot Troy passed along without paying any atten- ton to the accident, leaving the uplortunate men to drown or not as circumstances might decide. Bloom- field and Faulkner were married men. Bloomteld w: @ painter by occupation, and resided in rear of Firat street, beiow Adums. Maynicke was acarpenter by Occupation, Fox was a cierk in Peabody’s drug store on Congress street. Baker's watch was stopped at twenty-six minut fter eight o'clock. Alter the tour persons named as baving reacued the east shore landed they cried out toward the west shore, hoping that an answering Si,ual would announce the fact that others of the party bad saved themselves by swiminin in that direction. The answer that came bac’ was from another party engaged in tisbing on tho other side, It gave no indication that any of the missing men had reached that shore. Aston says that he thinks he saw Bloomfield swimming above water immediately alter tho boat went down, Wher the first swell entered the boa? the party commeficed bailing out the boat. Each sweli carried in a large quantity of water, and the boat went down with the fib or sixth swell that entered, The yacht was a smail one, measuring only twenty-three feet keel. A ‘roy tugboat anu the tigbout Linda, of West Troy, started for she scene of the disaster shortly after the unwelcome news reached Troy. Tho :oats were turonged with the anxious friends of the missi Lanterns, ropes, grapnels and all 1m for recovering the bodies were placed aboard the tugr COUNT WILHELM VON ARNIM. Count Wilhelm von Arpim, son of the famous ex- Miuister of Germany, whose quarrel with Bismarck at- tracted such world-wide attention, arrived in this city trom Berlin yesterday morning in the steamship Neckar, of the German L'oyus line, The Count is uc- companied by bis young wife, and is stopping at the Brevoort House, where he will remain during his brict stay in New York. He expressed himself toa Herat reporter, who called upon him last nigut, as bighly do ligbtod with so much of our city as he had seep, Hit observMions had, however, been confined to a glimpse of tue streets in tis ride from the wharf to the hote and a rapid view of the Central Park, through which he and his wife drove in ihe evening. Although the distinguished couple arrived at the hotel at ball-past ten in the morning their bazgage did not reach them till balt-past four P, M., and, con- sequently, they were obliged to remain indoors throaphou the day, When the trunks reached tno hovot the Count and Countess effected a rapid change of costume, and, after dining, rode through the Park, ag stated above.’ When questioned by the reporier with respect to the politicul situation in Germany apd SS his father's present position, ho declined to answer, saying, in French, “1 am nob a pollucian, Iam a soldier, aod cannot talk of pohtics.” He further said that people here- did not know him and would pot care for bis utter. ances, Woen toid that the name he bore would uive weight to anything be might say be still declived giv- ing any opinions. He declared bis inten ions ot re- maining but a short time—probably but a day or two-- in New York. Niagara will likely Uo the next placa visi ed by the distinguished couple, who will stay thera just long enough to see the talls and proceed thence to Philadelphia, where a somewhat protracted stay wil be mde, The ount isa tall, handsome mun, of some thirty years, with pleasant, blue cyes, yellow beard and an engaging address He can speak but a few words of English, but converses in Freach fiuently. He is @ Neutenant in the Imperiat German Dragoon Guards, THE RIVER'S DEAD. Tho nude body of an unknown man was found early yesterday morning at the foot of Wost Eighty. sixth street by Oflcer Cahill, of the Thirty-frst pre- cinct. It was scmt to the Morgue and Coroner Biinges was notified. ‘The clothing of Frank Voltz Schaeffer, aged thirtys nine, of No. 202 Eust Bightieth street, was yesteruay found at the foot of Eighty-tirst street, Kast River, Schaefler is supposed to have been drowned while bath ng. His body bas noi yet been recovered. ‘The body of an uuknowa man about Bity yours of age Was found in the North River, at pier 28, yesterday morning, by Utlicer Hanuigan, of the Steamboat squad, It was sent to the Morgue Deceased was about ve ieet eight meches high, vald, and had a smootn face, wore white striped shirt, red un- dershirt, blue flinnel sack coat, dark panta and gait cra The jollowing lettcrs found on his person give evidence that the case was ope Of Suicide, and ode scurely bint at the canse:— Orrick ov Story, Wann & Mascorp, Commission MERCHANTS. No. New Yonx, STATE STREET, uly 15, 1876. "9 ec few Lines T wil Iruvle with my dear chaild Sophia Plees say to ner wib-keep my Promis wich id. yu Promised this you wil find the order for u to receve wl L have got, al my clothing and everything Borongs to mo. du the Best yu can, nel it tor al you cau gets i give yu my Wate ain, alxo the chain 50- i yu shud have a Vloas give the bus I will i= keep m ened had not t ery ing glass end al my grothing gelongs tome. By duing Yours respectfully, WM, FETTE. Coroner Ellinger will investigate the case, ‘The headless body of a drowned man was found on the shore of Raudall’s Island yesterday morning by keeper Patrick Halloran, of No, 221 East 120ch street. ‘The vody was sent to the Morgue and Coroner Eliinger took charge of the case, Suspicions of foul play were at urst entertained by the poice, the body, however, was said at the Moryue to have been in the water over nineteen months, and that decomposition bad beea the cause of separatiug the head from the body. The upper ciothing was all gone, the rib bones entirely exposed. Pants and shoes still covered the lower portion of the Was nothing that could lead to its iden- the Bedding, Bedated and so yu wil gratly oblige. male cbild of premature birth wag it River at the foot of Thirty~ sevepth street yesteruay morning. Coroner Eljinges took tue case. THE HEAT. Yesterday was a grateful change {rom the terrible heat which, for three weeks, has been weakening the strong and decimating the children of the city. Noe withstanding this there were several deaths from sun- stroke, of which the following is a record:— DEATHS FROM SUNSTROKE. Patrick Braay, aged thirty-seven years, of No. 210 Sixth avenue. Peter Movabe, aged twenty-three years, of No. 586 Eighth avenue. George Keo, of No, 52 Forsyth street, Heury Rick, aged forty-five years, of No. 133 Third avenue, BREAD RIOTS IMMINENT. Mayor Siedler, of Jersey City, 8 addressed a mom sage to tho Board of Finance urging some measures for the employment of poor laborers. In the course of his message he says:—‘Tho present atagnation of business and industry has reduced many prosperous families to utmost starvatioa, and 1 am daily besieged at my office, at my home and on the strects by hun dreds of applicants for work, who seek neither terms nor particular Jabor, so long as it 1s work and will bring them sufficient to keep their famihes trom starv- ig. Lgreatiy tear that if some such measure: not Jopted tere will be bread riots throughout the city. Work might be provided for these men, who are too proud to live on ebarit; by ‘commencing improvements beautiy our cry and make it place Where strangert would Come and reside. Streets, some of thom now in ‘A most disgraceful condition, could be repaired and re. paved, otuers could be opened, and these men, the most oft now living oa the charity of the city, could ob tain work. 1 believe that $10, given toeach of there men for such work, would ve far better tor the cit; than #1 given in charity, I suggest that a fuil frank cont oo be bod by your Board with the Boards o| Aldermen and Works, and if you decide op any such steps the ways ond moans to carry them out will not be wanted We cannot tal eloquently to haif starved wretches about (0 staznation of business or the ex. travagance of the past: they know that themselves and thoy are not anxious to hear it told to them, but what they do waut is work aud work thev must have"?