An excursion trip nearly turned deadly when a man climbed onto the guard rail of a passing steamer and fell into the water.
The steamer Laura M. Starin, towing the barge Sumner, was carrying passengers from Astoria, Long Island, toward Sea Breeze when the man was seen attempting to walk along the rail. He had only gone a short distance when the vessel lurched and threw him overboard near the Lehigh Valley coal docks.
He cried for help as he hit the water. Two men in a lifeboat tried to pull him in, catching him by the coat collar as he went under for the second time, but they were forced to let go when his weight became too much.
Just as he was sinking from sight, nearby tugboats arrived. A crewman on the tug Sage hooked him and hauled him aboard, where the crew pumped the water from him and carried him on to Sea Breeze.
As the rescued man was pulled from the water, the other tugboats reportedly sounded their salutes.
Attempted to Walk on Rail of Steamer, Fell Into the Water
At 3 o’clock yesterday afternoon as the steamer Laura M. Starin and the barge Sumner was passing by the Lehigh Valley coal docks, with an excursion from Astoria, Long Island, bound for Sea Breeze, a man was seen to get upon the guard rail of the steamer and attempt to walk around it. He managed to get a short distance when the steamer gave a lurch and overboard he went.
As he struck the water he called for help and two men in the life boat, at the stern of the steamer, went to his rescue. They managed to get a grip on his coat collar as he was going down for the second time and were pulling him aboard the small boat, when they were compelled to drop him because of the dead weight.
He was sinking out of sight when a number of tugboats came in sight, and one of the dock hands on the tug Sage caught hold of the fellow with a boat hook and with the help of the rest of the crew he was hauled aboard.
On the Sage they pumped the water out of him and took him to the Sea Breeze dock, where he soon recovered.
It is said that the man had a fight with someone and in trying to get away, he jumped on the guard rail, lost his balance, and fell overboard. As he was dragged from the water, all the other tugboats saluted.
Source: Perth Amboy Evening News. Perth Amboy, N.J. July 12, 1904.
