occasion of the sudden sinking of that vessel in New York Harbor
on the afternoon of the 20th of July, 1876. The horror which this
dreadful catastrophe diffused for days through New York and its
environs was only relieved by their action, which revealed some
of the noblest traits of the human soul. The Mohawk was the
largest and costliest of the fleet of pleasure vessels belonging
to the New York Yacht Club. She was the property of Mr. William
T. Garner, a wealthy merchant of New York, residing near New
Brighton, Staten Island, and was sumptuously furnished and
appointed. On Thursday afternoon (July 20, 1876) she lay at her
anchorage in New York Bay, off Stapleton, Staten Island. At about
half past three o'clock Mr. Garner arrived on board with a party
of friends, consisting of Mr. Gardiner G. Howland, Mr. Louis B.
Montant, Colonel J. Schuyler Crosby, Mr. Frost Thorne, together
with Mrs. Garner, Miss Adele Hunter, and Miss Edith May,
arrangements having been made for a sail down the bay. The day
had been somewhat dark and cloudy, with occasional squalls and
showers, and at the time of the company coming on board a
thunder-storm was rising in the southwest, of which no other
notice was taken by the guests than to retreat into the cabin
from the already dropping rain. The order had been given by Mr.
Garner to get under way, and under the direction of the
sailing-master, Rowland, the anchor had been lifted from the
bottom, but was still in the water, and all the working sails
were set except the flying-jib. The neighboring craft, of which
there was a number, had all taken in sail, and the men upon the
decks waited to see how the Mohawk would behave in the coming
squall. At that moment although there was hardly a breath on
deck, a wind smote the upper sails, and the sailing-master gave
orders to let go the fore-sheet, the jib-sheets, and the
fore-topsail. The order had only been obeyed in respect to the
fore-topsail, when the squall struck the yacht with such fury
that she careened, and lurched violently to port.

There was an instant tumult of cries, and the gentlemen rushed up
on deck from the cabin. In a moment the vessel was on her side
with the water pouring over the rail. While she was going over,
Mr. Garner and Colonel Crosby hurried bac