November 21, 1949
One Gloucester Fisherman Drowned
After Collision New York Harbor
Tina B. Rammed and Sunk by
City Garbage Vessel
August Miguel Missing
Nine Others Rescued
The 80-foot auxiliary fishing dragger Tina
B. of this port was rammed and sunk by a New York garbage disposal vessel
within 500 feet of piers in New York harbor early last evening, with the loss of one of
her crew, August Miguel, 31 years, brother-in-law to the owner-skipper,
Capt. Simplicio B. Bichao, of this city.
Miguel with two others, dove
overboard directly after the collision in an attempt to swim ashore. Two of the trio
made the pier but nothing more was seen of Miguel. Capt. Bichao
and other survivors, all of this city, left New York for this city this forenoon and are
expected home tonight. The Tina B. launched only four
years ago, is valued at $120,000 and is partially covered by insurance.
Survivors include Capt. Bichao,
owner-skipper; Richard Poor, 57 years, engineer; Manuel Carvalho,
cook; John A. Bichao, 66 years; Leopold S. Riberio, Jr.,
28 years; Antone daSilva; Joseph E. Santos; Eino
O. Alto, 39 years.
The Tina B. sailed
from here a week ago today to spend the winter dragging out of New York. She was
inward bound with her first southern fare, 30,000 pounds fresh fish, when proceeding
through Buttermilk channel between Brooklyn and Governor's Island, last evening on her way
into Fulton market, New York. The dragger hove to for a space, her engine idling, to
allow a tanker to pass. The New York city sludge boat, otherwise known as a garbage
disposal craft, is reported to have rammed the 32-ton fishing vessel on the port side,
crushing into the engine room. The sludge boat was bound to sea with a load of
garbage.
Capt. Bichao stated that his
craft was so badly torn that she started to founder at once and he ordered his men to
climb into the rigging in an effort to stay afloat until they could be picked up.
However, Miguel, Santos and Riberio preferred to take
their chances by diving overboard. That was the last seen of Miguel.
Santos and Riberio were
more fortunate and succeeded in conquering the icy waters and swan the 500 feet to
neighboring piers. Both were rushed to a hospital and given first aid
treatment. They were discharged later and will be home with their dory-mates today.
The sludge boat played its searchlight on the
harbor waters to aid a New York police boat to pick up the survivors. The Tina
B. sank in less that an hour, according to report.
Miguel, who is single, had
been a crew member on the Tina B. for the past three
months. He was born in Cambridge.
The police boat was summoned to the scene by Harry
Glenn, a pier watchman, who heard the cries from the sinking boat.
The Tina B. was launched at
the shipyard of John Prince Story at Essex, September 24, 1945. The craft was 80
feet long, 20 feet wide, 10 1/2 feet deep and had a hold capacity of 125,000 pounds.
She went redfishing out of Gloucester since her launching and was engaged in this business
during the past summer. |
