three o'clock in the afternoon
Wind and tide still favored them . In safety they passed the ugly shoals and ledges . Here Stern took the paddle , while Beatrice went to the bow and left all to his directing hand . By three o'clock in the afternoon they were drawing past Blackwell 's Island . The Queensboro Bridge still stood , as did the railway bridges behind them ; but much wreckage had fallen into the river , and in one place formed an ugly whirlpool , which Stern had to avoid by some hard work with the paddle . The whole structure was sagging badly to southward , as though the foundations had given way . Long , rusted masses of steel hung from the spans , which drooped as though to break at any moment .