Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1840-02-01
The lmquisisisn ou the 1.exs"xsen---ino
Verdict aud Presensnaent.

verdict aud Presensnaent.
The Coroner and Jury assembled yesterday, at =
o'clock. and the names having been called over, the
Coroner briefly addressed the jury. saying that they
had arrived at the close Of very important nvesi-
s,tien into of the NEST awful caamties that ever
afflicted this community. He had more testimony
to adduce; and indeed, under the ci cumstences, he
did think that more could b gota at IL however,
the jury ksew Of any, he would willingly send Tor
them, aud spare neither time nor trouble 10 eiict
any fact in relation 20 the horrd eat istrephe.
Strangers were then excluded from the room, and
the jury remained in delberation until hall past SIX
o'clock, when they sgreed on, and sgned Inc ioilow-
ing verdict and presentment:
We fnd that Henry Bates, Sias Thorburn, Ben
Ladcre, Phlo Epson AND Stephen Waterbury, came
10 their deaths by The burning Of the Lexington,
Long Island Sound; and this jury, sucn of them
their names are hereunto annexed make the following
presenimeut-
From the testimony adduced before the Court of
Enouiry b, the CorOners inquest to nvestIgatc the
causes Which led 10 the destruction by fire OF the
steamboat Lexington; the inquest OF opinion that
the fire was communicated to the promenade deck,
by the heat of the smoke ipe, from sparh
from the space between the smoke pipe and steam
chamber as the fire first seen near the CASING
of the steam chimney above the promenade deck. -
They are tnrthef oil opinos, chat the Lexington
a first rate boat, with excellent steam engine, and
boiler suitable Tor burning wood, but not coal, with
The blowers attached. Furthermore. il IS Opin.
ion that had the buckets been manned at the
mencement OF the fire, il would have been immedi
ately cx'inguished. Also, inasmueh the engine
could be stopped from the rapid progress Of the
IRE, with presence OF mind of the officer, and strict
discipline OF the crew, the boats could have been
launched, and large portion of the passenger, aad
crew, if not tae whole, might have been saved.
1t is the opinion of this Jury that the preseat In
spectors OF steamboats,, either from ignorance or
neglect, have suffered the steamboat Lexington TO
navigate SQUAD at the imminent risk Of the lives
and property OF the passengers, giving certificate
stating full com pance W It'll the laws Of the United
States while in our opinion such was not the
J hat thc system as adopted On beard the Lexing
ton of using blowers on board OF boats as dangerous
which has been proved to this Jury by competent
witnesse.. And that the conduct OF the officers {
the steamboat Lexington on the night OF the 18th Of
January while said steamboat was on fire, deserves
the severest censure of this community, from the
facts proved before this Jury that the Captain and
Pilot the greatest hour Of danger left the
boat to her guidance, and sought their safe
ty regard oil the fate Of the passengers instead
Of the Captain or Pilot retreatng to The tller, aft
when driven from the wheel house iorw ard and
the ropes there being burned Off there beia :.
at that time communication To the said uiier, there
appeared To De no other thought but self preserva
tions Aad il further appears Ia this jury that the
odious practice al Carrying cotton any quantities
on board of passenger boats, IN manner in which il
shall be liable to take fire. from sparks heat from
any smoke pipe or other means, deserves the public
censure. Signed by James Goa by, Thomas L. 5u--
law, S H. Herr,ott, Teuns Fokkes, James Green,
p. NJ p. Durando, Jr., Edmund X. hlcVeagh, A. S.
Chace, Abraham Crevelin, Robert Butle, Richard
NJ. Hoe, Henry V. DAVIS.
We, composing part nf the Jury in the ease OF the
loss OF the Lexington, fully cxonerate and excupae
CAPTAIN Stephen Manc chester from any blame or cen
sure after the breaking out Of the fire on board -
Signed Benj amin Vincent, Foreman; Joseph L..
Mount.
Thus ends Of the most important nquis,tions
which ever came before Coroner's jury. It, con
sequences may be Of the most lasting benefit 10 this
community, lor 'he presentment is quite broad
enough 20 warrant the next Grand Jury in Gndng
4, hill Tor msnslaugh,e against the owners .f the
murderous Lexington. We have room for COM
nent today, hut we cannot refrain from saying that
Ira rs " heeiss has dcne himself much credit by
The cool and impartial manner in which he pre-
;ded on the inquiry. He has done all in his power to
.,;ct the facts, and when we consider the critical
animation in which the Steam Inspectors have placed
themselves, we cannot say thai the Coroner was
xrronp in cautioning those gentlemen how they an
.wered certain questions. As they had M counsel
rr.sent. the Coroner bound TO inform them OF
the law II is done every dag in the Superior Courts
nv the iudves and the ends Of justice rot re.
tarded thereby, but forwarded. The Coroner's jury
have done their duty-will the U. 5. Dis rict After
ney and the other authorities do theirs
Ms. -