Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1840-01-21

Il
rumors, that scarcely any statement be credited
The story that Capt. Terrell, of the sloop Improve
men, refused to go to the assistance Of the SUITE
and gave his reasons for his conduct, seems i'm
probable and unnatural, that we must have confrma-
| ton before we creditit ~. r.r
The Coroner yesterday resumed the inquest in this
matter, and elected the following
William Comstock, examined-I am the agent for
the New York and Providence Railroad, or rather
the New Jersey Transportation Company. 1t was
formerly Cal ed the Boston and New York Company.
know the most of the stockholders. The stock book
IN the hands of the president. His name is Charles
o. Handy
Coroner-Tell the names of the directors.
Witness-Charles H. RUSSELL Elihr Townsend,
M'ses II. Grnnell, Charles o. Handy of New York;
Moses Brown Ives, Of Providence. These gentle
men compose the direction. One of the standing
resolutions OF the company IS, that not more than
$1,000 shall be expended on any boat, without the
consent of the board The company owns the
Massachusetts, the Rhode Island, the Narragansett
the Providence, and the Michigan. These boats have
only the Sound" line. l have been employ ed
by 6S, the Company ever since its organization In
1898 took charge of the Fulton, and since then have
been employed in two companies, up to 1887, when
entered into the same. Robert Schuyler, a former
president of the Compa ~ bought the Lexington for
Sl2 coo more.
Coroner Would a boat the size of the Lexington
cost over $40 O00:
Witncss-Yes sir Vanderbilt told she cost
more than that. She did not, at that time run in
opposition 10 us, but she had previously.
Coroner-What was the difference in the fares,
when Vanderbilt run in opposition to You!
WHness-Why h ran in various ways ana at va.
rious prices. Once he ran at S3 when we charged
So, and at one time it was as low as one dollar He
eventually made propositions to the Company to put
his fare up to a living price.
Coroner-Do YOU know Of any proposition from
your Company to buy out Vanderbilt and to get rid
of the oppositionl
Witness-I DO not Both had been losing great
lpf and do
so to be at peace. Before the purchase, may
have expressed opinion as to the merits OF that
boat, or OF her sea worthiness. went On board OF
her, but was not consulted or directed to examine
her on the part of the Company. The committee
of purchase composed Of single individual. l
may have remarked 10 the speed of the boat. but
not to her safety construction After her boil
was put IN her examined her cursoriiy, In order
to see if we could make any of her Improvements
answer in the build of the Massachusetts, for which
we had just contracted. did not much like the
appearasce Of her deck although l knew 1t was
strong. She had more strength in her keson than
any other boat ever saw. She was thoroughly
overhauled before placing her on the winter route.
Her bottom examined, and 1t appeared necessary
TO put on few sheets of copper. No evidence OF
any weakness in her timbers. refitted her IN the
best possible way, withontsregard to expense.
thought that as her engine was very powerful we
could depend on her arrival all through the winter.
BY the Jury-Ithnk twas in the year 1887, when
the Lexington ran in opposition to our line Think
the Lexington was worth about $4,000 as a boa
auu the company DlSnt put tHat Ndlu1tioh oh
speed and otter good qualities they liked After
the purchase, / examined the engine, and took an
inventory of every thing on board of her
by the Coroner Did you find the engine perfect
Witness-No; it wanted several things done TO it.
The boiler had new hues. which cost $3.50. A
great many new screws ana other things had to be
adde i, which done by Mr.. Secor. Ii was
IS inch cylinder and ii feet STROKE. She had walk
ing beam Her bilge pumps were Of the usual size,
and each of them had a suction pipe. Without
public notice that we were willing take both freight
and passengers The CRATE bars were elevated Is
inches, and their size diminished with brick and
mortar. Under these were cast iron pans, always
full Of water. We considered that we should dimi'
nsh the danger Of the boat 80 per cent by substitute
ing coal for wood. On the top Of the boiler, put
coating of zine, fore and af,, the whole length.
have had boat fire three times during my
career aad have dread of that kind Of acci-
dent than any thing else. l do not think that the
friction Of any engine would ignite hemp other
terial the machinery comes in contact with. The |
cooking apparatus was to burn wood The cabin
generally burnt coal. This, with the number OF
lights about, render extra coal necessary. While |
was in command of the Washington lacy passenger
set her on fire, and IL was a miracle khe was saved
Coronar-Do the passengers have lamps
Witness-Yes, il they ask for one. We should be
thought very abrupt II we refused. You know, pas
sengers now .a-dsys expect to have every thing.
Juror-How did you get rid of your cndersl
Witness-Aiter several consultations with the en-.
gineer and with Captain Vanderbilt. we put another
standing pipe through the OottOm OF the Doat we
could do it without putting il near the baggage or
cargo. This pine Ia or 16 inches in the mouth
Of il. A could take the iron baskets oi ashes,
and their contents were overheard In a very short
time. She never has " it'll more than II inches
of steam; and she has done il with 3 Twelve inches
would produce 10 or IL revolutions miaute.
She had two separate and distinct steering appara
tusts; they bad no connection with each other; the
principal one the iron rods fore and aft the
promenade deck. They passed the boiler about IL
feet ard then Joined to ropes made of raw hide
Chains would be very dangerous in going through
Hurlgate, espec ally IN frosty weather. i have re-
peatedy spoken to Capt. Childs about the extra
steering apparatus in OF fire other accident,
that might drive him from the wheel.house, why he
had nothing to do but to retreat aft. saw this APP
paratus board the boat 10 minutes before she
started. was on board expecting to co. but received
other information hch induced me 10 alter my mind
All the freight u carried on the main deck. None
put below. | never saw freight slowed within or
feet Of the chimney. but should not apprehend any
danger IL it close against it. There was free
passage way the deck Of that boat fore and aft.
went through myself before she started. The fire
engine forward, against the bulkhead, the hose
and pipe hung up it. IL was all new and com
pletely fitted. Toe mate told me l2or ID minutes
before the boat started, that he coud riE the fire
zine and start in three Minutes The suction hose
led overheard, and that was the way to get water
into il.
II the vessel was going only four knots an hour
she could not throw the kose TO get water The
first thing that should have been done was TO stop
HE engine directly the cry of fire heard. The
force pump hose could have been filled in two min.
utes, and that hung within few feet OF the ladies'
cabin. She better provided against hire than any
boat out Of this city She had from ~ TO 30 Buckets
all under the promenade deck II Is general order
with me To have buckets filled with water around the
engine
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