The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-10-28
NE HENRY CLAY STEAMBOAT CALAMITY.

Before hon. Judge Ingsrsoll.

T0IU LTT1T0. .esyf.
Jas EIaendoJ and Chas. AeyTi1. IMr. Merritt has not
appeared during the trial
NINTH DAY.
George p Edwards recalled to the stand, and his
direct examination resumed by Mr. j. Prescott Ha-Q-
At the when the examination suspended you had
stsed hat was done will regard to the water now tell
the Jury what YOU did next Al went from there up to
the pilot house crossed the deck the starboard side
Of the boat and went up the ladder told the pilot she
was Ere and aAed him to head the boat towards the
shore.
Q-what did he say, if anythng9
Al think he said he knew his own business.
Q-What did he do. Did he turn her towards the
shore
A. could not tell whether he did or not left him and
down to the main deck again there smoke and
blsze coming up the grating Of the coal hole then
dertooS 70 go psck 10 the Pot mousse out man S'oPpe9
on the ladder and told me not to go up; said
she uld
q. Did you ascend
A. Yes, sir; think / gave him shove, and got to
pilot house again.
O. What did you say TO the pilotS
A. Before sand anything another gentleman told the
pilot the boat ire and he must put her ashore
the passengers at this time halloing.
Was there anything said about the ability to put out
the freS
A. He made the same remark that did, that the boat
on fire. and TO put her ashore.
q What did the pilot do
A. At this time he had her headed partly towards
shore that was while WAS geing up the ladder to the
pilot the second time.
@ AT the time the second order given to the pilot
was the pilot alonef
A. could say positively excepting lady was
know Captain Talnan, by sight know Mr. Colyer by
sight know Mr. Jessup by sight, if is the in
the eice do not know Mr.. Hubbard noticed the wood
work round the and the smoke pipe hot
and cbarred noticed it to be very hot before the fire
took place; observed It as passed by.
o. Had the heat effect your feelings sensesy
A. It was so hot there that left it,
To Mr.. Jordan-This was on the promenade deckg
q. BY Mr. Hale Did you hear any orders given before
the boat struck the shoreS
A did sir; some said to keep quiet or cool and
they would all get shore safe don't know who it
q Did you the Clsys small boat after she struck
she shoref a. Yes, SIR IL lay the starboard side just
aeaft the wheel house, on the promenade deck
Waa thah 9a tha side of he fha
safety OF the passengers
A. No sir; could say positively to It's position
1 think it was standing on its keel.
q Did you any impeachment to getting it overheard
A. There piece of c.nvass it, and rope
keeping it got ashore was pretty much one OF the
frst ashore
Q. Did you address anything to those on board with
respect to that boa2 Objected to- admited) A. saw
some of the deck hands throwing over the bag,
gage forward the starboard side, and asked
them to throw the boat did not notice very par
tcuar tfe safety valve; saw it; saw the tackle used
for hosting the valve and rope the tail end of
the beam do not know how the lever Of the safety
Cross examined by Mr.. wheaton-(diagram pro-
duced 20 Is the rope that you across the tail end
Of the bea the one marked here extending the
engine room2 A. believe it cid; do not know Or what
that rope used don't know that it is used by the
gineer to blow off steam never had any experience
an engine err did the size and weight of the
weight attached to the beam did not notice 1T partc
ulary think the tackle instead OF being at the end OF
the lever, attached to the centre of the lever
MIR. Wheaon-There are two ropes one attached 10 the
lever to pull it back.
eight ago. that the only capacity in which
served board of boat; think it only for
summer about six months the of the boat
the Victory of Kingston; have been in hotel ever
since kept hotel myself at fonkers; before was ho
teikseper was barkeePer can't say how long since nee.
years ago. have been in the habit of Watching the
utions of boat have had that habit since was
board of the Victory LIDO 1t almost always, and some
times when am shore; noticed the revolutions of
the Henry Clay shortly after she left the dock at New
burg; think she then making between twenty
while l was counting; did not tell any one
st the time that counted the revolutions
of the boat; did not make any memorandum of them.
Q.-Had you a stop watch2 had watch with
cond hand and counted by the second hand was
the promenade deck aft of the engine counted every
turn Of the wheel could not the wheel but counted
By the walking beam couRted minute at that time;
GERS. @ Can you remember who you first told it
tos A. | can't tell who told it to before told
counted it the second time when coming out of the High
lands think sitting ia the place at the time;
guess it between Haverstraw and Stoney Point;
/ think it was in Haverstraw bay; | counted
minute then; she then making twenty three and
half. O. How did you get the half A. just easy
yon get the whole; have not the watch now;
did not count it exact when coming out of Newburg
@ De you recolIect any you told this tor A. reco
to before to-day but can't recoect who they are was
the star board side of the deck the promenade deck
when discovered the smoke; cannot state exactly
where, but think it between the smoke pipe and the
engine not there great while; did not sit down
think stood there minute don't recollect if there
exposed to the sun l went past there several
times | not going to any particular place
when II passed l walking about on the boat. Q.
Did you 20 there cool place? A. No. its cool for
ward it naturally very hot thre ii aboard all boats
was charred; it where the smoke pipe furnace,
came through the main dees. O. What woodwork did
you cbarreda A. Well, it locked very black from
the Of the furnace something the inside of the
woodwork; nj the woodwork next to the bsiler
could ook inside the door and it, looked inside the
CT the gangway that leads into the forward cabin
o.
woodwork charredS A. | think it was; the woodwork
was down near my feet. @ You say the woodwork
doo-now, the woodwork which was charred outside
the door,
A. saw cracks and took it for that purpose; saw
the cracks towards the main deck inside the door,
my feet standing right against the sill OF the door;
from my feet to my best recollection it about two
feet,
o. If yeu look into that door and look towards the fur
steam chimney, did you see anything but can.
vas between you and the steam chimney A. l did
not say it between and the steam chimney;
/ think it was woodwork that crossways the
boat partition or something; it was a solid piece Of
timber board with cracks in it, cannot swear posi-
tive whether it was solid piece of timber or board
that saw charred O. Could you the inside be-
tween the board and the chimney? A 1t was near the
bottom side of the wood, the edge, that saw it
charred, it was the bottom edge
o. Didn't you see that the chimney all ounied
with and that you could not see particle of
woodS
A. I won't swear positively might have been mis-
taken, but there wood right at my feet. O. Will,
you swear that you looked in there at anr Yes sir,
did; did not take any notice Of Canvass. Did you
look towards the steam chimney or furnaceS A. don't
recolect that did looked right down at my feet saw
the furnace doors don't know that saw the boilers
from where stood could not that the wood saw
charred within foot of the furnace chimney it
looked black and inferred it charred; don't know
that all the wood work there was painted black /;
saw cracks In it, and took 1t to be charred; |
looking down in the ire room when discovered
the FIRE: think il was the time the woodwork
charred looked down several times, but think that
the time; smelled the smoke first the fireman got
bucket of water and threw it under my feet while was
standing close by the Aremans door didn't stand there
long after tie bucket of water was thrown at my eet
left very quick stepped back to the centre of the
sangway the water did not touch me- saw smoke be-
fore | stepped back it might have been half minute
BEFORE did not any FIRE before went away then
went the pilot house. told him the boat was on re
and to turn the at ashore mean to swear to that
Odd he obey that order2
A. answered that before don't think he did at that
minute; went down to the main deck again, and went
forward. down the adder the