The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-02-21
Military COURT OF INQUIRY
RSLAuvs TO TxH
LOSS OF the STEAMSHIP SAN FRANCISc
THIRTRENTa DAY.

ne Oourt met yesterday n rpi.g, psrsuaus 70 ID
Ssrgssnt Maj william 90 ham, Of the laird Rsstnass
a Arfillsry called by Col 0st~s
O DID Dol Gsiss render good ssrvos the steamer
In TraDoisoo after the oh II state whom, vhsrO
and undsr what circumstances A. Dol Gates rsadsrsd
every assisasss vhss him. II tss second or
ssssssd sapsris,ssens ana psr.s.sny s...ass i -
ourne the howard hatch w-a pasags which led down
into the forward sabi.covsrins e .ih pieces Of eaxlst
sp, and thsy vsrs resolved By COL Gates with his
hand this vas the second Has that had -. ~
the evening Of the day vhsn the lsdy passengers
moved into the forward cabs the safst Dsss -
a. and S;sa e sss
noticed Col Gstes psraculariy
g Was there any d.nssr that time Of Tie stseners
that unss the hatch could - s3sursd the shD
must take another see and swamp
would b obliged pas. in ssi:s forward non sSs
main cabin A. the emily passage st this tine
the stewards pantry, on IN. ss.rSosrd a. &
Ii. shat. n: m.onin.y and By shs door 4 the ss.s
sonnsssd immediately With The forward stssrare cabin
whore the men and women Of ths command wsrs
Q have you been . ssAmanS A. have.
Q. Did you, ~ Sergeant hajor Of the command dstau
Corporal Taylor Of company, Of the nonoom-
Kiby ana did he obey the dss.ni A. Yes: v0s n.
sruotsd BY LeutsDsnt Van Vosst to select at foe
that duty Isslsstsd Taylor mos nom any knowlsdgs
Corporal Louis smith, Of Company g. Third Rssnsnto
wreck fss,sniBg ths desk Of the steamer
ard sivsg directions to others engaged In the
A. saw hun .s'i, r. dong and svss d. ~ 70
think It was seay OF two before the msn embarked for
Colonel Gates stated to the Court that Captain Watkins
was the only sitlsss Remaining vhon 10 wished to OK
anime
The Judge Advocate s.d-Captsia Watkins Aas notified
here ~
unable TO ach the CITY until evenisg He may there
ins b expected to sppsar a. vit:s's tomorrow. The
q. steamer Princeton has returned and Mr. Shock, tie
chief engineer has returned In her. He 10 In Atsnd
to testify before the court In regard TO the loss Il
the steamer, 20 far . coseerns her machinery.
VIM. b. 8. Shock Chief Engineer =. Navy, svsen-
Direct sxamins ton Did you m.ke tbs ocial nspss-
Srsncseo to sse.r ain her sins. for the mai serves q
the government and for war pursoss did, ~ one
what was ,our il ~ to the strength and On.
cheney Of her mAcbn~ryY A. thought the mAohinsey
very strong and well built a. far s general nspssoa
@ 1t appears from your official report that you found
Fart Of the ocnrvsncs novel; did you consider that
% ur nttisg her for ths ssrvce Not entirely 10 there
was seine Inequality In the ton that a,,ount
and beesuse IL experiment, thought proper 70
bring the the Department to w but did mot
object 70 the principle, did discover any want &
9 Did the snaiD. break there. and was ~ in ysar
A. The engine broke there. (rns wisnsss here exhibited
to the court oae Of the machinery and explained
mat the piston roc OF the pump-A peo0 OF wrought
iron hree inches In dismstsr wound with brAss half
inch In thioknea-hst broken Tis part that broke
wAs reduced by she per; II there something over
S-16 the brsaksgs Ia the opipiou Of the witaess
owing, In great measure. to extraordinary strain
put uvon the engine and in part to dsfsot In tbs oa
O. What wps the extraordinary strAin-do you mean
the prsss Of steam to contend tn the storm A. Yes
she tested according to the steamboat law for forty
pounds Of SITES and istsd and approved for thirty
pounds but in ooptendug with thu stor she exertsd
understand, greater poser Of steam than ahs was In
tended for.
O. DID the iur. result FRI thu novel consrivAnes
nom the causes you have statscs attribute u 70 IL
eauies have stated the pres Of steam and the deoet h
the iron do not hac fault sith principles; would
willingly adopt H. OF there hid defective
piece OF iron elsewhere she liable 10 have broker
there.
Q. Are not these defects ia the iron aooidsntAR l.
Always It u one Of those thiogs cannot Always
into.
By the Cosrt-wou yen have felt authodssd 10 have
reported the Ban Francso Ia all respects sssvorthy
far regarded tho engine winoas quAln sAton
you made about the construction Of Apart Of the
ginef A. NJ report explains views Of It; reported
that the engineer not familiar sta the workiag Of
the new construction, and that he needed ts 10 10.
come 20.
The Court should be glad to direct answer 10
the question II the witness Ia .bls to give II.
MnsE-l shouk like to hear tbs question read agais
Wsnxee->~~-~s q - ah
svsr tran have mare in my rrpcrt.
The Cnurt then adouSssd meet again this NJ ming 81
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