The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-05-07


@ DO you repair all the ships Of this line when the,
need II in this ports
4. All of them, for the last three or four years.
G. Did you ever discover that her knees sprung
Il at he exhibited evidence In any part OF her frame
Of having been stroineds
O. Lid you examine her carefully, and were you care
ful 10 discover such defects If they wee materials
a. Yes As to the springing Of the knees It Is very
common with vessels trading in hot attudes; the wood
shrinks especially IL not well seasoned VI rs when the
knees spring, theT wedged you OF take them
OUT It is pot necessary they are made tight and strong
Q-By member Of court. How did the Falcon pre-
yious TO her late voyage compare in searorthncss with
the other steamers Of the linethc George Law and
Illinois, for example?
A. Well, she compares well; her construction is such
40 to make her very safe and easy
TESTIMONY OF ISAAC NEWTON.
Isaac Newton, witness for the prosecution, being
sworn, testified follows, upon his direct examina
ton
Q, what Il your business9
A. The building and running Of steamboats, principal
iy, on the North river at present. have built and
O. you acquainted with the character Of the steam
ship Falcon, and IL so, what is its
h,A so far as tno ,m y had no knowdge Of
to that; during her construction building ship in
the Same yard at the same time my ship the Crescent
City completed in June. 1S4S the Falcon have
been finished after that recoect had the Crescent
City framed and pretty well under way before the Fal
con was started.
@ Is she in strength Of timbers and the general cha
racer Of her construction sound is with
going steamers t. s from This ports
A. thought her SO at the time in erial workman
ship, model-eveIyt thing that constitutes ship very
superior vessel
q How long do such hn,ls last in sea service with
proper attention and repairs?
A. SO far as our experience goes here we DON'T yet
know; none OF them to my knowledge, have yet mate.
Cross. .examned-o, Was not the building Of steam
ships for sea in IFS infancy in this country that time
and have not great Improvements been made in them
since?
A. The souherner built the year prior, was think
me hrst successful seagong steamer had, and the
Crescent City next; not able to say positively
atont the improvements larger vessels have
built and some Of the Sort good the Fal-
con; the only material improvement that know in the
construction of these steamers since the Falcon
built Is the introduction of the iron diagonal bracing
@ Do You mean to be understood as saying that the
frame OF the Falcon was originally built of uncomonly
strong timbers?
A. think they stronger than usual in the aver
age OF fnilng vessels and strong used in the
construction Of steamers of her size and model
@ by Member of the Court-Was the safety of the
Falcon as sea going vessel impaired by the after addi
tion Of an upper deck cabins
A. should not have supposed 1t would have any effect
upon her.
with other steamers her line up to the time she sail
ed from hereg
A. consider her as safe steamer as there is on that
line: what her situation now is ] do not know.
Q. by Major Wyfe-Have you ever inspected this
sci since she was launched, and Il SO, whenf
A. No; have been on board Of her number of times
but never paid any particular attention to her.
TESTIMONY OF STEPHEN e. GLOVER
Stephen E. Glovor, being sworn for the prosecution
testified as follows on his direct examnation:-
O. What is your businessY
A. mariner, by profession, and ship master, and
now inspector OF the Hudson River and Franklin Fire
and Marine Insurance.
q. TO you know the Falcon
A. Very wen
O. Did you sec her when she was buldingp
A. From her keel upwards til, she was finished
What sort OF vessel is che, in material, workman
ship and models
A. Very good
Q What her present condition.
A. Very good for her age.
O. Have you inspected her recently
A. Some time about the first OF April examined her
closely with Captain Weerby, gentleman from Canada,
not buy hcr--se was too costly for his purpose.
O. What effect has age and service had upon her seq
wortbinessy
A. None at all
g what effect has the upper cabin, or saloon like
A. Nothing particular that OF; they can knock
II away If necessary; il is only light deck.
9 ls such kind Of steamer with the saloon, common
A. Yes, all have them more or less,
@ How does her provision in respect Of and sails
A. They compare very well in proportion to her ton
mage, which is about $50, custom house measurement
2. What is her reputation in comparison with the
other steamers OF that line, n steamer
A. Tqual, sccordins to her size.
@ by Major Wyss-ro you know who superintenaed
the building Of the Falcon
Captain Low, now Inspector Of the Comnt rcial
Insurance. Company for marine insrrances.
TESTIMONY or W. II. AsrNwALL.
William H. Aspnwall, witness for the prosecution,
being orn testified follows on h direct examna
ton
O. Who made the contract with the nltei States sor
New York 10 californian
a. DID, in behalf Of the Pacific hail Steamship Com
pany
q WI at arrangement or net contract did Won mako
for this side Of the Ithmuss
4. had contract this side, and arranged with
the nited States Mall Steamship Company to take the
troops 10 the Isihrs in their mail steamer conneetnr
with the John J. Stephens.
q. Why was the Falcon substitutedY
A. The Falcon substituted in consequence of nv
application TO them TO kro II the troops could not 10
in separate vessel to meet the wishes of Gen Jesup
expressed to ne last FALL when he stated his wish to
have the troops In such carried in transports
rate from citizen passengers and was assured that the
Falcon, though not as fast. safe the Iisil
steamer.
@ Was this substitution saving, convenient, or
expensive 10 the company
A. II was an additional expense Of several thousands
because the mail steamer could have en- the troops nd
the passengers.
Q. How Il intended to transport the troops on the
paciacg
A. In the John L. Stephens; noticed in some publjca
lions that there public rumor to the contrary but
the rnnor was untrucnothing as appeared IN the
was contemplated.
Q Is the Falcon mail steamer
A. have nothing to do with the management Of that
line; think she Is temporarily excepted
TESTIMONY or HENRY B. RENwIcK
Henry b. Renwick, witness for prosecution being
sworn, testified as follows on direct examination -
Q. What Office you in
A. lama y s. local inspector OF steamers for the port
q New York, and was the first officer here appointed
ureer The law creating the Office, in August 1852
Q. What rs the duty OF that Office?
A, Ny duty is this:-I have a colleague who is o shin
builder am mechanical engineer. Oar duty Is ioiniiy
10 inspect every passenger steamer which takes out her
pareis al this portthe law makes 1t our duty to 20
aboard and inspect carefully passenger steamers rrv
Ing and departing from this port, which may take out
their inspection papers at other ports.
O. Did you observe the Falcon when she came round
from the Fast river, previous 10 her late voyngea
a. observed the Falcon just when she here
from The south some months ago ! her under way
and remarked that she we-again on the 18th Of
April boarded her and made casual inspection Of her
tie law requires She had he's inspection papers taken
ont from New Orleans.
Q. What do you mean by casual insrcctionY
A. mean an occasional Inspection OF the nature Of
general examination; not 80 thorough the law re-
qures, once year, when the vessel receives certiR
cate the law intends, understand a check 20 see
trs, &c.
q What Was your judgment OF her al this casual in