New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-07-04
THE MONTREAL DISASTER.
THE INQUEST AT QUEBEC.

Tie following Is the eSluencc given W N"Ps ~"
doth, Mr. Wilson, r., and Mr.. w. Calvert, Engineer,
with respect to the origin of the fire, before the Coro-
ner at Quebec:
Can't j. p. RuDoLPH-About o'clock, when of
the Raw of Carouge, was in my room forward. l
heard several persons moving on the hurricane deck
over the saloon, which to me was unusual. Passed
through the saoon and on the hurricane deck.
then saw three or four of the hands, then the pilot and
the maze, three Of the deck hands, and also some pas
the upper saloon, close up to the hurricane deck:
ordered the carpenter to cut away with his axe into
the side wherever he saw the smoke. lie dld so im-
midiately and the moment he cut the hames came
out above where he was cutting. That was over the
boiler and the cutting was in the side OF the boiler
II was in q partition between the boiler and the ga
loon. l saw there was no chance OF extlnguiSr.
irg the fire, and told the wheelman to Put
The helm hard sport, and then ordered tho
pilot to put the helm hard aport to run the vessel
ashore. The pilot said, Stop little, perhaps I'll
see a good place." l suffered him to run ON u few
minutes longer, but nclinng toward the shore, until
better place in the opinion of the pilot could be got
10 run her ashore The boat continued in this course
for about two minutes The fire was increasing ana
coming over the canvas Of the hurricane deck. L
went forward and ordered the pilot Immediately to run
the vessel ashore hurried then to the saloon deck
TO keep the passengers quiet until could get them on
shore The vessel was now ashore, and had been so
before left the hurricane deck. have no idea now
the fire occurred. The Montreal has twice taken hre
this season. About fortnight ago she took fire over
AT around the boilers, and the surrounding OF the
wooden work had been covered with sheet'iron ana
lined On these ordinary occasions bucket iuil OF
water will extinguisb the fire. When the accident 0c-
cured the steamer was moving at the rate Of twelve
knots the usual rate. There was no racing at the
time; had there been any the Napoleon would not
have been ahead; nor has there been any TINS
season. Some Of the passengers forward threw
out the raftsmens big boat which was on the DECK;
and caused the starboard boat at the davts to be
lowered, but they were both swamPed Dy 80 many
have x.1 pf fhA ma aaAn.
gers not to Jump overheard and got over myself upon
the guards; and said that the Napoleon boats and
the barge at her side would come and save them
About 20 minutes elapsed before the boats came but
then could not Judge of time we'll. The Montreal
when she struck was about 800 feet from the shore
there was about 81 feet at low water where the vessel
struck. The woodwork that surrounded ina Doner
nay be about inches distant. l think that the
woodwork surrounding the boiler could not have
enited the wood. Mr.. Boyd inspected the hull
There were the ordinary number OF boats on
boarn beside large cask OF water one on each side
of the vessel and kept constantly filed there
was force pump but no fire engine ON board; II was
equal in power to an engine the nozzle was about
an inch in diameter; there was no life preservers on
board; threw all the chairs that came TO hand into
the water for the passengers and also part OF the ra
think that over 100 persons pefished unsnipped
the ladders and threw them to the passengers one OF
whom was Mr.. Philips, who did not take hold OF it;
the Inspector Of Machinery had not visited the vesse
this Summer to my knowledge the boat has been rum
three seasons origin aio W. ki0'i""'
fires was sparks from wood used to light the nre Out
that was all perfectly secured and no similar accident
could have again occurred. -
Mr. WILsoN-The woodwork surrounding the boiler
is apart from it only about eight inches in some
places and at others fifteen There is nothing to pro-
iect the woodwork from the heat of the boiler which
is rom times very great and often more on previous
occasions than was last night Does rot think that
the boilers could have set fire to the woodwork There
were about 275 persons on board including cabin pas
senpers In from five TO ten minutes after hrst per-
ceiyed the fire the steamer was run ashore thihk
the greater number Of the passengers would have been
saved had they remained on board. l was on shore
before the Captain left. .o,
WM. CALVERT engineer of the steamer Quebec
am Inspector Of Machinery; knew the steamer Mon
tres and inspected her twelve months ago; tne ma
chinery was in good condition when inspected ner
the botrs were then capable Of bearing 81 pounds OF
steam might have borne 40, and were in good work.
ing condition; my dsty Inspector is TO examine tne
hlers and engines with reference to their strength
ard olive A certificate 10 that effect; am only bound
10 INSPECT when requested by the proprietor Of boat
Ia do 20; the woodwork surrounding the boiler not
Dangerously near and not nearer than fhat OF ohei
bca,s running on the river, unless there was mol SUI
fci.pt water Ia the boiler and there nust nave oeen
sufficient ster in the boilers short time after ieav
ipg. Under tie circumstances the boiler could not
possibly have igp.:ed the partitions adJoining: Inc
pxner 81 the stee amer Montreal s Mr.. John Wilson,
sepior, Il Quebec. =. q
O'Clock.