The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-09-12

The investigation before Justice Quackenbus relative
TO the burning Of the steamer Catane at Fortress MOI
roe the 81 Of July last promises to be quito interest
ing named James Larkin. who OBLIGATED rs SORT
of clerk board the boat at the time OF hcr
is suspected Of having set fire TO herr but e evidence 10
by no satisfactory as to his guilt ana IL would not
surprise us much If tho crime fastened upon some
other party before the Investigations is concluded 1t Is
true Mr. pobbyn Lalor testiGes that he heard Lar
kin confess that no set FIRE TO the boat, but
the very next witness for the prosecution Captain
Phiips) declares that the accused In his berth
asleep at the time of the conagraon, and that whom he
was rescued from the rudder he found to be in his
shirt and pantaoons. The testimony of Captain Philips as
10 Lakas capacity on board the Catalina, and tho man.
in which he to be board, is rather muddy,
and will DO worth perusng That there is ga wheel
within wheel there is doubt, but what the real
facts lengthy examination alone can determine The
olowing is report Of the evidence elected on Tuesday
aliernoon-
NJ. Dobbyn Lalor being duly sworn, deposos and says
chat he Is acquainted with James Lakn, OF St. Law
renee county State Of Now York. and at present living at
the Asor House u this city, that tho said James Lar
kim the 1ith a AIgust 1861 said to this depenent
that he Oarkin) had sailed board the Catalina for
Fortress Monroe in the capacity Of purser or steward
that the said arkn had accomplished the burning of the
steamer that AT the time the vessel left Fortress Monroe
after leaving General Butler and staff there, and while
proceeding out into the stream, tho lights were all put
In fact that tho steamer was all a-bIaze IN mo-
ment that he done it, And this deponent further says
the above statement made among other statements
eatye TO said vessel by the said 1arkin and that tho
ed arkin has repeated statements several times to this
dcponent in reference hcreo and this deponent further
that on the 22d day of Augugt 1861 the said arkn
stated In the presence Of deponent among other things
that he Nakn had accomplished The destruction OF The
Catalina by spirits Of turpcntine at the smoke pipe
John Van Tine, of No. 331 Brcomc street, beng duly
sworn for tho prosecution saysi know Mr. Iafkin from
his coming in my place; mover saw Mr. Isaac Philips but
once: he made himself KNOWN 70 me III my pn,oc va,
purser of the Alabama with him; he introduced sad
Phillips as captain Of the steamer Catane there was a
other person. whom do not know, with elm Mr.: .|nn
was not present at tho tme Mr.. Philips told me that at
tho time Of the fire OF the Catalina Iarkin asleep in
bis berth drunk he told me this to show the imposs
biiy Of Iarkns being the captain Of the steamer sup
pose he used that expression for the purpose stated
[aptain Philips left my place; after which
Mr. Iarkin in; he then went out; after that Philips
Larkin and their friends met at my place; Philips asked
Lnrkn in my presence if he was captain, or he ever
told deponent that he captain; IaIkn said that he
had never told me so, and he never did, other persons
had told they then passed ont; there was no DIFF
Gcuty in my place; think saw 1arkin again that same
afternoon; think saw him twice that afternoon: the
second time referred to difficulty with Captain Philips
in the presence Of Mr. Lalor he said he knew enough
about the Captain TO put him in tight place Mr. Hughes
not present then; the alteration referred to
about dinner time; think Philips accused Larkn OF not
doing anything towards saving anything, but that he
found larkn lying on the rudder OF the boat; think
Larkin present when Philips told me that should
Judge Lakn sober when lie spoke TO about send
ing or putting Philips In tghs place. Lalor present
with him; should say Larkin was perfectly sober; Mr..
taor was in the habit Of being constantly with 1arkD
Larkn told Philips that he done much he philips
did to put out the fire, and if he hadn't done something
towards saving the powder putting something
the way what would b. the consequence or something of
that kind; Larkn said Philips appropriated something
from the boat TO his use.
Isaac o. Philips deposed folows-I reside at No. ia
South Ninth street. Williamsburg; knew the steamer
Cataline; had command Of her from April 25 until
the I'd OF July 1861 when she burned she belonged
TO Mr. Charles A. Stetson, Jr. the papers
IN his name; NJ NJ Freeman Coz his agents; she
was burned off Fortress Monroe about $50 yards from
the beach; she was under weigh: the south
west side of Fortress Monroe; backing down
the channel from the ordnance wharf when the fire
place; we were then bound for Newport News, at tho
mouth of the James river this about quarter past
nine O'Clock in the evening had just landed passc
gers with General Bltror at. the
wharf and were backing ont TO leave Newport News on
regular trip Mt O'Clock in the morning: the
vessel insured for $40 0o0 told by Freeman
and paid out 81 500 myself last lakn, previous
leaving the ordnance wharf; saw Iarn when ynig at
the ordnance wharf then backed the boat from the
wharf got from 800 to 500 yards from the wharf
then on the hurricane deck aft the pilot at the wheel
tn the pilot house said to the pilot Put your helm hard
astarboard and rang the bell to work the engine ahead
Istopped the engine after the boat had swung sufficiently
TO clear the shoa on the port quarter rang TO back
looked up TO see II the engine In notion and at thit
time saw blaze coming up around the steam chimney
and through the ventiator; it mrs have been twenty
three twenty five feet from the fire the spot where
was standing; then went down to the engineer and
asked him il he had his hose the IRE pump he said he
had, and that ne had it in notion l saw flames
then about the steam chimney and boiler; the
timber work adjacent to the steam chimney was then
burning Invent forward to get the forward pump on tho
flames gained so fast on Us that impossible for
to connect the hose to tho fire pump forward; then
went forward and told the to let go the starboard
anchor had chest of about eleven rounds of cartridges
for one of James riied cannon, which ordered the
TO throw overheard which they did, the fire gained
very fast; It was not ten minutes from tho time
the flames until the anchor down; they TO us
from the vessels close by about twenty
boats, should judge; portion OF the divided
in consequence q the lire commencing amdships; one
her N lie
wind from tho westward, and at times blow
ing mddiing breeze: ebb tide; boat heading to her
anchor nearly west account Of the ebb tide flames
drawed the after part of the boat through the state
to the stern Of the vessel the on the
after part Of tho vessel. anil compelled climb
down the rudder to escape from burning Mr. simmons
Second Engineer, Mr.. Pakhurs, Storek cDer Mr. lar
kin as passenger; Dr. Bradley, of one Of the Massachu
sets regiments were on he ruddor anu remained there
until boat came and took them OF all they saved was
what they stood in; Mr. Iarkn had lair of boots
shirt and pair of pants en- but no hat: removed all
the shell and powder and threw the oyerboarflas
already statcd-whih all the ammunition
we had on board The vcntiators arc immediately
over the Gferoom in front Of the Boilers
or furnaces; the steam pipe tho forward side Of
the boiler the vcntsator about four feet the
smoke pfe; the bottom OF tho engine an oyen
space with ladder down 10 the are ROOM did not go
down to the fire room tho engineer tod the hose was
stretched did not them play IN consequence Of the
smoke vct' allied manned and coaicd tse boat by
tract AMI Mr. Irkin beard tls boat not paid ly
me- Mr Lakin was with me on board the boat all the
Time nc was on the boat with Inc by request OF Mr. g. c.
Davidson, Of Albany who said If would take him With
mo II would not cost any hing ! REGARDED
him rs passenger; l under c)ntrac.
by tie government; | had tn, original contract
botween Freeman a. %. and Daniel D. Iomukins
Assistant Quarermaster Gcacral; we had been in com,
mission, under charter by the government for two
months and eight days; chartered for three
months; Iempoyed all the hands board the steamer
vctuacd and coaled her. and paid all running expenses
Mr. Larkn the defendant, not employed by me an
did not act in the capacity Of steward regarded him
passenger his name was not on the articles.
Cross cxamned-navidstn introduced TO me ut
the Asor House, think John L. Dcvlin the LAWYER in
trodGced him to me; it was three four days after
Mr.. Deyiir introduced me TO Davidson that Day id.
son introduced Lnrlin to me; Dcvn said if ] could
take Iarkin with me to do So he could or would
help me considerable and he did help considerable
be took account Of all the freight that received from
the time the boat arrived at Annapolis until she was
burued he had an order from the Comssary ut Anrapo-
ms 10 lake charge Of stores on the boat
the goods that ln took charge of put on board for
the gov arnm mt and the express companies never saw
any letter appointing Larn purser Of that boat think
Dcylin WAS nwycr for the agents owners At that me
he gave instructions relative to the management Of th
boat don't know that Devlin appointed Iarkin purser
OF that boat; power OF attorney from setsn. Ia
Freeman Co.; Mr. Larkin in bed In his stiteroom .t
the time Of tho fire,
The examination will DO resumed Monday next
mt Tv~tA