The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-08-25

Important Testimony Of an
Engineer.
Other Boats Using Worse Boilers
Than the Arrow.
DANGER OF STEAMBOAT TRAVEL.
Testimony Of Mrs. Westlake, Charles B.
Spencer, Alfred Conklin PiloD
and Edward Start CORNER En-
gineer) Of the Arrow.
kc &c. he

and EDWARD otaIt " Ofmer En-
gineer) Of the Arrow.
&c. &c. DC.
Coroner Lynch Of Brooklyn who has had under in
yesgaton the cause Of the death Of Mr. westlske who
lost his life on board the fated steamboat Arrow on
the btb inst has had 10 contend with numerous OBJ.
stacles in sndsavng to arrive at the real OF the
disaster Mrs Van TasseI wife Of the fireman who lost
his life by the explosion has refused TO 10 testify
notwithstanding that she duly notified and expected
10 be present Her testimony was considered the most
important of any yet taken Her husband licensed
engineer although holding the subordinate position Of
fireman. and she in New York on the day Of the
cident and went home the Isaac p. Smth--as is
asserted by parties who conversed with her immediately
after the accident because her husband her the
boat was not SAFE that he preferred that but
them should risk their lives the Arrow. She gives
reason for refusing to appear, and the Coroner,
who manifested praiseworthy zeal throughout is
determined that she must forward and testify to
what she knows in relation to the matter. The tesi
mony SO far strongly in favor Of the presumption
gross negligence has been committed both by the
and officers Of the Experts testify that IL the valve
in the steam pipes connecting the boilers had open
as have bcen the explosion could not have taken
place The engineer insists that he instructed Van Tas-
SELL the dead fireman. open the valve before the boat
started but he does not state that he the work DONE
which his duty, according 70 the testimony Of Mr.
Spencer who has been engineer for ten years, and
who at present holds important position Of captain
Of the United States steamer Henry Burden.
There one thing which has been the subject Of public
criticism in Brooklyn since this investigation has been
commenced-that Mr. Smith. one Of the owners of the
Arrow has lost opportunity 10 privately converse
with members Of the jury after the adjournment Yes
tcraay particular long and apparently earnest con-
vcrsaon took place between two members OF the jury
and Mr. smith the vestbule Of the Court House, which,
to say the least, was very unseemly.
The following IL the testimony taken yesterday
Mrs Parmeiia westlake, very respectable looking
lady, apparently nrty years Of age, dressed in deep
mourning was the nrst witness examined and testified
substantially as fo0ws-- went board the Arrow,
the 5th inst, in company with my son; met him by
appointment just the boat was leaving the dock, and
when we did get found she was 20 crowded with
passengers that almost impossible to get seats my
son started in pursuit Of seat for me- ana before ne re-
turned the captain seat succeeded in get
ting another seat for himself and we sat down together
near the wheelhouse We had been there only few
minutes when the explosion took places when met my
son boat he refused 70 60 board, and said he
would rather wait for good boat than 10 60 on such
an old boat that; we did not know that 1t was
known 1t nothing could have induced me TO take
passage on such boat; when she due burst, the
ashes steam and smoke came 70 where we were sit
ting and my said, "What IN the matter9' and
rushed away; that s the last ] saw Of him; was
insensble until all over that the last remenn
bercd until heard my l0et; man whom sup
posed =. be the captain came up and told ms that need
feel alarmed that my was not lost that every
that had gone overheard had been picked mp; my
husband much surprised that should take passage
in that boat; he thought knew her N be 'he old
Broadway; / did not know until after the explo.
sion thai 10 the old Broadway; IL had would
not have gone on board for anything; the Broadway
had always the reputation being very unsafe boat
and family last year stopped travelling by her on
that account; have hal no conversation with Mrs Van
Tac ain fhA AWUtAa ARA NJ
your 1.-THE Coroncrs) request TO tell hor 70 come here TO-
day . Witness she said she did not want to come 10
witness here gave the address of Mrs Van Tasseli in
drove street, New York, and the Coroner made note OF
The wife Of John stuart Smith told that her husband
had conversation with the engineer few minutes be-
fore the explosion IN which the engineer said that he
afraid the boilers would not stand 10 make the trip
that he 1.-THE engineer had been stopping holes in them
the down trip the day before, and that they we're
very unsafe
The Coroner took the address or Mr. Smith a, Nyack
for the purpose IL possible OF securing his attendance as
n witness Monday next.
Charles B. spencer sworp-Resde at 12e Broone
street. New York: am by profession an engineer, and
have been captain Of the Henry Burden; was on the
Arrow the ,t OF August passenger the boat was
crowded thar il was almost impossible to get seat;
went up to the upper deck saloon and came down on
tho main deck and looked into the engineers room;
there two in the room talking 10 him;
walked along up towards the steam chimney, took seat
and commenced to read evening paper two or three
minutes Afterwards the explosion took place; that was
about minutes after boat lett started 10 go
again. but carried to the forward pari OF The boat
by the passengers who were rushing in that direction
IN great coniu-on; saw come passengers jump from
the hurricane deck 10 the deck below; about three
minutes after the explosion took place some one
called out that there was no one TO stop the engine;
7 down aud found the engineer stopping
the engine; he asked me TO take chu.e Of The
engine as his arm was badly scaldcd; looked
at The gauge and found eight nds o. steam, and told
The engineer TO get her into the dock that could yet
her IN; The bell 70 ahead, aud gave her nom
three ten revolutions ahead and two or three 20 back
up. which brought her 10 coal barge alongside the
dock there were sin eight pounds Of steam On the
gauge whea We came the dock; tried To gei
one TO go into tho lrr room rs was afraid every
men she might burr, ont IN flames, but no one seemed
10 take any interest Ia the natter senta deck hand
down with light 20 IL there was. any danger o. IRE,
and he back and reported that the fireman was
lying dealt: have been engineer for ten years. the
OF the explosion think, wa that the valve IN the
steam pipe conncctn the boilers together was shut n
II had been open all the steam 10 the sound boiler would
have escaped out Of The aperture caused by the cxpio
sion there was stcrm enough sill lett alter ihe boat
reached The wharf TO work The donkey engine u pump
the water OF the boilers; would not have been
sibe Tor much steam Ia he On the sound boiler The
valve had open.
Alfred Conkiin, sworn, testified Reside NJ Hsver
straw xas on The steamboat Arrow ON the 4th and sh
Of August pilot have been in that capacity Tor eight
years, the TRIP up on the fh one OF The small
fines gave ont did not know Of IL until We got to
HeyerStraw down on the 5tb with one boiler
arrived rs New York al half past tenirom one-hsf TO
three-quare,s Of hour later than usual; made six
landings coming down dont know whether any psssen
gcrs ashore not the boiler was repaired IA New
York both boilers used going up; left the dock NJ
four o'clock aud shortly afterwards heard rumbl'Dg
noise barrel rolling the deck saw steHil IN
the forecaste and saw the fireman run out IN nude
deck and he tried to hide himself and finally
Jumped overheard J saw then that accident had
occurred aud rung the bell 70 stop she slowed 80 quick
that thought she stopped sent word by Mr. Jones
20 the engine room TO inquire " they bsd steam enough
o. work the engines aud they said they had; then
gave the signal 10 go ahead, and We got into
the dock the boat has run under different pames--
the broadway George Washington and ARROW; she had
the Broadway painted on her warehouses and on
eigns w the cabin, and the Arrow was painted on her
heard persons gay the boilers were poor
they would ash that question; did not think they
poor; they not rs poor an other boilers
have boats the Arrow the original name ~
the boat; we carried two bosts-a feboat and yawl
aod life preservers could not say the exact Numbers
saw none OF the pafse ngers Jump overheard
Edward Start. sworn-Reside In Jersey cry have
been engineer fer twenty years ann engineer OF the
Isaac r. smith: have been tho seamboal Arrow ~
engineer when che under the name OF the Biondsey
before Mt Smith bought her four months ago she was