The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-08-18
THE BROOKLYN INQUEST.
Tho Investigation before Coroner Lynch.
or Brooklyn.

The investigation into the of the explosion ON
the steamboat Arrow, the 5th inst, resumed by
Coroner Lynch at hafpast ton o'clock yesterday and
some very important testimony elieted Nearly all
the witnesses agreed upon the main pontthat tho boat
had the reputation of being old and the boilers old and
unsafe The following is the evidence
John 8. Tappan sworn testified Il reside at Irving
ton NJ Y; am Vice President OF the Union Mutual In
surance Company was passenger the steam
boat Arrow the 5th inst coming down in the
ing from Dobbs Ferry to New York. in conversation with
the fireman. found that the boat using only
boiler; we made slow progress coming down--so slow
that Mr. Stout Mr. Durham, Mr.. Cummings aud MIR
Moody left the at Hastings Mr. SoGt stated that he
WAS unwilling to run the risk Of his fc s'c boat
entered INTO conversation with Mr. j. T Sec'ey, and
during our conversation in regard to the boiler or tho
boat stated that intended to have an inspection OF
the boat that DAY, but I reached my Office about
twenty minutes behind time; we found Captain Faunce,
Of the cutter Cuyahoga, waiting for me; he wanted to
know the cause Of the delay asked him il he know
tho inspccors gave him the address OF tho boat and
asked him TO call the Inspectors do not know whether
he has done so or not; have NOT seen nun snec: .oox
large number Of passengers on board at the time OF tho
accident procured seat and sat down on we at1e1
rnr IF the boat the ladies' cabin we loft the dock
at four O'Clock and about fifteen minutes tcr"arns
mnnlrd explosion took place, filing the air win bacx
smoke: was in conversao with Mr. Tough in regard
10 the explosion a, the time II took place. think there
were about from four to five hundred passengers ON
board jumped to wrdward at the time and got on tho
guard OF the boat tho windows OF the ladies' cabin wcr"
broken out to give tho ortlc to escape tho
general rcputaon Of the boat has boen bad her boilers
were considered bad did not know thai the boilers had
been inspected at the time OF the accident never saw
the inspectors crlicae on the boat saw no ono jump
overheard; the boat at the foot Of Twenty
ninth street after the explosion; saw some OF the
scadcd passengers on the cara the accident was the
general subject of conversation ON the cars going up;
think the boat about thirty years old do not know
the government inspector; n,vcr examined tho boilers
of tic Arrow she was not racing with any other boat
going up: don't know how much steam the boat was
carving at the time; had conversation W tn on at
the of the boat and expressed confidence in hiS
MANAGEMENT; saw some OF the IRE prcscrvcrs; Mr Fon-
it was worthless and world drown him: Mr. Smith
assured me. at tho time spoke to him about tho
boat that everything perfectly safc know that the
boat burned twice; the appliances on the boat for
sa ing life of accident entirely insuicient:
do not think the boat was large enough 10 s
only small yawl boat on board the steamer;
don't know whether not there YVES steam pump on
board had conversation with the captain or any OF
the hands after the explosion.
Dean r. Fennc<, sworn. testifed:-I reside ntIrvin4
ton, New YORK merchant doing business in The
civ of New York: was a passenger on the steamboat
Arrow the 5th inst had some fears about the boat
account OF some conversation had with friend m
re ation her condition: l was sitting on the lower
deck and when Twentieth street heard tho expo-
sion and knew that the boiler had burst some gentle
men stated SOM time before the accident that u she
blew up she could hurt ANYTHING, she conld mot
carry enough when tn" exposion nccurrcd every
one stood up; went 10 the other side o. the ooss
on IT, felt the am and the opprcs was 80 greae
that thought snTocated; lev down on the deck
escape from the steam; In few minutes the steam
al CT ared away and heard breaking OF glass ana
thought the boat on fire, and seized rope and wn9
about TO jump overheard when my advised me n0e
to do H. the captain was ON the upper deck trying to
quiet the passengers; never heard any one say tho
Arrow a sac boat; loft her ono day last fall and
came down by the on account OF my fears about
her "a city; never had any conversation with any OF
tho officers o. the boat; my son saw MI.
Cooper jump overheard but did not see any one In the
water myself 10 know anything about the age OF
the boat took notice Of the inspectors certificate
on The boat do not know how many boats tho Arrow
carres-saw only several life prcservers On
Hoard: mt one on myself, when was told not to use
them or would drown; think they We're made Of tin;
the passengers indignant after the explosion
took place both the boat and after we had got ON the
cars the officers required The passengers 10 shin from
one side TO The other to keep The boa: balanced do
not know whether both boilers used In going up o.
not on the day OF tho accident.
George d. Fenner, sworn, testi6cd:-T reside at r.
vinqton and was tho Arrow on the 9Th inst. went
on board about fifteen minutes to o'clock the boat
left four was talking to Mr. Cooper who was killed;
the boat had reached Thirteenth street when the exe
pIosion took place: Mr. Cooper told me n jump over
hoard when ho Jumped over himself; told him not %
jump; saw another person inmp overheard got out
side OF the rail- by the whcolhousc, and saw Mr. cooper
in the water trying swim that was the last saw OF
HIN; the other side Of the boat and my father
was going jump over but. persuaded him not to do
IL: saw only two reopc jump overheard; have heard
that the boat very old and that her boilers were u
very bad conditions saw only TWO small boats ON the
steamer thcy AT the upper deck heard some
ssy the boat fire, and saw sheets OF flame my
se under the stairs leading to tho hold Jaw no buckets
board; humber Of life p-cservcrs; they were
made Of tin and painted white think there about
four hundred passengers board at the time they
fci, indignant at the company the captain did AL ne
could to keep the passengers quiet saw no one in the
water except the two have mentioned
George r. Tough, sworn, tcstiicd:-l reside ~ 10
Jora~mon street, Brooklyn; was passenger on the
Arrow on the 5th inst sitting tho main deck IN
co,sny with Mr. Tappan the boat eft at four O'Clock
NJ Teppan was doubtful about the boats ability to pro
coed as had broken down in the morning; about I'VE
ten nntes atter she eit her dock heard ING exp
sion and saw the dense volume Of smoke and steam
which filled the boat; jumped out Of an open WINDOW
the guard Of beat and could not see anything ios
| three or four minutes account Of the scam some
ady messengers attempted lump overheard, but were
from do ne the excitement was very great;
the engine sSpes s a. ,hc foot s Of TnrsS
street, have been tho habit OF going up ON the boae
every afternoon for the last two months have heard
that the boat was old and that the boilers were in poor
but some Of passengers thought that she
could do but little, # any, damage, as the boilers could
mot carry steam enough trip up In July the BEAT
went very slow and heard that she was only using one
boiler rs the other lad broken down. saw no one
| jump overheard hive had no conversation with the
officers Of the boat in relation 10 its safety think there
were from four hundred To FIVE hundred passengers o
board the time Of the explosion; saw some life pre-
servers board, but but small boat On
board: do not know whether there or not
| saw no buckets on board.
John Murray, sworn, testified Reside st Irvington
and board Of the Arrow, going home, when the
explosion took place: sitting the gangway on
starboard side when the accident occurcd tried 70 gee
out but could not on account Of the dcnscness OF the
steam and smoke could not three feet from me;
my nose was badly scalded; ~ last forced my way
through window and got out the guards OF the boa
| was scslded IN several places with steam; remained
| two or three minutes the guards, whom
came In the deck again; did not see any
one Jump overheard: saw settec ovcrboard saw
gentleman with life rreservcr on; did not see any
fire buckets; only small boat; have heard =
number Of persons say that the Arrow old boat
and that her boilers we're had condition. heard this be-
fore the last accident occurred the catan Of the boee
| did oil in his power toquiet the passengers
John Berthof sworn II reside at III Coz
cord street Brooklyn: attached 10 the steamboat
Arrow. fireman, since March %, 1895; board
on the 9th inst: left Haverstraw at hslfpast SIX -
the morning and went 70 Sing Sing and thence TO TafFy
town. Hastings and Yonkors there were swo nrcmen on
the boat the boilers two In number, are below deck
only fred up Oh one boiler that morning tine otne1
boiler gave out on the day previous, near Tarylownl
goipp up we blew hole In OF the nues; We srrveo
| in New York nj hsfpast ten in the morning psnino
acl1ct. lcnt ire On the haiIcx nil day commenced 70