The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1866-11-15
Fhe Evening star Disaster.

The report of Captain New, the special
agent of the Treasury Department, who made
the examination in New York few days ago,
as to the facts of the loss of the steamship Ey-
ening Star off the southern coast, on the I'd OF
October, has Just been completed, and 10 now
given to the public. 1t is dated November B.
In beginning, Captain Drew says that the OBJ
.ject was not so much to ascertain the degree OF
culpability which ought to attach to the own
ers of the Evening Star if the ship had been
sent out in an unseaworthy condition, accord
ing to the general belief, as to learn whether or
not the government inspectors had given GER
tlfcate OF seaworthiness to ship that was I'M
sound in hull, engines or boilers, and thus rem
dered themselves responsible for the loss oftwo
hundred and fifty lives For tins purpose It
became necessary to examine into the general
history of the ship and the manner in which
she was built.
construction, from the testimony of j. A. Ray
nor, ex-superintendent of the steamship COM
pany to which the vessel belonged, and under
whose supervision she was built, and also from
the testimony of Mr.. Isaac l.. Waterbury,. OF
the firm of Roosevelt, Joyce & Waterbury, her
builders. 1t is unnecessary to give these de-
tails, which show, according to the judgment
of Captain New, that the vessel was thorough
ly well built. The engines were made in 1854,
for lake navigation, but from the evidence OF
Erastus w. Smith and other engineers of emil
hence, it appeared that they were of sufficient
capacity and power; and in neither the en-
gines or boilers was any defect apparent until
the breaking of the steampipe, about two and
a half hours before the sinking of the vessel
The rigging of the ship was in excellent condi-
ton, though she was not provided with any
spare spars or sails. The ships company was
composed of captain, first and second officers,
bOatswain and ten seamen. The engine de-
partlnent was composed of one chief engineer,
three water-tenders, six firemen and eight coal
passers. She was provided with al the life
boats required by law, six in number, besides
one extra twenty feet boat additional. The ship
was ashore on Pickle Reef Florida, on the 31st
of Nav last and evidence was taken to show
the extent of injury she then suffered. 1t APP
pears that though on the reef fifty hours, she
continued her voyage to New Orleans, and re-
turned and made another trip. In July itwas
thought best to give her an overhaulne, which
was DONE and it was discovered that her keel
was split in places extending from about mid
ships to thirty feet aft butt was not started
in any way from the seams. This portion Of
her keel was removed and new piece put on
and securely fastened.
She was completely overhauled in other re-
spects by the local inspectors in New York be-
fore leaving the ways, and it was found that
she was in as good condition as ever. After
this she was put under command OF Captain
Knapp, a gentleman OF acknowledged ability
ana much experience afioat, under whose care
she made successful voyages up to the time of
the disaster to her on the 3D. OF October. 1t APP
pears that after she got OH the reef in May,
...rtl iefs the WAYS in August she encountered
the evidence the vessel behaved admirably,
and was considered to be as good as when first
launched, in every respect. Indeed, the eV1-
dence seems to be conclusive ON this point, and
the testimony proves that up to the time ofher
sailing for the last time from New York, she
was a good, serviceable, trustworthy vessel.
Captain New then relates, with great partic
ularity, the facts of the final voyage of the
Evening Star, beginning with the departure
from New York, on the 10Th of September.
At r. M. On the I'd Of October the wind began
to freshen from the east, the barometer fall
ing, and at O'Clock it blew gale. The ship
was headed to the south-southeast, and up to
80 z. M. the ship made, in the words Of the
second officer, splendid weather. The wind
went gradually around towards eastnortheast,
and early next morning was gradually "back-
ing around" to the northward. So long as she
was kept up, she headed about southeast. 1t
appears that about 10 P. NJ. of the I'd she was
struck by heavy sea on her port quarter,
causing the rudder-chain to slip out of the
groove and the vessel Immediately fell into the
trough of the sea, and began shipping water
heavily After an hour the rudder was seeur-
ed to windward, the helm hard down, but lit
failed to bring her up, by reason OF the heavy
sea- The engines made meantime three or
four revolutions per minute. No attempt Cap
tain New says, was made to get the ship head
to wind at this or any other subsequent time,
either by means of a drag or otherwise. The
heavy sea, while the ship lay III its trough, made
a complete breach over her. She seems from
this time to have been abandoned SO far as any
attempt to help her head to OF before the wind
is concerned and it is difficult to explain why
none OF the expedents known to seamen for
helping ship up to the wind were ever tried.
withstanding the violent lee lurches which
the ship made while in this condition, no evil
dence Of leak through the ships hull appeared,
and up to as late an hour as 1855 P. NJ. not
more than sixteen inches OF water were re-
ported in the vessels hod, the bilge injection
keeping her free; but she had not been labor
ing long in the trough Of the sea before its vio-
lence began to tell upon her upper works, and
before II o'clock the forward gangway on the
starboard side of the ship had been stove in,
and the water came pouring through IN I'M
mense volumes.
The utmost was done by such Of the ships
company as could be spared, and by the passen-
gers, under the lead of the purser and boat
swain, to stop the breach, but to purpose
There was no carpenter. Doors, mattresses,
and other articles were used for time. The at
tempt to prevent the ingress of the water was
after a time given UP as futile, and all hands
wefe set to bailing. The report says: There is
painful evidence of the neces ;ity for every
sea-going ship being provided with a compe-
tent ship-carpenter and furnished with the
proper stores of timber, lumber, &C., for it is
more than probable that had the Evening S tar
been so equipped bullShead of sufficient
strength might have been erected to keep out
| the sea. Those who have had experience in
| such matters know thereby the value of such
an adjunct to ships complement as carpen-
| ter and crew. Their efforts, directed by skill
and experience, could accomplish more in thir-
/ ty minutes in emergency, than these indefati-
gable but unskilled gentlemen could, had they
| Datted with the storm as many hours.
The remainder OF this branch of the raportis
devoted to description of the gradual filling
i up OF the vessel with water, and the final eff
forts to prevent her sinking: She went down
at 6 o'clock on the morning of the Sd of Octo-
| Der.
| 1t is not shown that the boats were properly
| equipped, agreeably to an order of the captain.
Though she had all the boats required by law,
SEVEN there we're not half enough to save her
passengers. The detached apparatus required
| for these boats was not provided. If it had
been, and the boats. properly manned and prop
erly launched, it is the firm conviction of Cap
| tain New that at least one half of the lives
might have been saved.
The principal cause of the disaster, Captain
| New thinks, was an error of Judgment on the
part OF the Captain in keeping the vessel on her
direct course when she might have been head
| ed westerly on Tuesday aftt rloon, escaping
| the full fury of the tempest, and moving into
| moderate gale on the other side of the Gulf
Stream, though if it had been attempted after
the gale mao become hurricane it would have
| been very hazardous experiment Later in
| the afternoon or evening, the only chance for
safety was to keep the ships head to the sea or
hard to the wind, which, it appears, was not
attempted. though 1T is believed by Captain
| New, that it might have been done by means
of drag, assisted by little show of canvas on
| the mainmast 1t is declared to be a wonder
the vessel lived so long under the circumstano
es. Captain Knapp, seaman OF experience
and reputation, was probably prevented at
tempting all he might otherwise have done by
the weakness of his crew, with which he must
fhave Ielt himself comparatively helpless.
At the close Captain New speaks of the les
sons OF the disaster to shipowners, abiding
manning, equipping and furnishing the Amer
can marine generally. A degree Of positiye se-
curity of life at sea is possible of attainment.
and that without much outlay More looisia,
ton is necessary, however, including radical
changes in existing laws.
| CAPTAIN Bradford, supervising inspector of
this district, assisted in the investigation, and