The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-12-11
THE FERRYBoAT IDAHO DISASTER.

The steamer Thomas A. Morgan is to tow the Thomas
Kels0 to Baltimore for repairs.
THE FERRYBOAT IDAHO DISASTER.
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The Investigation Yesterday.
An investigation into the circumstances connected
with the burning Of the Williamsburg ferryboat Idaho,
she leaving her slip for New York the evening
of the 26th ult, held yesterday at 500 Mulberry
street. Dr. Dalton conducted the examination the
part of the Board Of Health Mr. D. B. Eaton appeared
counsel for the Board and Mr. Huney acted for the
ferry company.
The first witness examined was Mr.. George w. Eaton
who resides at % Montgomery street, New York. He
testiGedthat he going from New York to Williams
burg, the evening Of the fire. Division avenue
boat and which about entering the slip the Idaho
coming out; his attention directed to the fire
by the people on the bridge looking at II;
the boat not put back towards the slip;
the flames spread very rapidly he could the pilot
in the pilot house the Minnesota after that along
side Of the Idaho and or two persons jumped into the
water before there actual necessity for their doing
so; only small boat and this ferry boat
went out TO assist them he lfeb0at thrown over
board from the hurricane deck he thoueht there
reckesness the part Of the managers Of the boat in
not putting her back to the slip making effort to
her ashore but there effort made to do so
could not whether there any assistance rendered
from the burning boat to those that jumped into the
water whether they had any life preservers on,
rescue belonged to the same company as the Idaho;
Of the last things that done was to let down the
boat from the hurricane deck INTO the water but he
could not tell whether it was done before or after the
jumped into the water the pilot o. the
las persons that LEFT his post there were from twenty
1t seemed TO be caboose near the smoke stack saw
the boat take measures TO put out the
fire. II was between the hurricane and man deck but
he could not say whether had then attracted the at
tenton Of the people on board
In reply TO Mr.. Huntey the witness said he did not
know the boat run against the dock whetaer tho
passengers could jump on il or mott he thought there
the time; he knew there life preservers board,
because all ferryboats carried them.
Mr. Rufus K. AcHarg, the next witness, testified no
in the habit Of crossing the ferry for the last
years the Idaho OF the companys best boats,
and was about two years old be was told her engines
these seemed TO be well managed any boats
but not well the boats Of the old Brooklyn line: in
the mornings and evenings he had seen these boats full
OF people, there general complaints made against
the ferry, but they made against all ferries; the
10 Mr. Huntiey-He had never seen life preservers on
board; would be surprised To learn there was large
number Of them there one Of the boats on board boxed
like lifeboat; did not know anything In the cons,ruc-
ton Of the Idaho which could have led TO this disaster
| and thought her management was as good as tina.
Of any other ferryboat; thought nm anchor would
be useful ferryboat OF a fog;
he had great objection to make TO some of the boats
account Of their bad ventilation which made IL ofe
sive TO go into the cabins he would also complain in
regard TO the life preservers; they should put up sign
to direct people where nd them; the leakage Of the
| zoos Of the cabins was also objectionable
Mr.. Thos II. White. Of the inspectors Of the
Board was next examined:By inquiries made OF those
In charge OF the boat he had ascertaned that the crew
capssted Of i've persons-thc pilot engineer fireman
and two deck hands; he had $50 passengers
board one OF these ferry boats at time; his first object
going board look for Ifs preservers; he
went TO the hurricane deck, going stairs
pilot pointed TO two boxes. and said they contained
seventy life cach he, however thought they
you'd only hold about ,s each he also ., discovered
chion OF the hurrcSncdecx and capable OF supporting
ten persons each, and two small the lower deck
near tue wbeei-housc; there also one metallic
life boat and another similar In shape turned up
/ SIDE down with ropes attached that they could be
easily thrown into the water aud would, emer-
gency carry twenty persons cab, COMFORTABLY the ifc
presecrs were however, not very ACCESSIBLE he asked
the pilot II there any persons whose dutyt
throw tnem overheard IL required and was answered Il
was his duty TO do so he thought there ought TO be
two men at the wheel as In case OF an accident the
/ pilot could not leave his post
Mr. T. C. Faikner was examined but his evidence was
nnimportan, as all he know Of the IRE was derived
| Christian wavenfue OF 80 Grand street. BROOKLYN who
board tho Idaho at the time Of tho ire then
examined He was reading tho evening paper when no
burst near tho life preserver which was
the first thing that burned these ferry boats the
at them unless he bad ladder; he then sung out 're,
and lady came out and asked him, for Gods sake, 10
s save her children they then jumped outside the
ar,, and the s''' pilot had only s"s' turned
back Into the slip again all would have been right; but
when they ded up river OF they got scared
there was no person 10 give the passengers any idea
there with piece OF hose In hand and the other
his pocket searching for his knife 70 cut the astenpcs
tied with but when the nre came near he drop
ped tho hose and went away; there had been life
prescrvcrs there would have been scare; but had
they caught the pilot they would have thrown him INTO
the Ere; the passengers said II he his boat back
into the slip he would lose his place. the Minnesota
then along and u she only came right they would
all be saved ithout any difficulty they had left the
slip about from two hundred to three hundred yards
| when he discovered the FIRE; none OF tho crow
discovered II until he sung OUT he did not sec
the pilot at all; the boat stopped and DRIFT.
ina with the tide OF the did anything TO put
down the small boat or TO assist the PASSENGERS; the
\ wind was blowing up the river and blew the SMOKE
irpm the fire towards them the fireman came 10
| u'em aud said, "thc boilers are safe. you need
not he afratd;n IL this accident occurred at six
/ O'Clock, single passenger would have been
saved even II the hose was 'ry fixed The Ere could
not have been put out; attempt made TO cast
anchor for the plot lost senses the uas headed
dov toe river but drifting up. u had been
cropped they would have headed The same way the MI
feeling against the pilot because he did
/ boat back into the dock.
Richard s. stllwei pilot Of tho Idaho, was then cx.
anined the part OF tho ferry company lie
pot in charge for three four years. his duty
remain at the wheel the whole time; there printed
rules aud regulations for the guidance Of the
hearing the cry Of ire he effort get
bis boat back into her sp he then went 20 see where
threw bucket Of water on il and then looked for
another ono, but before he got the whole
boat in flames his FIRST intention get the boa,
into the Slip aud he rung 70 the engineer TO back her,
but he had command the boat with the wheel NJ
which he when sns began TO do 90 and she drfed
10 drft he thought be right leaving the wheel
| Al the time; tho Minnesota then NJ and passed
gers 70 hor the passengers on the Minnesota bad re-
NAMED quiet bis passengers would have been removed
.,,nca, any ditncuiy ba. they were ,nrea'enins to
by making circuit which wonid cause such current
OF air ~ would wrap the whole boat In flames, and
thought bestsr 70 allow her 70 arm until the Mime
sofa should come 70 Us than run her into the dock