The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-11-10
THE EVENING STAR DISASTER.
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sPEclAl TElEcnAm 70 TINE NEW YORk HERklu.


Investigation bv she Treasury Departments
More Ssrimgeas Laws Needed fer the Gov
ernment Of Oar Merchants Marine.
WAsBrS0roN, Nov Q, 1860.
Captain W. H. New ia charge Of the administration Of
the steamboat laws in the Treasury Department. Who
was ted examine into the Of the dfstsr
the Evening Star the 81 ult, has subitod
his report tho Secretary OF the Treasury The object
In view In making the investigation was not much TO
determine tho degree OF the culpabity which should
attach 70 the OF the Evening STAR shouid tho
animation prove the correctness of the common
report and universal belief that the ship had been
sent 10 In unworthy cendijcA, "a to decide
aqsestion Of much interest the department. whether
NOT the inspectors New York had given certlcaie
OF seaworthness ship nnsound in hnl engines or
boilers and had thus rendered themselves directly r.
sponsble for the loss OF hundred aud y lives In
order 10 satisfactorily determ this point va. nocsa
sary 70 examine into the general history Of the ship
1ho testimony OF j. A. Raynor ex-Superintendent Of
the New York Steamship Company ~ ~hich the vessel
built in 1885, the specifications with the contractors
calling for 1rst class steamrhp. She built OF good
ma crias and apparently in most substantial manner
The engine, though somewhat old, Wa OF sum
Gent capacity and power for the SHIP ana
In neither the engines nor boilers did any
defect exist, any damage observed until the
breaking Of the Steamship about two and half hours
before the sinking Of the vessel The vessel was pro-
vidcd with all tho life boats required by law tsix in
ber besides ono additional wooden beat twenty feet IN
length
II occurred to Captain New that she might have been
injured ct time by getting ashore or by sainng IN
heavy seaway when deeply laden, and that not being
properly repaired the disaster might have been in a
measure attributable 20 woeknofs In her hull On making
inquiries IL ascersned that In May last she struck
Pickle Reef Florida remaining IL fifty hoarr but
finally getting OF and continuing her way 10 New
apparently without having incurred any damage
and that she made another trip after The accident OH
connterlns heavy gale the Gulf Of Mexico without
thought best 70 overhaul her and she was accordingly
placed tho ways in July when was discovered that
was removed and replaced By new piece She was
then thoroughly examined and found In good condition,
her last trp from New York she sas rood ssryicesbi.
and seaworthy vessel.
After referring to the departure Of the vessel nom
New York and the incidents occurring during the
earlier part Of the trip the report gives description OF
the position and condition % the vessel when the
WAS encountered. Notwithstanding the violent lee
urches made while the ship in the trough Of the
sea evidence of leaks through the h appeared hut
the heavy finally smashed the forward gangway
the cardboard side, and the water came 10 in toens
Great efforts made 10 prevent It's ingress but with
avail and attention then turned TO bailag her
Here there painful evidence Of tbs necessity OF every
scagoing ship being provided with Competent ships
carpenter and furnished with the proper stores Of
timber, lumber, &c for II i9 probable that Ind the
Evening star been so provided bulkhead Of sufclsnt
strength might have boon erected 10 keep ont the ssAs
The water forced ia way into the engine room, and all
hands were ret N work "a keep down. IN order that
the fires might not bs extipgusbed hut With Little src
cess A, about iLree A. 81. the day Of The dsaster
y,
nrcs pub out by the After these cslsmiss
that all efforts ~ the ship useless
and prspaato IONS vera mM1et0 leave NJ shs was dscoy
cred ~ be settling. Then followed the Understandable,
heartrendins which have narrowed the public
mind and demanded thorough and impartial inquiry.
AZ about six r. H. tho vessel sunk taxing down with
her about two hundred vicsiiaa During the esarninA
ton no satisfactory evidence Was adduced by which II
could be determined whether not oil the bcsL
properly equipped agroesby 10 order OF she captain.
II 10 certain, however, that none found ~ those
who saved provided with anything In the shape u
food spars, but inasmuch capsised
IL 10 possible that they might have been prov and
the stores washed out u s alao certain that while shd
| had all the boats which Tho Law requires iseyer
| In ally, sho had half enough ~ axvs
/ the number OF parsons on board, noe wsrs
thu boats fitted with tho proper bleaching apszfA{ns
II 10 believed that tie dlsastsr Is in measure ar
butable 70 the mennnA2-mcut Of tho captain o. th'
vessel. who failed 70 adopt the proper expedsnis 70
bio that no may have been deferred from making AM
aitenpH by reason OF The limited In conclusion
Captain New ssysTho Ices Of tho ship u not wsshou
It's appropriate esson 70 shpownaIs and in the hsenc
their attention ~ill DO directed 10 tho necessity whc.
exists Tor tho complete manning. eqnippng AM
furnishing OF the Amercnn marine generally, ~ IN
end that the snmo may be elevated 10 that point o
emincnce above thai Of all other nations 70 which
Ia invited BY tho uneluzllcd resources u the country
degree of positive security OF life At and that tn
probability possibility 81 tho loa@ u life IN criinsr,
voyages may DO reduced TO minimum 10 possible o
attainment without much outlay, and which
the larger companies furnish exceptions BY the CIR
shown In tho equipment Of their ships Al 20 the ne
ceasity Of ogisat hs subject II r. none the ios
certain that tho actment Of stringent isws governing
merchant msrno ia an absolute necessity mere
foro beg respectfully 70 call your attention 70 hs mat
ter, the hope tina, radical changes Ia the siin.
laws may bc suggested 70 Congress.
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