The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-09-16
THE STEAMSHIP DEUTSCHLAND CATASTROPHE.

Coroner's InQuest-Inierment Of the Victims
Condition Of the Injured Survivors.
An inquest was commenced at ten O'Clock yesterday
forenoon by Coroner White Hobokeu into tho
atty which occurred the steamship Deutschland the
particulars Of which given 10 yesterdays HERALD
The account OF this calamity created
sation, especially among those who had relatives or
friends on board the vessel
Tue following genuemen were sworn on the Jury
Hermann D. Busch foreman; Adam VAIL, Robert
Bante, James Reid, Gottleb Wakerln, Henry Bishop
Eugene Leivre Peter Mehan and Henry C. Hcintz.
Tue nrst witness sworn was George Heisner, who de-
posed as folows:-Am boatswain the steamship
Deutschland, plying from Hoboken to Germany about
three o'clock yesterday afternoon while coming up the
Narrows order given tor the gun 10 be tired Oh
as signal for the aboard from Quarau.
tine; one gun fired on one side the passengers
crowded around aud were requested to keep out OF the
way: the samakcr, Charles Heiling, fired oil the gun
on tho other side; 1t Heilngs business TO load and
dscuarge the gum; the gun he fired this occasion
exploded and drove portion Of the barrel through the
deck my attention directed explosion
to Ave men lying on The deck about twenty-five
ess RON Hermsna Keehsq and william Gse ses
had their heads entirely blown OIL; another,
named Frederick sdatheke w mutilated on the
half hour; these three men we're passengers; the
sailmaker, Charles Heiling, fired the gun and a
passenger named Benjamin Mortgan, we're severely
ured the saimaker Was lying about two feet from
the gun; the gun has been in use board the ves-
sci about year, and was used frequently.
ployed a. sbpcarpenter board the steamship
deutschland; about three O'Clock yesterday afternoon
heard the report OF board the vessai going
to part OF the vessel where the gun fred
three men lying dead as l believed, and Two men
within With pain my attention FIRST directed
the scene by al UNUSUAL commotIon among the passen
gers n that direction; for the
the men In PROSTATE condition. the doctor came
at once.
Edward Frei sworn-Am q physician on board the
steamship Deutschland about three o'clock yesterday
afternoon VAS called upon TO 60 on deck as there
Al bv MIN nof
on deck Immediately, and found two dead, one OF
whom had his head entirely blown of, the other had
nearly all the skull swept away the face OF the third
horribly mutated; he was in y dying condition aud
lived but half an hour afterwards fourth injured
In the shoulder and the sAmaker, heiiing was struck
In the breast by splinter u the gun ordered tue
bodies TO be removed. attended TO the wants OF the
survivors, who were conveyed to ST. harys hospital
Hoboken when landed
Al this stage hr sherman, agent OF the Bremen
Steamship Company made statement that tho gun In
question good order and due inspection was
approved OF by the inspectors both OF the English
and American navies.
VERDICT
Coroner White summed up the evidence 10 the Jury,
and after short elaboration the foreman handed In The
following vefdict.-"we find that Charles kelleher,
deaths fourteenth day OF September 1867 by be-
ing struck by pieces OF gun which accdenty exploded
on board the steamsn ~ Deutschland, while said gun
was being red OF coming up The Narows Cd the North
river
FUNERAL oy ruS VICTIMS.
Al one O'Clock the afternoon the remains or the
unfortunate victims were conveyed In hearSe from the
office OF Mr. rarslow TO the Hoboken Cemetery; out
what melancholy sghtl Carriages we're there officials
OF the steamship company were there; but where was
the sorrowng mother sister, the weeping orphan
the companion Of childhood, the friend OF youth the
shsrer OF joys and through lfef Not there
TO shed tear watt prayer on high for these III.
fsted viotma Perhaps mirth regns those
homes where nothing left Of these late tenants but
Their names and where the chilling damp OF will
settle down. Without being vouchsafed the tring
boon OF uttering last feryent prayer for those in
far OF lana two OF these poor fellows we're stricken
dos literally blasted, and into unknown
country beyond This world. 0f all the phases that
checker prscarous existence here end like this
is the most formidable.
THE wor-Dyp MEN
yThe ssmsker, Charles Heiling, who fred the gun,
and passenger named Benjamin Mortisan, are now In
81 bary's Hospital under the OF tho good siston
OF the Poor The former Is In sinking condition ana
at bes. will have hard struggle for life The souna VI
the gun strikes on his ear properly ms pIsn,
al times, and he IL then half bewildered HIS Injuries
are In the breast and no mere spectator can form au
idea Of the agony he undergoes. Mortgan . ~ o,e
hopeful condition, and 10 all appearances W." -y.
Neither Of the sufferers has any recolec.on VI 'ne
beyond what conveyed In the evidence AZ
the inquest and but for the pain he ennures. henne
times appears to regard tho occurrences as oresm.
This shows 10 what On extent the poor 'ehV" was
shocked