New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-08-10
Tile INQUEST.

THE INQUEST.
TESTIMONY OF sURvIvoRS-DETAILs OF THE EX-
PLOsION-THE ENGINEER ABSENT FROM HIS
POST AT LEAST NINE MINUTES.
The investigation into the causes that led to
the death passengers board the erryboat West
feld was begun yesterday by Coroner Keenan, In the
chamber Of the Board of Assistant Aldermen About 20
persons we're present including witnesses, extra jury
men, and officials. No special interest was manifested,
and testimony Of importance was given The follow
ing Jurors took oath
John Foley, james Brice J. L. Peters Geo d. Nichols,
L. NJ. Bates, j. II. Mallory, Charles A. kiltand, Henry
Mckee, VIM. Thompson john j. Foley, John Thompson,
L. L. Shpman, l.. III. Aleen.
Upon taking their seats they briefly addressed by
the Coroner who informed them of the object for which
they had together specifically stating that it was
be inquiry into the causes that led to the death OF
so passengers.
The first witness called Julius Ravner, who had
previously given evidence before the Government Board
Of Inspectors be testified as follows reside at No.
Canuon-st; employed in sawmill, Nos. II and 10
Cannonst; board OF the Westdeld when she ex-
poded on Sunday, July go about 1897 m was standing
near the engineroom, and heard noise, which was FOL
lowed by the explosion; my father was standing along
side the boiler and down in the engncroom; took hin
out alive and carried him to tho Hospltal there was no
one in the engineroom at the time of tho explosion;
aboard about 1870 p m and remained aboard i the cx
poson; there no one In the engneooinl am posi-
tive waiting TO see the engineer start the boat
and looked at my watch the hand on tns Lam
the figures were; didn't pay particular attention 10 tt;
ii il had been clock the hand would have been near II;
Didn't any come in the engine-room during inc
nine ten minutes that elapsed before the explosion
occurred; my father died the same evening; he was
By the Jury-Q Have you any knowledge of the
steamer gine Z A. A slight knowledge ana also OF
@. Wien the hand pointed to Il on the gauge sup
posipg the gauge to be clock what would that lndl-
cate A. l would know if had noticed the figures ON It.
In answer TO the Counsel for the Company-l couldn't
xra1y Init /
near the engnerOom or 10 minutes, but was ABOARD
tine boat longer tnan that A.,
engueroom or 10 minuesi A, went alongside the
engneroom; and stood there Judged about or 10
and back to the cngine-roon Judged OF the time.
@. Was anybody in the engne-roOln when you re-
turned A. No. Sir.
GRAPHIC ACCOUNTS or THE EXPLOSION.
Robert GiIen testified: reside in Brooklyn, and do
busress at No so Nassau-st; am lawyer saw the ex-
ploson on the westaeld; there at the time, which
was July 3d. about three four minutes after 1880
was on the upper deck. the bow; friend and
myself we're sitting at the front window not
speaking, and OF sudden heard thud right under
rs: without feeling particular sensation, found
myself going upward then turned downward head
FIRST and went INTO the hold that was open below ana
smoking; another crash came and went down further
TO another place. found myself then in hot water and
among debris; my arm was damned between two tim
bers to get 1t out my sleeve was torn on my friend
ard got out and went ashore was 80 confused that
! dead bodies about; have not travelled much that
ferry the boat gave sort Of whistle before the
engnd room at all the whistle speak Of was like
Tr 70 6 and VERY Sas there was T NO
blowing of at the time, that noticed think if it had
Charles Elterich of No 100 Rivingtonst. tcstiaed-I
the explosion the Westfeld; it occurred July 80,
about u minutes after the starting time which is 1850 D.
M; the hurricane deck, the water-whec en-
tered the boat about l:lO m through the ladies' cabin
assembled to the upper dec the eastery side sad
there about Is minutes when went to the other side,
and remained there till hearda sound like sixpounder
cannon: heard crash, and knew there was an expo
sion; as am an engineer, knew there danger
Which Was pSou es or eh e sg Ues W ea
bodies after the explosion; don't know the engineer
should have heard both II they had been sounding as my
is accustomed to them; the volume Of debris was
thrown out TO the forward and right part OF the boat.
BY the Jury-Q Did YOU feel the boat before the
explosion A. NO. Sir was under the impression that
| OF The explosion but am not sure that it did
Henry b. Roberts testified ! reside at No III Waver
explosion in questions was standing on the end Of the
Bargeocet , dock ss at u ISs M At rst thought the
down. didn't hear any loud report then saw tmbers
people up just before that at :26 pm aboard the
boat 10 collect news; came of on the end Of the pier
didn't notice that tho Westfeld was blowing of sttam
know the engineer; went aboard the boat every DAY. bat
didn't notice the gauge
William j. Colby testified: reside at No. III West
Forty. hst. park Keeper at the Battery witnessed
the explosion about 1888 T.. M on that Sunday; |
standing with my Ssck 70 le Jerry gate and all at once
There's an explosion OF the boiler and inside and
hSd to sf5 the SSr1 HU a
zoo or 400 people aboard This Witness testimony
chiefly repetition of what has already been publshed1
Lewis Flock testified: reside at No q Vestryst
park policeman on July 81 was standing about 900
at INV wafch and said, ITS 1880 p H. there goes the
Wesfeld" Just then heard this noise spoken OF, and
saw She had exploded down 10 the boat and helped
IN oef inc people out; the first one brought ont
Gained man didn't hear any steam blowing OF that day;
heard the whistle sounded
WHERE WAS THE ENGINEERl
Josenh g selleck testified: reside at No ~ Broone-
At nm, a ,,olice Officer attached 10 the First Precinct
was down near the Battery July 3o Haw the explosion
pa, down 10 the boat and tried TO get the people out IL
wa, about ESQ D. in didn't hear the whistle nor any
Steam blowing off didn't the engineer that day, but
when do see him be is generally standing round the
engine room door. , IN. ~. ~. nm -.
Michae j. WhoaD testified: reside at No. 800 East
Teuth-sta went aboard the Westhed about E2o M On
ihe pft side of the boat; went TO the rsl sde OF tbe
inajd deck and stood there sOe time; IA iite Whe
heard noise like cannon covered with rags; ieh the
hot air a;ne round me- and the next think was plunged
in the water ] that the boat WaH III pioAh 10
pieces: saw the engineer with his eyes cioeeu uon
know that he aaleep; lie was OF the iorwa,I 3at
with his back up against the geDtlemenseaVtni AWoo