New Orleans Republican., 1871-10-21
Local Intelligence.

THE TORPEDO EXPLOSION Testimony Be-
fore Coroner. Jackson.-Dr. jackson having
secured most of t.e important witnesses in
this case, proceeded to Lo!d an inquest in
the matter of Timothy Connors, who was
killed last Thursday.
Mr.. Morris McGraw, the first witness,
stated, in substance, that the three hundred
cases of torpedoes we're shipped by Klueber
& Goldschmidt, of Beekman street, New
York, and reached New Orleans by the ship
lie notified Thorndike, Norton &, Co., the
agents Of the vessel in this city, that they
must take charge Of the torpedQes, as he
had sent the bill Of lading and invoice back
to the shippers. He thought no more
about it until Mr.. Goldschmidt called on
him about the matter, and was referred to
Messrs. Thorndike, Norton d Co. He saw
Goldschmidt and Connors (the deceased
drayman) conversing together before his
store on the sixteenth Of October, after
which Connors told him that he had con-
tracted to haul the torpedoes for Gold
schmidt.
Mr.. McGraw states that he was in New
York on September l, and made an arran-
cement with Klueber. Goldschnidt & Co.
tor the torpedoes; but when he read Of the
torpedo explosion in New York some time
after, he Immediately notified the firm that
he would Eot receive them. In answer to q
question, Mr.. McGraw said that had he not
heard Of the New York explosion, he would
have received these torpedoes, as they were
never before known to explode. and they
have been sold by others and himself in
former years.
Walter L. Bell, sworn-Represents the
house OF ThOrndike, Norton IL Co., and is
the only member Of the firm now in the
city: was informed that there were three
hundred cases OF torpedoes shipped from
the port Of New York on board the Ameri-
can ship George Hurlbut, which arrived at
this port on the ninth instant; this vessel
was consigned to our house: she was loaded
with an assorted cargo Of merchandise;
some party, representing that lie came from
the house of Mr.. Mc(iraw. informed me
that NJ. McGraw would not receive these
torpedoes. as there was a gentleman CON-
ing out from New York TO receive them: l
then informed Captain Thomas L. Mason, of
the Huribut, that the bills Of lading con-
SlyErt VI lllc SsVOAs -Cs ACNCANC lACAA,
and that there was party coming from
New York to take charge Of them: when
the consignee from New York arrived l
asked him if he was the coRsignee, and he |
said that he was; l asked him If he waniel
me 70 order the captain TO discharge his
goods: he answered that he would go down
to the ship and see about it himself; be-
Geve he is Mr.. Goldschmidt; the party
representing Mr.. McGraw stated to me that
he would not receive the toIpedoes. because |
Ee did not want to have them any more:
and they had written to New York to that
effect.
By the Coroner-What was the rate Of
freight charged by the vessel! Answer. l
don't know.
Question. What rate of freight was
charged for the boxes! A. don't know.
G. Was there any higher rate charged |
for these boxes! A. don't know.
L. a. COrson, bookkeeper Of Messrs. |
ThOrndike, Norton & Co., swOrn-On look |
ing over the bills of lading of the Hurlbut,
l noticed one calling for 300 cases Of tor
pedoes: l made out the bill against the |
consignee as stated in the bill OF lading, |
which believe has not yet been presented:
the total Of freight and primage on the |
torpedoes amounted to Sl49 10: gave an |
order TO Mr.. Goldschmidt for 80 boxes, for
which l received S75 freigh: on account
IRON Nr; John II Batson, the discharsing
WV n AASSi0" as tuC SoASisACC,
against whom the bill OF lading was made
out; l am not acquainted with Mr.. Gold
schmidt: only was asked for an order for $50
boxes, and gave it to him
Mr.. Goldschmidt. mentioned above, left
here last Tuesday for Mobile. but it is sup
posed lie started for New York on learning
fOf the explosion. Acting CHEF of Police
Baker made an effort to secure his return
to New Orleans.
1t will be noticed that the freight charge
S unusually high, and our readers can
lraw their own conclusion from that fact.
between the intelligent efforts made By DR..
acKson and Mr.. Baker there is hope that
,e responsibility will be fixed where it
elongs.
Mr. Baker yesterday went into the hold
! tie ship Hulbut, and opened another
use of the torpedoes, for the purpose of
king a more extended examina ton. He
cel single ones in water for different
II ces of time, and found that soaking two
}utes will destroy their explosive power
: cases are still on the levee and in the
els hold, and it is probable that an
I 'r Will be issued to sink them IN the
lissippi river.