New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-08-16
THE WAWASET DISASTER.
THE GOVERNMENT INvEsTIo. fIloN.
THE EQUIPMENT OF TIE sTEAMER--EyAsIOANoO ' iH

WASHINGTON, Aug. 15.-The examination in'o
the wawaset disaster begun to-day at the TressN
Department before George w. Taylor. Acting Supef1h
tending Inspector General OF Steamboats,; William Rose
Inspector OF Hullsa Savannah Ca and John L. Edgaf
inspector OF Boilers at Norfolk.
The main matters of inquiry were First, the equip
ment Of the steamer; second. the origin OF the fire.
and third the conduct Of licensed ofcerss both prior
and subsequent TO the alarm being given.
The first witnesses examined were James ID. Lowery,
Inspector of Hulls and william o. Savlle Inspector OF
Boilers at Baltimore who made the last inspection,
from whose testimony il appeared that the steamer was
thoroughly inspected in March last. and everything
which the law requires was found there without SIN
gle exception There three large boats capable OF
containing from 30 to 90 persons each there was an
abundance Of nfepreservers within easy reach ana
also re-extnguishers the pumps were in good ORDER
and they considered the boat No. In all respects
THE CAPTAINS EXPLANATION.
Capt Wood Of the wawaset said he was in the pilot
house at the time Of the alarm Of fire. OF the remen
gave the alarm he called TO the passengers 10 Keep
COOL he did not see any reason Tor excitement o"
board he thought there would be time 10 put out tne
fire. but in less time than he could now relate the facts
the flames burst out In heavy volumes he then knew
the boat lost and his effort was 10 Deaen Nor pus
tG dS SoT the p po was 81 licensed from the United
but he (he captain was not ne was 0n tSe
United states impossible for him to get ar after
the IRE discovered what he dG m Ga t crsu US
Stances he Thought the re orr gnated reman's
from What oTerr ns Of no doubt the
fire had been burning for some time before the uooI was
Vas driven from the room in an Instant the mate and
the clerk generally have charge OF the
passengers; nobody was attending specially 10 the
boats and fepreservers at the time oil the nre no pas
sengers were lost forwardtwith one exception tne
freight general merchandise, including barrel OF
whisky there board l25 passengers not count
The Commissioner exhibited copy Of the license,
which showed that the boat was permitted 10 carry oh
so passengers Instead Of that she had three es aS
Capt Wood replied that he under the impression
that he was allowed carry $50 passengers 90 passeh
gers would not pay the expenses OF the steal1er ne
was not commander OF the boat at the time she Was s
appliances for saving the boat and lives there were
between tT ana oVS beel ned not soul would have
been lost il the engines had not stopped suddenly.
TESTIMONY OTHER WITNESSES.
Robert Nash, engineer Of the boat, was examined
The ers chain and rods. and part OF rope ior
feet each side Of the wheel he had always found the
hremen attentive TO business; the steamer as well
equipped as any could be- nothing whatever was
the matter with boiler cause the fire. all that was
possible to do done to save the PASSENGERS tne
flames appeared SO suddenly; ana inc o0a' was o. SUM
Mr. Saville was recalled. and said he had known MI.
Nash four years; he was strictly sober and competent
enineer and was always found at his post his char
acier good us that OF any engineer III the wiz
j. W. Wheeler clerk OF the boat, testified that he was
on board the Wawaset when she was burned ne tred
10 calm the fears OF the passengers, saying they could
mt the fire out and not they could beach the boat;
There aterward such panic that the passengers
were beyond control he gave crcumstantial account
of his efforts TO save until he driven away by
the flames which burst from the whee house ana Win
cHty reached the forward part of the boat there
were 100 registered passengers on the boat not
counting the children the boat had all the Appliances
for saving life but the stopping OF the engines the
boat would have reached the shore and probably all the
passengers would have been saved every man an, con
nected the boat did the best he could under ne cir
cumstances. The witness did not see any OF the men
rom Of Mr. Feed VINO threw some planks overheard ne
thought it more than likely that majority OF the pa-
Rsbert ". GravaI mate of the wawaset testified as
10 his knowledge of the burning OF the boat ana ms
overheard order to save the passengers he saw tho
CLERK irving 20 get ladies forward over tue wheehouse
bt fbay were driven back by the flames everything
was done thai could be done to save the boat and pas
there was no neglect Oh tne part 81 tcg ONE
with ire buckets there were SO OF the Inc witness
having said he Was not hcenced the law not lequng
A. tie Commissioner said he was mlstadkn' thAt Incense
"iS W. e, Boswell pilot who had license such,
taken ont April l. 1875 testified as 90 the circumstances
of the fire The the time being quarters OF
mile from shore, he suggested to the Captain to run
bont shore this was assented TO by the Captain but
the object was not attained owing to the stoppdge OF
The snfne the witness burnt in the hand and leg
ne had no knowledge how the fire originated did not
ace apy male passen gers assisting lades ne had been
Srop the pilotbonse into the water, when he began
ncne up passengers and rescued 10 or ~ OF the ne
saw no efforts get the metallic boat over there
was not more than four ana half feet water forward
when boat stopped; all forward Oh the "heefhouse
"a Reed passenger on board the wawaset, gave
statement OF all he knew OF the are. soon aIter
The flames burst out 1t was impossible for any human
hajng m 90 AFT He saw water thrown the inflani-
ahe mart of the tlllerrOpe Lfepreservers were ac-
cessible ON both sides the boat but he did not reach
Cor one although he could not swim. He made his
escape by jumping into shoa water ne saw one gen
tiemao Who had used life preserver thus saving him
SELF and little girl on whom had placed one Every
thing could be done by the ohce 10 save the boa
was done by them 30 lar as he could sec
OrE
John Foreman. the fireman on the Wawaset at the
time of the disaster testified that he went below for
pair of oyerals but he opened the reman's
door the large volume OF smoke and flames drove Nun
back reported the fact 10 the captain ana mae the
fire occurred in the back connection in the nremans
room; he sparks from the boiler entering
mast ~ months no oil other combustble material was
kept in the room smoking was not allowed there; the
TdrenSo Brown (colcredI fireman on the when
she was burned, testified ne was IN the engneroom only
on the morning the boat left he ala not smoke at That
time tobacco in form; he saved his lie by
swimming there was no chance Tor those forward 10
alarm OF fire until the boat beached; lard oil was used
board, both In lamps ana on the macnlnery There
was only coal OIL lamp, and that was In the engine
room, hanging up; 1t was not generally used, and was
Henry Lewis colored. deck hand on the wswaset.
told what he knew OF the fire. and related how he saved
ever allowed TO smoke in the engine-room
Capt. Samuel Gedney, superintendent or the steam
boat line testified that the oil used Is called signal OIL
and is approved by Board OF Inspectors there
800 life preservers on Doard ne always gave
officers whatever they WdnVed lOr tue Dods'
The Commission also examined Charles Jones and Ed
ward Day deck hands; William Washington, COOK and
steward Samuel A. Nash, an apprentice engineer, aud
TO the effect that there no change for those arr 10
the forward part OF the boat None could tell OF
even conjecture the origin OF the IRE.
The conduct of the officers good throughout:
great had always been taken TO prevent nres the
orders In tins respect strict the pumps and hose
always in good order The Witnesses aiso geher-
ally testified as TO their saving lives.
The Commission adjourned until 10 O'Clock tomorrow
morning. Capt. Gedney says the license produced TO-
day allowing only so passengers to the Wawaset was
erroneous as he had in his possession, permit signed
Inv the proper officer allowing for this year. hereto