The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-04-09
the Atlantic must have been less than forty-eight
miles from Sambro Light, she could not have got
to Meagher's Head when she did.
THE OFFICIAL INQUIRY.
Testimony OF the Fourth Engineer ana
Officer Brady-How NOVA scoHa
Skipper Navigntes the Coast.


O'Clock this morning.
William Patterson was sworn-Was fourth en-
gineer OF the Atlantic; was on duty and had charge
OF the engine room from twelve 10 -FOUR O'CLOCK
in the afternoon and from twelve to four O'Clock
in the morning; the engines were going slower
from tweive two O'Clock than they had been going
during the twelve hours previous but they began
to improve from half.past one O'Clock, when the en-
gines were doing their best work we had about fifty
four pounds or steam, with the expansion valve
fully open; between twelve and two O'Clock the
lowest pressure OF steam during the night was
reached and was thirty-sx pounds with the ex-
pansion valve partly on; when l went on duty at
twelve O'Clock the gauge indicated fifty pounds:
account for that because when l went on watch
there were no Goals on the plates and no round
Goals to I'LL in the two 1res alter
the crate had been cleaned the fires
were little low; we took some time to get
coal Tor the fires; then farther time to get out
the round Goals to put on the fire; our speed in
creased between two and three O'Clock; we had
fifty pounds pressure on the gauge at the time she
struck; the gauge stood at flity-one. and we had
increased speed with increased pressure; l was
standing on the stoke hole plates, opposite No. .
boiler, when
FELT THE SHIP TOUCH THE BOTTOM,
almost under my feet on the starboard side OF the
keel, as If she was grazing over something; at the
time Twas surfacng fire number one OF the starboard
boiler Immediately shut the surface cock and
ran up to the engine room; when l got there
found that the telegraph had been thrown around
beyond the usual mark Tor going astern full speed,
as If it had been pulled violently and the signal
had been answered from the engine room;
the nth engineer (since dead was In the
aT OF renersg e the eas s1
III the act of assisting HIM; l came to his
assistance, and from the time got TO the platform
until the engines were going astern occupied about
fifteen seconds; then watched the telegraph Tor
short time to see ii any more telegraphs were
given from the deck; at the same time looked at
the engine room clock and found it was nineteen
minutes past three; the clock was reset ut noon;
| went below to shut the surface cock; as
room ladder, the log lines went away with race
very suddenly; called to the engineer to stop her;
then turned to go into the stoke hole and just as
/ going there l heard her go away with
.ner race; turned back to see what was the
latter, and saw the engineer In MS shirt sleeves
with tie throttle valve in his hand the Chief En-,
gineer, Foxey. then stopped the engine and ordered
che fifth engineer to shut the main stop valve;
suppose that he 1.-THE chief engineer) opened
THE SAFETY VALVE
~ least he told me he had done so, as / heard
steam blowing or when got to the stoke hole all
the men had lett; the firemens room was above
the stoke hole and called to the men to attend
to the dres this all occurred in the space OF two
or three mnutes-that is, from the time that she
struck till Shut the seacocks; while was shutting
them saw water coming out OF the starboard
i
before reached there there was foot of water on
the floor; then made my way to the deck, being
the last person to leave the engine room.
Examined by Mr.. McDonald-It appears to me
that from the time she first struck until she finally
settled she was
RAFTING AND JUMPING OVER THE ROCKS;
ii was about two or three minutes If the ship had
been anOat and free would estimate that il would
take from three to five minutes from.the time the
engines were reversed till she woald be going
aStern.
Cornelius L. Brady third officer, recalled and ex-
oVpin n1 bu Mr Mol had rtt Hnaf nf
competency as master, and also passed In steam;
90 not remember the date or number of my certf-
CATE got them about five years since; they were
left at home; have been in commend OF a steam
ship out OF Liverpool
Cross-examined BY Mr.. Ritchie-The greatest
speed OF the Atlantic, under the most favorable
circumstances, was thirteen knots with the fans
she had this was with SAIL and steam; the day we
ran 300 miles We had strong eastery gale and all
sail set l never heard or saw Quartermaster
Thomas from the time she struck till got ashore;
ceys to get some Of the men to help me and found
Thomas there. Mr.. Brady stated on oath that
THE STOKES TOLD BY QUARTERMA s1 THOMAS
OF his ThOmaso activity in saving life was untrue,
and that he only thought OF saving his own life.
John W. Firth, first officer, was recalled-Have
master dates from May, 1859; the number as well
as can remember, is 20 4s9; 1t was lost in the At
knots, but the steamer mas averaged this in any
days work during the last voyage even with a far
wind aud sails set; this was my second trip across
the Atlantic Ocean; my previous experience was
in the Mediterranean and India trades; think 900
tons of Welsh coal would be equal to 1850 tons of
Lancashire coal, and would not take up any more
room.
EDWARD D. MULMGAN
sworn:-Am captain of the steamer Carlotta, which
runs between this port ana Portland; have been
master OF steamships coming and going between
here and Portland for four years, and am familiar
HALIFAX; the Carlotta Is $40 tons; l made Sambro
Light on Monday night. March 81, at ten O'Clock,
Portland time en being eout a sWsnyye min
judged that Sambro Light bore N. Z. by
En- distant between three and four miles; the night
at this time was dsagreeable, dark and thick;
up to nine O'Clock 1t was raining hard and
unsettled, wind s E.; after TIL, that time the
drizzlng: after that 1t improved at twelve O'Clock
it was clearer and the light could now be seen
easier and at greater distance than at ten
o'clock, but the weather might have been different
then from what | had 1t in the habor; got
in here about ten O'Clock; saw other lights
| came up made Chebucto Head, DEVILS
Island and Meagher's Beach Light steered l.. s.
Il. coming up; when made Sambro Light was
not sounding; cannot say anything about the cur
rents; they are irregular and uncertain cannot say
how they will set Tor twentyfour hours at time the
currents are greater in Winter than In Summer;
aud are much governed by the winds; we appear
to have stronger westerly current IN Winter than
in Summer; there was a better chance OF seeing
the light when coming in from the than when
Cross Island Light, 1t being thick when passing:
had no more difficulty in making the light that
night than at other times; at ten O'Clock that night
l instructed the engineer to slacken speed, out
while In the act OF doing so got hold OF the light;
III nau not got HOlG OF the uTHt WOuiu nave
slowed the ship and hove her head oil shore would
not have sounded because
sOUNDINGs ARE IRREGULAR:
l use Masseys patent log; my speed at the time
saw Sambr0 Light was ten knots / always find
Massey's log correct have had every opportunity
OF testing it; use the log at ali times, Irrespective
of weather, and have tested 1t frequently and
found 1t correct; we always tested the log in run
ming from light to light, and found II satisfactory
but never considered 1t safe to run up TO the last
mile that the log would allow, but leave margin
l think the accuracy OF the common log might de-
anI m hn lint Nhnrn fhnr. tfl I'M
patent log Is most to be depended on; coming TO
the eastward in thick weather
/ ALWAYS USE THE LEAD.
Examined by Mr. Ritche-The last light saw
previous to making Sambro Little Hope Light,
sixty-fve miles from SanDro; when | going
slew knew ! was nearly up to Sambro; Sanbro
Light Is treacherous enc to be depended on
to distance; wheelhouse Is about fifteen ieet
above the water, and see Sambro
LII On ala 11i1rhf nhn f.xnI