The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-04-06
THE INVESTIGATION.

Captain Williams Statcmcnt-A Clear,
Starlight Nighttime Soundings Taken
The White Snow Line OF the shore I'm
seen-No Warning OF the DanSer-COal
Short When Eight Days Out-Barely
Two Days Provisions Left the
31st - Aston ndinS Admissions - state
mcnts Of Cabin Passengers-Explosio
Of the BOiber-The Inefficient Crew.
Chief-Omcer Firth's Asimissions-The
Mistaken Course-Irrc movable RespOn-
sibiiity.
HALIFAX, N. s., April s, 1873
The inquiry ordered by the Dominion govern
mcnt into the Atlantic disaster commenced to-day
i'm the custom House building be ore the Collector
+. M. Mcdonald. Captain Mckenzie, a shipmaster
sat us associate with Mr. Mcdonald. Hon. S. L.
Shannon, q. c., and II. Blanchard, Q. c., appeared
for the government, AMI j. N Richie, O. c., for the
captain.
THE AUTHORITY FOR THE INQUIRY.
Mr. Mcdonald, in opening the Court, said the
inquiry was to be held under the thirty-eghth
chapter OF the Dominion Acts OF 1862 aud would
have the force OF an English Board OF Trade in
quiry. lie had not received the commission for
the Court, but he had received Official telegram
stating that IL was on its way, ana II all parties
would consent he would 20 on at once and rely on
the commission being received In good time.
Mr. Richie for the captain consented.
Mr. Blanchard said unless there was fun and
unequivocal consent he would object to going on 1t
might appear. when the commission was received,
that there were special instructions which would
require them to begin again.
All parties consented, and the Captain, James A.
Williams, was called sworn and read the following
statement, part OF it beng copy OF letter he has
written to the owners OF the Atlantic:-
CAPTAIN WILLIAMS STATEMENT.
showed the Goals getting short, we having expert
enced three days OF very severe weather. the Goals
on board were $40 tons; we being I,lso miles from
Sandy HOOK the speed came down from eight
knots per hour and with moderate strong breeze
To 1--WE knots per hour. Hoping that the
wind would change iavoraby kept on until the
3lst, when our Goals were reduced to 1877 tons and
the ship distant from sandy Hook 400 miles-lati-
tude Al 49, longitude 63 %; as the ship by this
time was making but seven knots per hour. the
wind being at the southwest the glass falling and
a westerly swell on, thought the risk too great TO
to keep on, as In the event OF westerly gale com
Ing up might find ourselves shut out OF all
sources OF supply the chief steward also
REPORTED THE STORES SHORT,
fresh provisions enough for the saloon for two
days and but salt for stcerage for two days, when
all but the bread and rice would he out; at one p.
to come here, Sambro Island being then north, so
degrees east, distant 10 miles. During the alter
noon the wind was south-southwest, with rain; at
eight 7. M. the wind veered TO west and the sky
was clear and starlight; several times corrected
the course ny the Polar STAR the course steered by
the compass was north, "a east, with easterly
deviation Which ! considered ample allowance
for the Westerly set and TO lead 1--WE miles TO the
east of shmDro Island.
THE FATAL NEGLECT.
left my orders on the bridge as to look-outs,
which word was passed to the officers relieving az
nidnight4-the second and fourth officers; / cor
rected the course the last time at II 20 A. NJ when
repeated my caution and orders; then
went nta the chart room and sat down. in
about fifteen minutes Mr.. Fisher came in to ask
some particulars about the ship, as he was writing
e. the Cosmopolitan newspaper; he stayed about
twenty minutes and lett; my intention was TO run
on until three A. NJ, and then To heave to aud
await the day: ut midnight The sniD's run was J22