The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-08-30
THE WAWASSET INVESTIGATION.
Report of the Board Of
Examination.
The Potomac Ferry Company and the Officers
Of the WawasSet Found Guilty Of Viola.
ton Of the Law-.-Tho Penal
ties Recommended.
WASHINGTON, August 20, 1873,

WASHlNdTON August ~, 1875
The Board appointed by the Secretary Of the
Treasury to conduct the investigation into the
cause OF the disaster to the steamer Wawasset con-
sisting OF Inspectors Rose and Edgar, having CON-
pleted their report 1t was to-day submitted by the
Supervising Inspector General to Secretary Rich
ardson together with all the evidence taken In the
case. The Secretary will examine them at his
earliest convenience, and, following the re-
concentrations Of the Board. will institute
proceedings against the Potomac Ferry Company
and the officers OF the Wawasset, found guilty OF
violation of law by the testimony taken. The re-
port Of the Board Ii not very long, the object Of
inspectors Rose and Edgar, being simply to submit
the evidence with their opinion bearing upon the
conduct OF the officers and the responsibility OF the
company. They nrst take up
THE CASE OF THE FERRY COMPANY,
the evidence conclusively showing that the COM
pany employed Captain Wood and Mate Gravatt
neither OF them having license as required by
section fourteen OF the act Of February 49, 1871 to
provide for the better security of life on board Of
vessels propelled in whole or In part by steam, and
that the company permitted these unlicensed officers
to perform duties ON the Wawasset, which only
duly licensed officers are allowed to perform For
this Migrant violation Of the law the Board ear
nestly recommend the imposition Of the prescribed
penalties, as well as against Captain Wood and
Mate Gravatt, who are made equally guilty and re-
sponsible with the company. The section referred
TO makes 1t unlawful to employ any person, or for
any person to serve as captain, chief mate, engi
neer or pilot any steamer, VINO is not licensed by
the inspectors, and any one so OFFENDING shall
FORFEIT ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR EACH OFFENCE.
1t will thus be seen that both the company and
officers are liable to the penalty Tor every trip
made-tne company for employing, ana the captain
and mate for serving without license.
IN THE CASE OF ENGINEER NASH
rafp ia m to no 70 nj nDnor nnc
witnesses who purchased liquor at the bar, which
was served by the engineer, though duly licensed,
Board find him guilty OF negligence, abandoning
his post, attending bar, beside engaging in
trading s At the several landings made By
from the rivers, and thereby yf' endangerins
the safety of the boat ana the lives Of the passen
authority conferred by section II OF the Steam
boat act already referred to, which provides that
an engineers license shall be suspended or re.
voked upon satisfactory proof Of negligence, I'M
OF any provision Of the act.
THE CONTROVERSY AS TO THE RIGHT OF THE
to carry afty or $50 passengers, as the company
De sSs $50 was the number '' limited 'I in
the certilicate OF inspection, while the In.
fifty. Alter due consideration the Board find that
the copy of the certificate on file in the George
town Custom House, limiting the number Of pas
sengers to fifty, must be recognized as evidence
conclusive OF the correctness OF the Inspectors
statement. The company Is therefore adjudged
GUILTY OF FURTHER VIOLATION
OF the Steamboat act in taking on board greater
number OF passengers than was stated in the GER
tifcate, for which the master and company, or
either Of the same, are liable to any persons suing
Tor the same TO forfeit the amount OF passage
money and $40 for each passenger beyond
ing the testimony the Board is painfully
the Wawaset which adds to the culpabeness Of
II.
ter censured tor the lack OF effort in saving the
lives OF the passengers and Tor inefllcency III the
emergency.
being subject only to the rules Of discipline en-
forced by their superlors, cannot be blamed for
their conduct, though the evidence shows there
was little EFFORT on their part to help the passen
gers. Had there been q proper organiza-
ton OF the officers and crew, unquestIon-
ably the magnitude OF the calamity would
have been averted. In conclusion they regret that
1t was impossible to ascertain the cause OF the fire.
and, in the absence OF evidence proving that the
boat was not properly protected about the boil
ers, the Board do not venture an opinion.
The inspectors distinctly STATE that the
boilers were free from contact with any
PARTITION and that the requirements Of the law IN
this respect were faithfully regarded. They trust
they have faithfully performed the duties assigned
them, and now leave the government to enforce
the law enacted to meet just such derelictiOn as
the Potomac Ferry Company and the uncenced
officers Of the Wawasett have been guilty or