New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-07-15

| we we're In the vicinity Of land; kept my dead
reckoning very carefumore so than usual on account
| of the thick weather; whenever compared NY
reckoning with the captains they agreed very closely
had been in the habit of keeping reckoning on previous
voyares IL has generally proved correct within few
miles my reckoning OF this was over 100 miles
ont OF the way; do not remember exactly what II was
attributed the large deviation 10 error in the com
pass, and this TO the large amount OF iron ana
steel forming part Of the CARGO VIC steereo
| 80 as 10 90 to the southwark OF - lat-
tude in passing Cape Race I believe the instruc-
tons of the Company require took the temperature
Of the water every hours record OF this Kept IN
scrap log, and the temperature noted every IL
hours; dc not remember what temperature the water
was during the last few days; we noticed no ndicanons
of ice and this was considered conrmatory OF our be-
lief that We far TO the southwark of where we
! proved TO be-
Arthur Hill, fourth officer testified Was IN second
officers watch joined the ship her last the
ship steered better than any ship have been in
| 1t the Quartermaster's duty TO take the
temperature of the water; it was taken every two
hours have log myself and noted the speed in the log
| book.
| Thomas Bruce. Chief Engineer, testified Been N
the ship about six years has always been running
between Liverpool, sometimes calling at Halifax when
on deck noticed the weather very thick the en-
gines were not slowed down or stopped during this
thick weather, but always ready TO do so when
the ship struck 1 ordered 10 stop the engines,
the average steam gauge "a n; found my log 10
agree with the reckoning within ten miles during the "a
hours observed any improperly on the part OF
any Of the ships officers; whistles were sounded regu
Iarly during the voyage After the examination of the
engineer the Court adjourned TO meet again at p IN
tomorrow.
THE PASSENGERS MISUNDERSTANDING STATE
MESTs REGARDING THE CONDUCT OF THE Off
GERS.
HALIFAX, July 14.-The steamer NJ. A. Starr
arrived here from Port Gle Bear yesterday afternoon
with the captain, officers and crew Of the steamer City
OF Washington and l4O steerage passengers who had
been left behind Thursday The latter were mmedi
atey transferred TO the steamer Somerset and sailed
for Boston O'Clock. One of the passengers an Irish
woman gave birth to child shortly after being carried
on board the Somerset Capt. Phillips and officers and
some Of the will remain to give testimony at the
official investigation. The remainder will go TO
England in the HISTORIAN tomorrow. The official
inquiry was begun at o'clock this morning.
There ia nothing 10 report from the wreck 1t lies
in the POSITION Capt Sheridan and the divers and
Mr.. Kerr Of the Customs Department in charge. The
sweeping charge made by Col Parnel of the cabin
passengers against the Captain officers, and crew, ae
cusng them of mismanagement and ncOmpetency DO tn
before and after the disaster caused little astonsh
ment here inasmuch he had signed testimonial to
the opposite Of what he published. Capt j. p Ham
mond, who also @ cabin passenger In the City OF
Washington pronounces the statement Of Parne 10 be
highly and devoid of truth Capt Hammond
says thorough discipline and that good watch
was kept during the entire voyage 1t IS claimed that
competent to speak as he never left the deck any
night before u o / O'Clock. There was always two
officers on the bridge and on the lookout He
is OF the opinion that the disaster was due altogether
10 the deviation OF the compasses, the ships course
was the correct one The statement OF Col Pane that
there was lack of discipline, cursng, swearing, and
confusion at the time the ship struck and ater the
passengers landed Capt Hammond pronounces untrue.
He is OF the opinion the ships officers did all that
could possibly done under the circumstances for the
comfort of the passengers. Provisions IN ample abund
ance were furnished TO all. and everybody appeared
satisfied. Capt Hammond is seaman OF much expert
ence and his opinion regarding the disaster regarded
as OF value. The official investigation is now anxiousy
looked forward TO, Will enable the public TO arrive
AT the true story Of the wreck and whether not the
charges made against the management are borne out by
facts.
ARRIVAL OF THE sTEERAGE PASSENGERS.
One hundred and forty steerage passengers
Of wrecked steamship CITY OF Washington arrived at
Pier No % E. r., yesterday morning, in the steamer
Continental from Eew-HaveD in charge Of Mr..
NJ j. Dunn advertising agent Of the Imam Line for
New-England They came from Halifax via Portland
TO Boston, and thence 70 New-Haven. Mr.. Dunn took
charge OF them at Portland. About 100, consisting
mostly of Germans, went West from Portland via the
Grand Trunk Railway. The agents Of the Imam Line
were Instructed 10 use every effort make the passen
gers comfortable while on the road ana the Passengers
state that the order was carried out The NewHayen
Steamboat Company gave the immigrants good supper
on board OF the steamer last night and Mr. Dunn TOOK
them to saloon this morning and gave them breakfast
Irish and English the remainder beng sWedes
and Scotch. The Imam Steamship Company VIII take
charge OF them here and VIII convey them TO their re-
specuYe destinations.
A THEORY OF THE DISASTER.
AT the Nautical School, No. 90 MadisOn-ave.,
last night, Dr. Thoms repeated his lecture on The sur
eieal Treatment of Accidents Shipboard and then
stated an interesting theory for the loss OF
the steamship City OF Washington. The disaster. he
held was caused by deviation Of the ships compass
occasoned by the electrical condition OF the atmosphere
consequent upon the appearance OF the aurora boreas
during the voyage. He exhibited an instrument
| called the palimurus, employed 10 detect and
note the variations OF ships compass during voyage.
| The Lapland which sailed from England only day
after the City of Washington carried such an lnstru
men which showed that during the appearance OF the
boreals her compass deviaed u degrees This
deviation, occurring as IL must have done on the CITY OF
Washington beginning Of her voyage would
her to diveree 90 miles from her in every humid
bred and she was only 100 miles out Of her reckoning
| when wrecked.
HOW THE PASSENGERS CARD WAS DRAWN UP AND
| SIGNED.
From Adpertiser, July IL.
In the list of the cabin passengers appears
ployed IN the office of the nmsn line either Liverpool
or London who came over the steamship for the ben
eft of his health which was delicate. This Mr. Jones,
as far as the passengers learn without any socta
aud of his free will drew paper eulogizng
the conduct OF the officers and commenting them IN the
terms When he presented this for signatures,
Col Parne says not Of the passengers would sign it,
He then that up and tried again The result the
card which printed on Saturday and was very much
toned down the original draft. The passengers
that they signed this because they could not do other
WISE for they, cabin passengers had been treated
well enough IL did not commit them 10 any express
sion Of opinion the ability qualifications OF the
officers But the Storage passengers to man refused
TO sign II and threatened personal violence on Mr..
Jones should dare present IL 10 them. The passen
gers consider this Jealous ofclousness OF Mr.
| Tones as the act OF the cOmpaDys agent Such I'M
doubtedy H. but there evidence 10 show that his
proceeding was countenanced by any OF the officers
that II Will be by his employers.