, 1873-08-16

.0fSlcln1 Investigation into tire Cnuse7
OF tho Da*aator--Tho TGattsmomy Of
fcECI rD.Uav.

OF tho Di~Rator--Tlao Testtsnomy Of
fcrcI To-Day.
Special DtspatcA to Tho Chicago Tribune
WARRINGTON, D. O., Aug. 15.--Iho Wawassot
investigation COMMITTED held it's first scee!on
this morning. Several Of tho survivors vero
examined. Tho ships officers attempted, by
ono wllnosa to mako tllo lofeuBo Tint thew wero
authorized to carry 160 passengers, and not fifty
90 tho 1iconso on flo In tho rrensury Dopart-
mont provideB. They o1aim tint thoro Ia al,
error In recording tho duplicate 1fconso, wi,icl,
should permit tho venaol to carry 150 passengers
on her rogular trips. Tho ongincor ntoutly
maintained that ho wnB III clouo attundanco
upon uia onghe. The olllcor could not dony
tlat tho wheel ropes wore Of hemp, aud
that tho main efforts Of tho Captain in tho
frat monients Of thu digastor, woro directed to
pouring Water upon tho wheel ropoB. II those
ropoa had not boon burnod or immediately, ns
they would not havo boon Ind thoy bcun of iron,
it iB beloved that control OF tho steamer would
havo boon retained long enough to beach llor in
eEnllowor water, whero moro poraons could ilayo
been rescued.
E7b tic Associated press.l
>, WARRINGTON, Aug. 16.---Tho examination into
tho WawaBsot disastor was commenced today,
ct tho Treasury Department, before George ".
Taylor, Acting -SupcrlntenflinE IuBpootor-G Jon
oral Of Steamboats, William Hose, Inspector OF
l1ulls at Savannah, Ca; and John G. Edgar, III
spootor Of Boilers at Norfolk, VI. Tho lnain
matters Of inquiry wero: First, tho equipment
Of tho steamer; second, tho origin Of tho fire
third, tho conduct Of tho ltconsed offlcors both
prior and subsequent to ths alarm bcing giyo,,.
Tho first wltnosHos oxaminod woro James D.
Lowory, inspector of HuIlB, and William
O'8ayille, Inspector Of Boi1ors at Baltimore, who
mado tho last inspection, aud from whoao testi-
mony 1t appeared that tho steamer was thorough
y inspected In Mnrch laat, aud everything which
the law requires was found thorc, with but d
Captain Wood, Of tho Wawassot, said TINT ut
tho tlno OF tho alarm of fro ho called to pas
nongors to keep COOL aa ho did not eco any ron
son for oxcitolnont. Ho thought thoro would bo
tne to put out the fro, but III less timo than ho
could now relate tho laota the tanen burst out
In heavy volumes. Tho pilot wna liconaod by tho
Unitod statou. but tho Captain was
not. 1t was impossible for him to got oft
l,o did on that occasion he would repeat upilor
future, similar circumstanccs. Ho thought tho
tiro originated In the tiremon's room. No doubt
tho fro lad beon burning for Bono timo before
tho door wan opened, which act gnvo draft to
tho fianlea. Tho engineer WAS drivon from 1ia
room In m instant. Tho mate and clerk gouor-
ally lave charge of tho passengers and freight,
but Of tho tinio of tho fire thoy were trying to
sayo tho passengers. Nobody WAS specially at
Only one passongor WAS lost forward. Tho Cap-
tRin gaid there woro OIL board 125 paAgongerB
not counting the children. Tho License showed
that tho boat was permitted to carry only fifty
tho impression that ho wan allowed to carry 150
passengers. Fifty passengers would not pay the
expenses Of tho steamer. Tho boat wus well
provided with all appliancoH for saving tho boat
and livos Thoro wore between 400 and 800 life
proserFers, only two Of which were known to
havo boon used. Not u Houl would havo boon
lest il tho engines had not suddenly stopped
"Robort NASH, tho englnoor Of tho boat, waB
examined. Tho tilors wsro clnfn mud rods, aud
part of rope, for ton foot OIL each nilo OF tho
wheel. HO had nlwuys fn,1ri1 tim flromnn a. attnn.