New-York tribune., 1873-09-02
WASHINGTON.
TIE wAwAsET INVESTIGATION

CESsURED-THE LOSS or LIFE CLEARLY AVOID
ABLE-FIRE DRILL REC0MNENDED-IHE COM
PANY TO BIZ PROSECUTED.
WARRINGTON, Sept. 1.-The official report OF
the wawaset Investigation made public to-day oy
the Secretary Of the Treasury. The inspectors arer
saving tha. continued seven days.
recite briefly the history the Wawaset, and declare
that she was considered seswortby in all respects ana
allowed to carry 80 cabin and 20 deck passengers.
They review the testimony as TO the fittings OF '"o
vessel and her appliances to extinguish fire. and say;
We are constrained TO believe that the fire ragssu
with fearful rapldity ana that from the position o. o % we
do the Of the officers that they d
all that could possibly nave been done u1er t5 th,eh
cunlstances u save the lives Of the passengers. when
opinion fully and clearly borne out by the evoe'o
taken in the case.
Referring to the testimony Of Capt. Woods thy say;
The saving of the boat seemed to be gppormcst IN hs
mind to the exclusion at that tne 9i tse hn
OF the lives OF his passengers, most o Whon were o
less women t o nho 10 bnad the vessel for the shore then
very near. Instead however, OF assuming cOInma...
where they might provide themselves with liie-
preservers, ordering the crew to prepare me
for use ne took some the 6rebucksts with which 20
throw the icr ropes, leaving tne pissrhs.i'
10 crowd together so as to cut on All tne or 70
cane He told them keep cool and they would all 10
saved Just at tina; time the engine ceased o WORK ans
the boat stopped the supreme moment passed, anu
with il all possibility OF saving he through the az
Rnbert Nas6 The engineer testified thst he was att
ptber oficers Indeed the evidence OF tho officer.
crew OF the steamer eoltG,de . 20 III o AN more hsn was don
no opportunity To save life that every man Was g
ployed in the best manner wherever he happeneu 70
On hand: that the boats planks thrown 20 tho-'
overheard; the hose was iaid, Dut wafer couu ho' "
Inc testimony OF some passengers of more neigence
perhaps and cooler observation seriously eohtradie
the statements of the officers The passengers assei
that the officers permitted time TO De lost thAt th5
made no effort the lives OF theT paseohScIH
especially the women and children; that the hose vas
II Is
davits or falls attached 10 H. ana CaJ le otnt poe
was seized by number Of cOlOred men, in the absence
OF any officer to prevent t and thrown oVefDOard III
such cause tho oss oi all lts occupants.
After a careful review OF the wnoe testimony pro,
uced before u.s. regret 10 have to acknowledge tnaI
the OF tho lire still remains m ystery put We arc
the ODinon that 1t originated IN the hremans room
under the forward deck adjoining the forecastle ana
the back connection Of the boilers and we recon-
mend that inspectors request all oukheads, % %o0Ies
hatces and other woodwork near or around tue boilers
a vessels to be covered WIN metal leaving
sufficient space Tor the ar 10 clrcuan
metal covering aud the woodwork, az preventive
against future disaster 10 steamers by hre
We further ina that John r. Woods, the master. was
acting without license tnat he had no organization OF
discipline whatever IN inc hre 9epaItine On pci % 30 m
his vessel expecting, As ne siil clcn ouceI anu AZ a.
assist and do the best they could IL case OF ne
or other emergency None of the Officers specially
designated 10 take charge Oh tne Dotts' -
pumps. and printed Instructions were posted up
concerning the manner of using the hepreserVeis OF
fire sounded confusion reigned on board; no oncer
the passengers. particularly to the helpless
and children vino were deserted IN the hOur o
their dres extremity. II the hose had been attached
either OF the pumps aud one or OOn OF the promptly
used III connection with the hre-eXtngusAer ana ne
steam smOthering the latter Of which was under
the immediate charge vi the engineer We firmly believe
the fire u the Wawaset must have been put Out ana
the dread .tllmity avoided
The ne Ige ana misconduct of the chief engineer
of the Wawaset, prior TO the burning OF the
steamer, o. oil MS unOihcerlike conduct after the
fire occurred IN opinion deserving OF the sever
est condemnation the highest penalty prescribed by
the iaw. We have, therefore, no alternative hut 10
revoke the license OF Robert Nash as an engineer on
steam vessels navigating waters within the jurisdiction
~ ne "A gs.
The fire board the MaWaset occurred, AS VIII oe
by evidence al midday, wnen all the officers
wuen the chances for extngnshng the fire and saving
the passengers better chan II the fire had occurred
al night, and yet IL Is painful duty To record the
sacrifice 80 odd human souls by that appalling
calamity. As further safeguard against the recur
renee similar disasters 10 steam vessels we respect
fully recommend the necessity for inspectors In the
steamers from time to time. aud, without previous
notification. sound an alarm OF hre and call All hands TO
quar,crs and in this ascertain ana correct detects
IN the organization aud equipment oi such steamers
the steamer Wawact had been Orgdnzed IN accordance
with steamboat act and the officers aud crew IN
atruced their respective duties, thdt the NE prySer
could have been distributed among Inc passehger
boats safely lowered and tine greater parf II not al
the passengers saved 80 far as the general equip
ment Of the steamer Wawaset AT the time OF her last
nsDecrOn March 1873 concerned II is In evidence
tuat she fully up To the standard required by the
law and rules relating to steam vessels and thereOre
we discover derecuOn Oi duty On the PAN or tbc
inspector whose jurisdiction the steamer belonged
We believe they performed ther duty impartaily ahd
efficiently. .o, ,
j j y
tiyeiy 10 preparing the original certificate OF the
steamer 40 admit OF the carriage of but 80 pa
seugers and IS officers and crew. making total OF 90,
aud this evidence fully confirmed by the subse-
auen production OF the original certificate Itself from
tue files OF the Georgetown Cusion-bOuse.
We therefore have 10 hesitation IN declaring that the
Potomac Ferry Company was running tne steamer Wa.
waset on the sLh o. August, 153 IL violation Of
law not only as regards the of excessive
number OF passengers, but the employing unlicensed
officers ana we earnestly recommend that steps be
promptly taken by the proper officers OF ho Govern
incnt To impose upon said Company the extreme pen
atty OF the law for such violations, a. also upon John
X. Wood, the master and Robert W. Grayatt, the mate
OF the Wawaset plying their respective VOcatlOns
without United states licenses IN defiance UT law.
In conclusion, the inspectors remark:
In submitting this report truthfully say that
we have endeayOrcd 10 discharge the responsible duty
imposed us with entire nupartaLtY, always keeping
IN principal object OF the law under which the
investigation conducted, namely the preservation
OF human life vessels and We are led TO believe
that hereafter steamboat VIII make themselves
fully and thoroughly acquainted with the acts Of Con
gress relating steam vessels and then yield ready
and fu Ompauce thereto, equippug them Wth al NE
saving appliances required by law, ana IN command OF
men who know and who possess the courage TO perform
their whole duty III any emergency that may arise.
The report has been referred TO the SOlcOrG sDera
for such action as he may take in the premises.
CURRENT TOPICS AT THE CAPITAL.
TIE PUBLIC DEBT STATEMENT.