New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-07-15
THE LOST STEAMSHIP.
CAUSES OF TIE WRECK.

Scott, X. N. this morning. Capt. William Robert
Phillips was called and on being sworn testified as
follows:
Ijoined the City Of Washington June % this year
this my first trip in her do not know what heI
tonnage vas there was table OF deviaons in frame
hung up in the chart room on board the ship
left Liverpool Tuesday, juno q. at at G4o
.. In charge Of piloti starteu
west from Queenstown at $40 D. NJ on the 2Oth the
weather was not clear; 1t was at times navy anu
Showery do not think that IN going down ST. George
Channel the ship made northing than she should
have done, considering the tide; after leaving
Queenstown we enabled TO take astronomical
observations on first two days. Thursday ana FIJI
day; We notice that the position as given by as
Economical observations differed much from that by
dead reckoning; cargo was not fun one; II was
mostly composed Of steel rails bundles of Iron and
boxes OF tn the standing compass was about Is feet
forward Of the miz,enmast and some distance abaft
Of the main hatch; do not know where
the steel was stowcd the standard the usual hight
Say three and half four feet from the decks; we
watched all the way for opportunity to take zenith
and altitude but the weather was such that we could
not; log produced but does not give the posi-
tons by dead-reckoning; the first day my papers
contained minute by dead-reckoning; after
these two dates the wind westerly
head wind during the entire passage; on the 27th al
tered the course OF the ship TO little more souhery
owing 10 the &C ton the wind the bow 70 case the
ship there a very heavy sea ON that day; on the
SOth also I hauled my course more TO the south
ward for the same reason, and TO keep clear OF
iee on the Banks Of Newfoundland; we did
not take soundings off the Banks believing were q
long distance 70 the southwark of them we had no
sounding whatever during the passage; didnot notice
the change the color Of the water in closing with
the land the fog was dense all the passage after eav
ing the Channel could scarcely two yards from
the ship; we were eight days in the fog; the ship
struck at ll5 p m. on Sunday, the 9Th ins the ship
going at full speed it was the time to clear
the fires do not know what speed was, but should
suppose about nine knots; on deck when the
struck underneath the bridge as soon as the
vessel struck ordered the signal guns 10 be fired and to
be cleared the boats were lowered promptly and with
out confusion; in few moments small boat came
alongside with who plOted boats to land,
tue women and children we're landed first; after all the
had been landed adopted measures TO tighten
che ship and communicate with Halifax the wires were
down and finally had TO charter the tug Daisy TO bring
a message TO this city.
Cross-examned by Peter Lynch, on behalf Of the
Company-The ship in flrst-class order, with full
complement OF men, provisions, and coal on leaving
Liverpool II well found in all respects; the general
instructions OF the Company that the meridian OF
Cape he passed at about latitude ~ adhered
TO these Instructions the boats by one loaded
and of the shore in perfect orders there was no
confusion.
BY Capt scott-we used no sails during the passage,
and tine vessel was subject 10 no keeling over.
Capt william J. Hammond, a passenger, was called
sworn and testified as follows Am master, holding
certificate OF competency passenger in the City
Of Washington; kept no reckoning; never better
disciplined steamship; have crossed four times pas
scnger different ships there was no confusion in
lowering boats every thing worked IN sea
mAnlke manner; heard complaints either az
20 management navigation of the ship; every
thing was carried on board regularly, and
never saw any OF the officers touch glass OF liquor
during the PASSAGE been q years in the emgran rade
never saw Storage passengers better treated the first
thing done after the passengers landed was to land
sufficient quantity of provisions 10 serve all hands three
days including biscuit. beef and pork this was kept
rs a reserve, In the vessel should break up.
CrossexaminatiOn by Mr. Lyneh-Crossed previously
IN the Union, EDWIN Hebrew, and Washington did not
inquire whether the officers kept account Of the ree
oniDg the true position and that posted every
day in speaking OF the sObTiey Of the officers include
the captain the cargo consisted largely Of Steel
stated II would probably influence the compass.
John Shean first officer, sworn and testified as FOL
lows: Was first officer all the voyage; this my first
trip IN ship; did not notice that coming down the
Channel the ship made westIng nOrthin9 than
she should not present when the steel came on
board did know that there was steel on board; we
took observation on the first two days; we
had DO chance TO observe a zenith; there
was but very slight difference between the dead
reckoning and the observations; worked both the dead
reckoning and the observations myself the captains
and my working agreed within a mile or twO never
Aav ship steer better; had 10 suppose that
she was making than she should have done; the
log was hove every hour fog dense could
not tell the proper color OF the water when the ship
grounded the engines were stopped.
Cross-examined by Mr.. LynchThe ship was most obe-
dent 10 its reckoning each officer kept dead reckon
"A no IN n he XpOr
and do not know whether there any difference be-
tween our reckoning and the ships position on account
of the steel bars board strong current
have been four years IN the Inman EN-
ploy chiefly on this coast two years as chief
officer OF the City OF Halifax; in the City OF Balt-
more previous to joining the City OF Washington
during 20 years of service fog so bad
two degrees easterly deviation allowed on all
westerly courses up the banks, but none aferward
the compass what is known a compensate compass
could not see the forward lookout from the bridge
John Flaherty second officer. sworn and testified
Joined the ship the day she sailed never sailed in her
before; knew nothing about the compass in her; did
not allow anything for deviation in working up my
reckoning because we steered TO the south Of our
course; ny work-book was lost In the ship; was
always careful about Storage the ship not making
nOrthing she would have done the lead was
hove during the voyage; did not heave the lead
because thought IL would be useless; have been IN
the IDmsn service four years have been going to sea
years crossed the Atlantic when the weather
wss 80 continuously thick this voyage; our reck
onings made with than usual care on account
OF the thickness Of the weather my reckoning agreed
with the oaptan's within few miles according 10 my
reckoning the ship should have been very much
further south than she was #; attribute this 20
either northerly current or error IN compass ::
have been crossing IN these years. and
have always steered them the same course which
has taken clear OF everything there was three ourhs
of point difference between the compass on the bridge
and the standard compass.
A. NJ. Anderson, third officer testi6ed-Joined the
ship at the beginning OF the year at New-York; made
bout seven trips her; it is my duty to watch the