The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-08-16
NOBODY TO BLAME"
A Thin Attempt at Ex-
culpation.
THE ORIGIN OF THE FIRE RET0LD.
A Gross Violation of the Yes.
sells License.
WERE LIFE pREsERvERs ACCESSIBLE

WARRINGTON, D. c., August Is, 1878.
The examination into the wawaset disaster
was commenced to-day at the Treasury Depart.
ment before George W. Taylor, Actlug Superin.
tending Inspector General OF Steamboats,; william
Rose, Inspector Of Huls, at savannah Ca, and
John E. Edgar, Inspector OF Boilers. at Norfolk.
The main matters OF inquiry were-nrst, the
equipment OF the steamer; second, the origin of
the fire, and third, the conduct OF licensed olcers,
both prior and subsequent to the alarm being
given.
THE FIRST WITNESSES
examined were James D. Lowery Inspector Of
Hulls, and william O. Saville Inspector OF Boilers
at Baltimore, who made the last inspection, from
whose testimony it appeared that the steamer was
thoroughly inspected in March last and everything
which the law requires was found there without
single exception; there were three large boats
capable OF containing from fifty to sixty persons
each; there was an abundance Of life preservers
within easy reach, and fire extinguishers, and all
the pumps were In good order; they considered
the boat A. No. in all respects.
EXAMINATION OF CAPTAIN WOOD.
Captain Wood, OF the Wawaset, said he was in
the pilot house at the time Of the alarm of fire one
Of the remen gave the alarm; the Captain called to
the passengers to keep COOL as he did not see any
reason for excitement on board; he thought there
would be time to put out the fire. but in less time
than he could now relate the facts the flames burst
out in heavy volume he then knew the boat was
gone and his EFFORT was to beach her, but
this he could not do, as the engines
suddenly ceased working; the pilot was licensed
from the United States but the Captain was not;
he was ignorant of the law that he was required to
take out a license from the United States; 1t was
impossible for him to get aft after the fire was dis
covered; what he did on that occasion he would
fuk Ia
thought the fire originated in the fremen's
room; from what cause he did not
know, unless from matches the
overturning OF lamp; no doubt tho
fire had been burning for some time before the
door was opened, which gave draught to the
flames the engineer was driven from the room in
an instant; the mate and the clerk generally
the time OF the fire were trying to save passengers;
NOBODY was specially attending to the boats and
a. no s
freight was general merchandise, including barrel
Of whiskey; the Captain said there were on board
126 passengers, not counting the children.
THE wAwASET's LICENSE TO CARRY PASSENGERS.
The Commissioner exhibited copy OF the
carry only nifty passengers. Instead OF that she
had three times as many.
sion he was allowed to carry $50 passengers; aity
passengers would not pay the expenses Of the
boat at the time OF the inspection last March; he
said the boat was well provided with ali the ap.
o1
two of which were known to have been used not
soul would have been lost If the engines had not
TESTIMONY OF THE ENGINEER.
Robert Nash, engineer OF the boat, was ex-
amined-The ttllers were chain and rods and part
Of rope for ten feet each side Of the Wheel he had
always found the fremen attentive TO business;
S nothing the SS
the boiler to cause the hrc; all that Was possible
to do was done 70 save the passengers; the danes
nre that no one had time to think:
Mr.. Savile was recalled, and said he had known
competent engineer, and was always found at his
post; his character was as good as that Of any
engineer In the witness district.
TESTIMONY OF THE CLERK OF THE BOAT.
J. W. Wheeler, clerk OF the boat, testified that he
was son On board OF the Wawsset when she burned;
ing they could put the fire out, and II not they
could beach the boat; there was aterward such =
gave circumstantal account OF his efforts to save
lie until ne was driven away by the names, which
reached the forward part OF the boat; there were
about one hundred registered passengers on the
For ns 'ne e Uoa r ao Se
stopping OF the engines the boat would have
reached the shore ana probably all the passengers
with the boat did the best he could under the cir.
cumstances; the witness did not see any OF the
ton OF Mr.. Reed, who threw some planks over.
boards ne thought It more than likely that ma
jority Of the passengers were w, S,i males;
Robert W. Gravall, mate OF the Wawaset, testi.
fed as to his knowledge OF the burning OF the boat
and his efforts to suppress the flames; he threw
boats and planks overheard in order to save the
passengers he saw the clerk trying to get ladies
back by the names; everything was done that
could he done to save the boat and passengers;
q ws ANY a
with fire buckets; there were thrty-sx of them.
The witness having said he was not licensed, the
was mistaken-that q license was necessary.
TESTIMONY OF PILOT.
John w. L. Boswell, pilot, had license as such,
taken out April !, 1s73 testified as to the circum
stances OF the fire; the boat at the time being
gesed to the captain to run the boat ashore; this
was assented to by the captain but the object was
not ewing to the 81 s % sn e
had no knowledge how the IRE originatcd ne did
not see any male passengers assisting ladies' no
and jumped from the plot house into the water,
when he commenced picking up passengers and
made to get the metallic boat over; there was not
more than four and half ieet OF water forward
the sos
TESTIMONY OF PASSENGER.
J. w. Reed, passenger on board the Wawasset,
gave a statement OF all he knew OF the fire. Soon
alter the flames burst out II was impossible for
any human being to go aft; he saw water thrown
servers were accessible on both sides OF the boat,
but he ala not reach for one although he could not
swim; he made mis- escape by jumping into shoal
water. he sew enc gentleman who had used lie.
preserver, thus saving hTself aud little girl on
whom he had placed one; everything that could
be done by the officers to save the boat and pas
sengcrs was done by them, so lar as he could see
or know.
TESTIMONY OF A FIREMAN.
John Foreman, the fireman on the Wawasset at
the time Of the disaster testified that ne went
below Tor pair OF overalls, but as soon % ne
opened the freman's door the large volume OF
smoke and flames drove him back; ne reporteo
the fact to the captain and mate; the fire occureu
| I'm the back connection in the fireman's room ne
never So any sparks from the boiler entering tne
room; he had been employed on the Doss or wIo
| past twelve months; no oil or other c0mDustiple
material was Kent in the room; smoking was NOS
| allowed there; the lamp there was not ughteo.
| TESTIMONY OF OTHER EMPLOYEES.
| Iorenz0 brown fireman the steamer Wneu