The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-08-16
Tho RaWa,set InyesIIgallOn.

WAsHIHaToN, August 16-The exami'
nation into the WSWasset disaster COM
menced today at the Treasury Depart
ment before George w. Taylor, acting
superintendent and inspector general oi
steamboats, VIM. Rose, Inspector OF hulla
at Savanna, Georgia and John Q. Edgar
inspector 'oi Boilers at Norfolk, Maine.
The main matters Of inquiry were, First
equipment nF the steamer; second, the
oFipin Of the fire; third, the conduct OF the
licensed officers both prior and subsequent
10 the alarm being given. The inst Wit
nesses examined were james D. Lowry,
inspector Of hulls, and William D. SAville,
INSPECTOR OF boilers ct Baltimore, who
made the last inspection and from whose
testimony It appeared that the steamer
was thoroughly inspected In March last,
and everything the law requires was
found there without q single exception.
Capt. Wood Of the WaWaHSet ct the time
of the alarm Of fire said he called 70 the
passengers to keep cool as he did not see
any reason for excitement. he thought
that 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 volumes. The pilot was licensed
by the United States but the Captain was
not. 1t was impossible for him to get aft
alter the fire was discovered. What he
did on that occasion he would repeat 10
future under similar circumstances. He
thought the fire originated in the fire
mans room. There Is no doubt but that
the fire had been burning for some time
before the door was opened, which gave
draft 10 the flames. The engineer was
driven from the room in an instant Tho
mate and clerk generally have charge OF
the passengers and freight, but at the
time Of the fire they were trying To save
the passengers, Nobody was specially
attending TO the boats and lie preservers.
At the time Of the fire, only one passen-
ger was forward. The captain said there
were on board one hundred and twenty
FIVE passengers, not counting the children
The license showed that the boat was per.
mitted TO carry fifty passengers. The
Captain said he was under the impression
that he was allowed to carry 100 paasen-
gerp; fifty passengers would not pay ex'
penses. The steamboat was well pro-
vided with all the appliances for saving a
boat and the passenger lives. There
we're 400 or 800 life preservers, only two
Of which were known to be used. Not
loul would have been lost If the engines
Of the boat had not suddenly stopped. i
Robert Nash, engineer oi the boat, was
examined. he had always found the fire.
man attentive TO his business. The
steamer was as well equipped as any boat
could be. Nothing whatever was the
matter with the boiler, to cause q fire.
All that was possible to do WAS done to
save the passengers. The flames appear.
ed so suddenly, and the boat was so soon
on fire, that no one had time to think.
MIR. Saville was recalled, and said he
had known Nash four Year,; he was
strictly sober and competent engineer,
and was always found at his post; his
character was good.
The clerk, mate, engineer, NUMBER OF
the crew and several passengers were eG-
amined, but nothing new was ELECTED.
The testimony was 10 the effect that
there was no chance for those ait 10 reach
the forward part Of the boat None could
tell, or even conjecture the origin Of the
fire. The conduct Of the officers was
good throughout Great care had always
been taken topreTent fires The orders
In this respect were very strict, the pumps
and hose being always In good order.
The Commission adjourned until to'mor-
row morning. Captain Gedly says that
the license produced to-day, allowing
only fifty passengers to the Wawasset was
ERRONEOUS, sshe hId in his possession .
permit dgned by, the proper authorities,
allowing ior, This year as heretofore, l6O
IT,.