Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-09-02
THE WAWASSETT.
Carrying I5O Passengers When Only
so were AuthOrIzed-TryiDg to Sue
The Boat Instead of Passengers.


WASHINGTON, Aug. 1.-Oficial report
of Wawassett investigation was made public
to-day. Inspectors state Wawassett was con-
sidered sea worthy in all respects and allow
ed to carry 80 cabin and 20 deck passengers,
and add:
We do Lot believe the statement of the
officers that they did all possible under the
circumstances to save the lives of passen-
gers. Referring to the testimony Of Capt.
Woods, they say the saw gothic boat SEEM
ed to be uppermost in his mind, TO the ex-
clusion at first of the preservation of the
lives Of passengers, most Of whom were
helpless women and children, and cite his
own testimony in support of this opinion.
Attention is called TO the fact that the evi-
dence given at investigation by the officers
and crew coincijets N all particulars. They
assert there was no time to do more than
YVES done, no opportunity to save life; that
every man was employed in the best man.
ner wherever be happened to be on hand;
that boats, plaDks, etc, were thrown to
those overheard and hose was laid bu3
water could not be applied. This testi-
mony, says the communication, is seriously
contradicted by some passengers of more in
talligence, perhaps and cooler observation.
the fremen's room near The back connection
of the boiler, and the Inspectors therefore
should require all bulkheads, boiler matches
and other wood work near or around boilers
of all steam vessels to be covered with
metals, leaving a sufficient space for cir to
circulate between such metal covering of
the woodenwork as pre- ventive sgainst future
disasters by fire communication. Tney find
hot r m Vvithnnf
license; that he had no organization or dis.
cipline whatever in the f department on
board. No office. was specially designated
to take charge of the boats, lite preservers
or pumps. No printed instructions were
posted up concerning the manner of using
the life preservers or other life-saviDg sppli-
ances, 81 the women and cbiltren were
deserted in the hour of their direst eXtrem-
ity. If hose had been attached to either
pump and one or boil of them promptly
used in connection with fire extiuguisher
and steam smothering pipe, the latter Of
which was under entire charge OF The en-
gineer, we firmly believe the fire must have
been put out and the dreadful calamity
avoided. The negligence and misconduct
of the chief engineer prior TO the burning OF
the steamer, as well as his unOfticer like con-
duct after, deserves the serverest condemna-
ton and the highest penalty prescribed by
law. Therefore revocation of the license
of Robert Nash, as engineer on steam ves-
ses within the jurisdiction of the United
States is ordered.
To guard against similar disasters in fu-
ture inspectors of steamboats, are recon-
mended to visit vessels from time to time,
and ascertain from their observation the
condition of the organization and sppara-
tus for exiting lishing fire and saving life.
As the Wawassett's inspection was up to
the standard required by law, no dereliction
Of duty can be charged against the inspect
ors. 1t is recommended. however, taa5 the
Potomac Ferry Company be- vigorously
prosecuted for violating the stesmbo&t law,
and Capt. J. r. Wood and his mate, Robt.
W. Gravatt, for acting in such capacities
without lice use.
The report has been referred to the So
itor General for bis action.