, 1873-09-02
THE POTOMAC DISASTER.

Report of the Investigating Commit.
toe---TMc Officers Accused Of NeEli-
Eence md HIlsconluct---Thc License
of the Engineer lkcvolkcd-"- Suit
ARnfnst tho owners Recon- IN ended.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 1.-Tho otlicial report of
tho Wawasset investigation WAS mado public to-
day. Tho Inspectors Htato tlat tho Wawasset
was considered acaworthy in oil respects. and
allowed to carry thirty cabin aud twenty dook
The statement of tho officers that thoy did
all that was possible under tho circumstances
to Bavo tho lives of tho paasonEers." He
forring to the testimony of Capt. Wood, they
Ye 9g q II tha tha oost IT e pe
Of tho lives Of his passengers, most Of whom
woro helpless women and chltdren;' and cito his
own testimony in support Of THIS opinion. At
tontion is called to the fact that tho eSidence
given ut the investigation by tho ol1icors and
crow comedies in all particulars. TIL assert
that there was no time to do moro thau wLatwas
douo no opportunity to save lfo; that overy
man was employed in tho bost manor where
ever be happened to be on hand tint eoats. 'i
R!hSoAA Rrho Won't e.S' os5f oyertoard, '"A and lose
was was laid, but tho water could
not be applied. This testimony, say tho Com
mission, is seriously contradictod by some pms
sengers Of more intelligence, pcrhaps, aud c9oIor
observation. Tho fire is supposed to hayc orig
mated In tho fireman's room. near tho baok coll
nection Of tho boiler, and the Inspectors, there-
foro, ahould require all bulkhoads, boiler
hatches. aud other woodwork, noar OF around
tho boilers Of all steam vessels, to bo covered
with motal, leaving sufficient space for tho mir
to circulato between Buoh metal covering and
tho woodwork, us n presontlve against future
disasters to stoamers by fire. , The Com
was acting without q lconso that 10
Ind no organization or discipline whatever in
the fire department on board his vessel no
officer WAS specially designated to talso charge
Of the bouts, hfo-proservers, and pumpa; no
printed INSTRUCTIONS Wo19 M posted up
lifo-aaying appliances, and that tho womon and
children were deserted in tho hour Of thoir dfrcBt
extremity. If hose had boon attached to
either OF tho pumps and ono or both OF tto1n
had boon promptly used In connection with tho
hro-o1tinguiuher md stoam emothoring..pip
the Inter OF which WAS under tho entire chargo
Of tho engineer, wo firmly believe tho fro
must have Boon put out and tho dreadful calam-
ity arertod. Tho negligence anu misconduct OF
tic Chief Engineer, prior to tho burning Of tho
steamer, as VOL as his unofllcer-liko conduct
after, deBorves the sovoroBt condemnation and
tho highest penalty prescribed by law. There
foro, tho revocation OF tho license Of Robert
NASH. as engineer on steanl-veBsols within tho
TO guard against similar dsaatora in fu-
turo, tho Inspectors Of steamboata arc
| recommended to visit yosYelB from timo
| to time, and ASCERTAIN from thor observation
| tho condition Of the organization and apparatus
for e1tinguiahing fire aud saving life. Az tho
| standard required by the law no derellctlon of
duty can bo charged againBt tho Inspector. It
III recommended, however, that tho Potomac
Forry Company bo vigorously prosecuted for
| Wood md Ills mate, Robert v; Gravott, for act
| iug in such capacitIes without liconBo"
| tho report las been roforrcd to the Solicitor
Gonoral for his action.