New-York tribune., 1873-04-07
THE GOVERNMENT INVESTIGATION.

THE GOVERNMENT INVESTIGATION.
cAPT WILLIAMS ON THE sIAND-THE SHIP SHORT OF
COAL AND PROYIsIoNs-FATAL NIscALCULATIoNs
AND FATAL NEGLIGENCE THE CALAMITY MIGHT
HAVE BEEN AVERTED"-EvDENCE OF CHIEF
OFFICER FIRTH. Ns
HALIFAX, April 5.-The inquiry ordered by
he Dominion Government into the Atlantic disaster
to-day in the Customhouse building, before the
Collector, L. NJ. Mcdonald Capt Mckenzie, ship mas
sr associate with Mr.. Mcdonald. The Hon. s. i.
shannon Q. c.. and H. Blanchard, Q-C.r appeared for
he Government and ~ Rtche, @ c., for the Captain.
Mr. Mcdonald, in opening the Court said the inquiry
10 be held under the Ssth chapterof the Dominion
acts OF 1859 and would have the force OF an English
Board of Trade inquiry He had not received the COM
mission for the court but he had received official tee
stating that II was its way and all concerned
would consent he would 90 at once and rely on the
commissions being received in good time
Mr.. Richie for the Captain, consented Mr. Blanch-
ard said that unless there full and unequivoca
consent he would object 70 going 1t might appear
when the commission was received that there wera
special instructions which would require them TO begin
again All consented, however and the Captain, James
A. Williams, called, sworn and read the following
statement part Of it beng copy of letter he has
written 10 the owners Of the Atlantic:
CAPT. wILLIAMs's TESTIMONY.
On the 2sth Of March the engineers report showed the
Goals getting very short we having experienced three
days Of very weather; the Goals board
Bls tons being l,l3O miles from Sandy Hooks the
speed came down from eight knots per hour and with
moderate strong breeze TO FIVE knots per hour hoping
that the wind would change fsyoraby Hept till the
sst when Goals reduced to i27 tons, and the
ship distant from Sandy Hook go miles, lat ss long.
o "a as the ship by this time making but
Knots per hour, the wind being at the southwest the
glass falling and westerly swell on thought the risk
toO great too keep as In the event Of westerly
coming up We might find ourselves shut out from all
OF supply; the chief steward also reported
short fresh provisions enough for the saloon
days and but salt provisions for steerage for two
days. all but the bread aud rice would be out.
Att p. m, after receiving the engineers report de-
cded 70 here 5anbrO Island being then north,
east distant ITO miles during the afternoon the wind
wac s. 6. W., with RAIN at p. m. the wind veered 70
vest and the SKY clear and starlight times
the by the polar star the steered
by the compass n. "a E. with easterly deviation,
which considered ample allowance for the westerly
and 10 lead miles east Of Sambro Island; left my
orders the bridge 70 l00k0uts, which word was
passed officers relieving at midnight the second
and fourth officers corrected the course the last time
1870 ~, when repeated my caution and ORDERS
then the chart and sat down an about 10
minutes Mr. Fisher came in to ask particulars
the ship, he writing 10 The Cosmopolitan
tuewspsper) he stayed about 20 minutes aud left
A SLEEPING CAPTAIN AND LOST SHIP.
dy intention was 10 until IN. then to heave
g. aud day; at midnight the ships run was Ia
mikes which would place her 4s miles south OF sambrO,
the sised by at 1920 being nine knots per hour the
night at this time cloudy and clear; at l2+o my
servant up with my cocoa when he was told not
o. awake me 0ntiI a H., when the second officer would
eIl me; the hrst Dtmation had Of anything the
1ip striking on Meaghers Rock. or Meagher's Island,
md remaining heeng slightly 10 port; the officers were
.lIv At their stations: accompanied by the quarter
scs; the first swept away all the port boats, and
az shiD heeling rapidly rendered the star
,rd loafs useess; every effort made 70 send the
ne forward outside the ship, but terror defeated all
nT efrs the second officer In the starDoard life
f. carr ed two ladies and placed them with him, and
tnrned Tor more before got as far as the saloon en-
,,,ce finding the ship going still further man
@ M et bod of the weather rail and get back 10 the
boat tOok the ladies ont and placed them m the
,a ,I0song went back and called " the second ofcer
=. , oYt ss tie Dost would roll over whi@ she dld