Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1873-08-16
THE WAWAssETT HORROR.
The Examination Into The CaHse Of the
Disaster Begun at Washington
City-SHmmary Of Tes-
tim0By.

WASHINGTON, August I5.--An exam
ination into the Wawassett disaster was
commenced to-day at the treasury de-
Iartment before George w. Taylor, act
ing Inspector-general Of teamboats,
William Rose, inspector Of hulls, at Sa-
vannah, Georgia, and john L. Edgar
| inspector of boilers, at Norfolk. The
main matters of inquiry were
First-Equfpnent Of the steamer.
Second--0rigin Of thsfire.
Third-Conduet Of the licensed Off
GERS both prior and subsequent to the
alarm being given
The witnesses examined to-day
were James ID. LoWery, inspector Of
bulls, and William o. SaBile. Inspector
Of boilers, at Baltimore. Whe made the
last inspection, and from whose testimo-
ny it appeared that the steamer was
thoroughly inspected in March last, and
everything which the law requires was
found there. without a single exception.
Captain Wood, Of the Wawassett. at
the time of the alarm Of IRE said he
called to the passengers to keep cool, as
he did not see any reason for excite
ment. He thought there would be time
to put out the fire, but in less time than
he could now relate the facts, the flame
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 after the fire was dis
covered. What he did on that occasion
be would repeat under future similar cir
cumstanees. He thought the fire
originated in the freman's room. No
doubt the fire had been burning for some
time before the door was opened, which
Il r., II. a..
was driven from the room in an instant.
The mate and clerk generally have
charge Of passengers and freight, but at
the time of the fire We're trying to save
the passengers. Nobody was specially
attending to the boats and life-preserv-
eTs at the time of the fire. There were
between four hundred and five hundred
e-preservers, only two of which were
known to have been used, and not a
soul would have been lost if the engines
had not suddenly stopped
Robert Nash, the engineer of the boat,
was next examined. The tilIers were Of
chains and rods, and part of rope for ten
feet on each side Of the wheel; had
always found the firemen attentive to
business; the steamer was as well
equipped as any boat could be: nothing
to cause the fire; all that it was possible
to do was done to save the passengers;
the flames appeared so suddenly and the
boat was so soon on fire that no one had
time 60 think.
Mr. Saville was recalled and said that
he had known Nash four years; he was
strictly sober, and competent engineer;
he was always found at his post, and his
character was good
The clerk, mate and engineer, a num-
Der Of the crew and several passengers
were examined, but nothing new was
ELECTED. The testimOney was to the
effect that there was ne chance for those
aft to reach the forward part Of the
boat. None could tell or even coniec-
ture the origin Of the fire. The conduct
of the officers was good throughout.
Great care had always been taken to
prevent fires; the orders in this respect
were strict; pumps and hose were al
ways in good order.
The commission adjourned until TO-
morrow morning.