National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-06-17
THE LAKE" DISASTER.
REPORT OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF II
COURT OF INQUIRY.

REPORT OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE
COURT OF INQUIRY.
The usual court Of inquiry assembled ct the
navy yard yesterday, and continued the investi-
cation relative TO the late collision.
The first witness called was Judge Henry
O'Oonnor solicitor Of the State Department, who
was sworn by the president Of the court and ex.
amined BY the judge advocate. He testified that
he was q passenger on board the Lady of the Lake
when the collision between that vessel and the
Gettysburg occurred on the Soth ult.; that he was
seated on the forward deck, on the forward star
board side, with his wife. The Lady Of the Lake
WAS ABOUT one yS ds =, t tSs rUrs S
the first whistles were blown. She was running
very fast at the time, and had been since she left
sbs 6s% second sSes yessss gsP
then not more than one hundred yards apart, and
the wheels Of the Gettysburg bad ceased to re-
she headed out, or towards the virginia shore,
but only for an instant, and then seemed to head
more nearly down the stream. Simultaneousl
Virginia shore, very perceptibly, and at the same
T S we're then about ATTY ysSds apart fSs
saw her until shout thirty secondS before they
came together, were stopped. When he first saw
the Gettysburg he noticed considersbls sonfusiSn
tide was ebbfng at the time. The witness ex-
pressed the opinion that the Lady Of the Lake
was TO plane 1or the collslon
Mr. Ridgery, bookseller By profession, who
yas also d passenger on board the Lady of the
Lake at the time Of the collision, was called. He
testified that he was standing near the middle of
the forward promenade deck; saw the Gettys-
burg steaming down the river, In q nautical term,
closely hugging the Maryland shore; the Lady OF
the Lake was close to the Virginia shore, and the
yards; the Gettysburg was IS degrees on the star
board bow. The pilot Of the Lady Of the Lake
blew two whistles, which were answered by the
Gettysburg. Immediately after the latter vessel
changed her course, as II intending to cross our
bow. The pilot Of the Lady Of the Lake re-
Seeing the position OF the Gettysburg did NOT
change, he blew three whistles, which Is signal
to stop, and rang four bells to reverse the engine
of his vessel, and she was backing. slowly when
the steamers collided. The wheels Of the Gettys-
burg were stopped when the three whistles were
blown, and she drifted towards the Lady Of the
Lake. Did not hear second signal from the
Gettysburg; If It was blown, should certainly
have heard It. The Lady Of the Lake was bead.
ing up the channel, with q tendency toward the
Virginia shore; the Gettysburg was heading
down the channel, at an angle Of IS degrees TO-
ward the Virginia shore; noticed slight change
of the latter to starboard when the hrst signal
was blown; saw no CONFUSION in the piiot.house Of
the Lady of the Lake; had some conversation
with few of the officers Of the Lady Of khe Lake
since the collision relative TO the position Of both
vessels at the time, during which general ex-.
change Of views took place; Travelled as passen-
ger up aud down the river, and considers himself
Captain Partridge was recalled, and testified
that the act Of Congress, approved February Is,
1871. relating 10 the movements of steam vessels,
governs the Lady Of the Lake in her course up
and down the river.