The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-05-06
THE INVESTIGATION
Of the Late Steamboat Disaster.


The investigation into the cause of the
late steamboat disaster, which occurred on
the 23d of last month, was resumed yester-
day before Local Inspectors Flanders and
A1offett. But one witness was examined, who
gave the following testimony:
Robert Singleton-I am stevedore by occu.
patton end a steamboatman by profession.
Witnessed the fire, on the 23d ult.. on the
steamers Charles Bodmann, John Kyle and
Exporter, being engaged in unloading the
steamer Charles Bodmann; was standing on
the forecastle of the Charles Bodmann at
about o'clock in the afternoon, when the
alarm Of fire was given from the John Kyle,
lying next below us; said to the mate that we
had better get away from there-that is the
boat.
| 1 then assisted him in letting the lines of
the Bodmann go, and also in showing the
stage on the wharf. Then went to the star
board side of the boat with several others to
push her away from the Kyle. Finding that
both boats were drifting together and the
flames increasing on the Kyle, went over to
some ladies coming downstairs, thinking it
dangerous for them to jump off, then, l
spoke to some gentlemen who seemed to have
them in charge, asked them to come back
amidships, that I could get them off on the
Exporter. When we got there the boats had
separated.
We then went to the port wheslhouse of
the Bodmann; found three men endeavoring
to put out plank to the Exporter, whom l
assisted. Just as we got a plank out, tug,
which l supposed to be the Tyler, landed
<Io md
knocked the plank into the river. called to
her (the tug that there were ladies on our
boat, and asked him to take them of, but l
do not know whether he heard me or not.
She then went away, and I do not know
whether he heard me or not. She then went
away. and do MOI know what became of her
afterwards.
| l said to the gentleman in charge of the
ladies that if could find the boats yawl we
would get into it. went in search of the
yawl and they went back on to the stern of
the boat, and found the tugboat Dime on
the starboard quarter of the boat considerably
listed We did not have ready access to the
tug. went to the after part of the rail, got
round on the block on the outside and got
aboard of the tug.
Some one called out at this time that the
tug was sinking. l said that the boat had
just left was burning. and it being of no use
to go to her we would try and get the tug
out. The only cause that could see for the
Dimes listing, was the Bodmann drifting
down on top of her. I do not know what
caused her to list. l inquired where the
Engineer was, and why she was not backed
away from there. I then called for men to
assist me in showing her out from under the
guards of the Bodmann, and try to get the tug
on the other side of the Bodmann, to rescue
the ladies.
BY this time the flames from the Kyle were
scorching the Dime. She was then backed
away from the Bodmann. After We had
backed away, the man at the wheel said to
me: "Shipmate, my rudder IS foul" raa
back to the stern and found the trouble to be |
some of the people standing en- the tiller-
chains, and reported all clear after driving |
the people OH. asked him to go to the stern |
OF the Bodmann and take the ladies off, to !
which he replied: mo, I am going to get my |
captain"
waited for O minute or so and asked where
his captain was and he answered, ashore.
He then landed the boat, and about six or
seven others got off at the foot OF Girod street.
am satisfied that there we're not eighteen
persons on the tug when 1 was on her, and l
do not believe that there we're half that num-
Der. Under these circumstances l think
forty persons could be carried on this tug
with safety.
think, with proper management that the
tug could have gone around to the port stern
of the Bodmann and rescued the people, but
instead of that the tug went to the wharf, and
saw man come on board whom took to be
the captain, and the tug then showed off from
the levee aud started across towards the fire,
and paid no more attention to her. The
last saw of the burning steamers, the Kyle
was the lowermost, the Exporter the upper
most and the Bodmann the middle steamer.
At no time after leaving the levee did see
them differently placed. The Bodmann and
the Exporter after leaving the levee drifted
across the river, with their sterns pointed
nearly directly opposite. The wind at the
time of the fire was blowing very fresh from
the north and west After leaving the Bod
mann we went on the inside of both her and
the Exporter, to make the landing. About
ten minutes elapsed from the time of backing
away from the stern OF the Bodmann till we
were landed.
On passing the bows of the burning steam
ers I saw from twenty-five to thirty people in
the water, and passed some OF them within
distance of fifty feet about. Did not stop the
tug at all, but kept right on to the landing
I asked the man at the wheel if he was not
going to pick up the people and he replied
g No.; that he was going to get his captain.
The investigation will be renewed to-day.
BRAZIL DIRECT TRADE.