The New York herald., 1875-12-10
STEAMBOAT INVESTIGATIONS.

DECISION OF THE LOCAL INSPECTORS IN THE
CASE OF THE D. Il. MARTIN AND W. A. HEN
NEssY-ITs PILOT cENsURED.
Decisions we're rendered yesterday by tho local
United States inspectors Of steam vessels Supervising
Inspector Low the burning OF the D. r. Martin and
W. A. Hennessy. How the nres occurred is still
mystery
After rccitng tho circumstances OF the burning,
heretofore published, the inspectors say -
II appears from the evidence that the kitchen was
located below the port side and alongside the stairs
we'll and securely protected from re and heat and
that there was nothing OF an nhammaoe nature tn the
kitchen or in that part OF the vessel-ols and stores
being kept IN a storeroom forward
Isaac d. Henderson, the cook testified that dinner
is served at twelve NJ the next meal az SIX O'Clock
NJ the preparation for which commences at four y.
N. that after dinner he banked tho IRE aud opened
the covers Of the little that the re would
not burn up; this always his habit, aud he
s,dered il perfectly safe there nothing the
but a kettle OF water when he went 70 lay down be-
tween and two O'Clock, nor was there any light
None Of me witnesses assign any cause for the
ORIGIN og rHE FIRE.
IL Is therefore impossible to to conclusion
ii appears that everything was done BY the officers
and that could be done under the circumstances
tho vessel and the lives Of those on board The
steamer is SO much damaged chat she Is not worth
repairing The report IS signed by J. Simonson aud
John X. Mathews the inspectors.
TIE W. A. HENNEssY
In the Of the burning OF the steamtug w. A.
Henuessy, on Long Branch on the evening OF Novem-
Der H. the inspectors say lit appears from the ev-
that the tug went out to looking for a tow
but falling 70 flnd Que she headed for sandy Hook
She then tive miles oil shore and "A little to tho
southward Of Long Branch soon alter the boats
head was put TO the northward nre discovered
breaking through the bulkhead, between the after
part OF the engine room and the cabin. The steam
pump and fire buckets were promptly got 10 work bat
the ire increased so rapidly that the deemed
IL necessary TO order the boat be headed Tor the
beach, which was done. Master and crew fought the
Gre until the vessel grounded the beach, when they
were driven or by the flames and succeeded ia
with great difficulty. Meme OF the witnesses could in
my way account Tor the IRE. There does not appear
that there anything OF a combustibe character
that part Of the vessel There were no lives lost
persons injured The vessel, which was a total loss,
was valued at $l5, 900,
THE NoRrHFIELD TWILIGHT COLLISION
The decision OF Addison Low Supervising Inspector
OF steam vessels OF this adistrict has nnaliy been
rendered In the case growing out of the collision be-
tween the staten Island erryboat Northueld and tho
Long Branch boat Twilight Ia u he says that tho
local inspectors Of steamboats, should have suspended
the license OF Charles H. Kohcr Jr tho pilot OF tho
Northield Tor nfracon Of the pilot rules. He severely
the koher Nc declares further that the
Twilight had the right Of way, she having been ia
situation 5 shown on the pilot diagrams which all
steamers have their uilo. houses