The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-11-16
THE STEAMER CITY OF WACO.
OIL ON BOARD THE ILL-FATED vEssEL-THE
UNITED STATES INSPECTORS OF STEAMBOATS,


OIL ON BOARD THE ILL-FATED vEssEL-THE
UNITED STATES INSPECTORS OF STEAMBOATS,
MAKE AN INVESTIGATION.
brief investigation was had yesterday ut the Office
OF the United States Steamboat Inspectors No % Pine
street The inquiry had for its object that Of asccr-
tanning If any nlainmabe cargo had been shipped on
the steamer City of Waco. Inspectors Simonson and
Matthews were the local authorities before whom the
examination Of witnesses was conducted. The test-
mony is to be submitted to Mr.. Addison Low, Super
vising Inspector who absent in Albany yesterday
but Is expected home to-day.
Stevedorc Holmes, being sworn, said II engaged
slowing away the cargo OF the City OF Waco when she
last went from New York. there was refined pc
troeum put up in tin and packed in boxes was
not positive to the number, but judged that there
must have been about 300 cases could not state how
they were marked; only knew that was kerosene oil
il was slowed forward the upper part OF the deck
there that the captain said he would ship
to the extreme end to trim the Ship took portion
Of this oil in the morning. and every bit OF that
slowed forward abaft the windlass the maindeck
less than half Of it remained deck until tho ship
was loaded when the captain said he would put it aft
trim the ship; this oil at least 100 feet away
from eny fire; the oil all slowed away properly
before the ship went to sea; the witness knew OF
other cargo Of an inlammabe nature that went
board that vessel; none of this oil was slowed below
the main deck; there was not barrel of kerosene
board of that ship.
FOREMAN RATHFoRD's TESTIMONY
The second and last witness examined was Thomas
Rathford foreman for the stevedorc loading the Waco
Rathfords deposition taken and recorded by an
officer in the Steamboat Inspectors Office and as the
document IS in itself model II Is given intact and
without comment. Here II Isl
There refined petroleum shipped on this steamer IL
either kerosene refined petroleum. cannot tell
how marxed do look the put up
In cans, covered with wooden boxes this
Hbait the windlass, the forward main deck
slowed there the balance slowed an main deck by
the captain this all slowed In its respective place
10 the ship sailing that evening" cannot tell how
Judgment 25n there oil in barrels taken
board In this know OF other freight OF ntam
able character board this oil slowed loo
feet re there slowed between decks or
below this ali slowed deck. forward and att had
the gang who slowed the cases and ANY:
thing of dangerous slowed below would have
known ~ AL this OIL slowed at and forward there was
the gnnways; this slowed against the rail and
IA such az could not st; nave been IN this
business twenty years
THE PENALTY
The penalty which infringement OF the law
carries with ii Is une Of less than ST. 900 moro
than $40 900; one half to the lniormeL
Every captain, engineer, pilot, other person
employed on any steamboat vessel, by whose MS
conduct negligence, or rnatteniion 10 his duties on
snch vessel the life Of any person Il destroyed, and
every owner Inspector other pubic oihccr through
whose fraud connivance, misconduct, or violation or
law the life Of any person Is destroyed, snail be
deemed guilty Of manslaugher, and, upon conviction
thereof before any circuit of the United States,
shall be sentenced coninement al hard labor for
period OF not more than ten years