The New York herald., 1876-10-11
THE BURNED SHIP.
coRoSrns INQUEST IN THE CASES or rHz

coRoNEn's INQUEST IN THE CASES or TIE
VICTIMS OF rHR coNFLAGRArIoN.
Coroner Eickhon yesterday morning hold an inquest
in the eases OF Dennis sullivan James Casey, Thomas
Inaraham, George Gill; John Mcdonald and William
Furlong, who killed the bark Europa, at pier
43 East River during the her hold that occurred
last Saturday morning
The substance OF the testimony Ia as follows:-
Captain Nicholas Brinkama, OF the bark Europa, was
nrst called Hc said that the Europa was built In 1884,
he had been In command OF the vessel only about twelve
months but had been captain OF different oil ships for
some years previous; during tho last voyage the
Europa was damaged very much, the pumps being
worked all the to keep the water out OF her hold
she was consequently placed the dry dock last FRI
day morning, about eleven o'clock, for the necessary
repairs Mr. stcongrafe the contractor, with Captain
Harding OF the Bureau veritas and went into
tho hold Saturday TO examine the vessel she was
bored in several places to ascertain tho condition ofher
tmbers; during this operation the party used candles
to light their work; witness then went into his cabin
and remained shore; about eleven O'Clock smoke came
started winners unable TO state how the re
CURED.
sergeant Lonsdale OF the Seventh precinct station
house, was next called. He said that whom John
Casey brought into the station house he accused
himself OF having been the cause Of the fre crying
out In great agony :"hy God. am going TO die II
Is no more than right for me TO that have SET the
ship on frcl"
Captain samuel Harding, agent OF the Bureau veri
tas. on being asked about tho custom OF examining
the holds OF vessels, testified that usual 10 use
candles TO hight the place while tho work being
done; no thought that the confagratton
due to the explosion of the KEROSENE gases
that had collected in the hold; this
the hrsv accident that witness had WITH al
though he had examined many petroleum vessels be-
fore; the matches OF the Europa had been lett open
many hours before the nrs broke out, there was no
lot Of dred col grass had been used in the hold It is
necessary 10 use candies In making examination of
tho keclson witness In the cabin at the time the
nre broke out and noticed peculiar smell OF gas tho
facilities TOR escape In tho OF fire about the
same as usual; there a waterway put into
the vessel and II not planked; tho nre had evil
IDENTITY rushed through there; witness himself had had
= narrow escape as he was working with candle In
the hold at the time
Daniel Garvcy, master shpwright who was in
charge Of the repairs in the hold was next called 10
tho witness stand. He was the deck when the ire
broke out and heard some one ask for bucket OF
water he had heard noise just before that, similar 10
the explosion Of a kerosene lamp; witness ran up on
deck, barely escaping the famcs lngraiam followed
him up the main hatchway there 10 NO othcr way Of
examining the knees OF ship but oy using candle;
did not believe that Casey In that part of
the ship where the Are broke out but thought he
nearly fifty feot away Gill was near the tore hatch
and had plenty Of time TO escape; IN his opinion the
lire was due TO escaping petroleum gas
George Weichart testified that he was working near
Casey at the time: he and Mcdonald were sho port
side OF tho vessel; he and Furlong were at work
tho ships knee and heard the cry OF "Firei Run!
and called to Furlong TO rum saw Casey pull himself
terribly burned: he analy worked himself through 10
the deck witness made his escape through the hatch
way; about fifteen twenty men were at work In tho
hold on saturday and each one had candle 10 work
by: witness did not hear the noise OF any explosion
Eugene 0'Connsll a shlpwrght, OF No. % Gouver-
ncur street, next tesiiHed:-He was ut work on tho
Europa al the time OF tho ire and smoke coming
up from the dunnage He called for a bucket OF water,
but there near by Casey was hfty feet from
the place where tho nre broke out He could have
set hre to the ship and bis assertion that he did
mus: been caused by delirium from pain.
John Barrett was also working In the hold at the
time OF the 1re. IL was between ten and eleven
O'Clock. The fire burned very quickly As soon the
ness could not account for the lre. He had worked
for thirty years ship carpenter. He always used
candle, as lamp liable 10 upset Ho had never
met with any accident before.
Patrick Gainey testified that there was no one near
the spot whcnoe the smoke first issued
Thomas Connolly testified to nnding Sullivan q body.
Deputy Coroner Cushman's medical testimony
TO the effect that Sullivan and Casey had dod from
burns and the other four men from sunocaton.
After about an hours absence the jury returned
with the following verdict
'The jury convened 10 inquire into tho OF the
death Dennis sullivan ind that hc died from burns
caused by fire board tho bark Europa, lying on
the dry dock at tho loot OF Rutgers street, Saturday.
the 7th inst
ave are unable to judge from tho testimony the i'm
mediate Of the fire, but believe that cases.
with which the ire spread; and respectfully suggest
that in order to avoid recurrence OF this calamity,
the Board of Health should scientific nvestiga.
tion had to ascertain whether the gases from
ventilated; and that, pending such investigation
great care should be taken in the use OF lights In
petroleum vessels.
.we believe, from the testimony, that tho nrm hav.
ing charge OF the work on the vessel In no wise
blamable for the accident"