The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-07-25
THE WRECKED MOHAWK.
THE CORoNER's NQUEsT-ACQU1TTAL OF
THE CAPTAIN-TEsTDroEY OF THE EVIL
HEARTED QUARTERAfAsTER-ADD
/. AL DETAILS OF THE DISASTER.
lFrom Sundays Herald.l

uEAhIED Observation-Disclosures
AL DETAILS OF THE DISASTER.
(From Sundays Herald.l
Staten Island was in mourning yesterday
The flags on the public buildings and on
most Of the private dwellings were at half
mast. The inquest on the bodies was begun
at half-past 8 in the morning. 1t was held
in the village hall, which was crowded to
sufocation long before the hour fixed for
the opening OF the tcourt," as the villagers
had it. Everybody wanted to hear what
" Rowland, the captain Of the yacht, had to
say; and the great majority OF the men,
mostly sailors, who crowded into the room,
Judging from the way they talked, were very
much preiudiced against the unfortunate
man. He was brought into the courtroom in
charge OF sergeant of police some time be-
fore the general crowd was admitted, and
was of course the observed of all observers.
He looked calm and collected, apparently
looking upon the inquest as a mere formali-
ty in which he was in no way concerned.
However, when Fergessen went on the
stand and testified against him, his demean-
or changed considerably. He listened at
tentively to every word uttered by the
sailor, the color coming and disappearing
on his face like one in q fever. At times,
when the testimony was damaging to him,
his ewes flashed, and he moved his hands
about restlessly. Had he depended for his
safety upon his own men he would have
Jared very badly.
TIDE OF PUBLIC SENTIMENT.
1t was evident from the moment that the
inquest was begun that the tide Of public
sentiment was against him, and the opinion
of nine people out Of ten before the hall
was opened was that he would be convicted
of criminal negligence by the jury before
leaving their seats. But the fates ordained
otherwise, for Colonel Crosby's voluntary
testimony proved his salvation. The Colo
mel had not been subp9naed as q witness,
but he was so outraged by the testimony
OF Fergessen, the quartermaster, who evil
IDENTIFY was ill-disposed toward the Captain,
that he could not refrain from speaking a
word in his favor. After the last witness
had been examined the Colonel got up
| and said that he desired to make q
statement. The Coroner told him that
he could say what he desired, pro-
yided what he wanted to say referred to the
subject matter of the inquest. When the
Colonel stood up dead silence came over
the courtroom. Almost everybody ex-
pected to hear denunciation Of Rowland ;
but they were disappointed. Coolly and
calmly he told OF what he knew about the
Captains actions on the yacht, and so elo-
quently did he plead his cause as against
the charges Of Fergessen that the audience
applaudcd him right heartily-the same
audience, by the way, which was ready to
hang the unfortunate fellow to the nearest
lamp-post the night before.
LIAR OF THE FIRST WATER.
Colonel Crosby evidently believed Fer.
gessen to be q liar OF the first water, al
though he did not say SO, and, acting appa'
rently in this belief, he pleaded so well for
Rowland, even while stating that he be.
! lreved him to have been negligent, but not
criminally so, that the audience gave him a
hearty round of applause. Rowland, who
had appeared up to this time as stolid and
Unconditional as q rock, completely broke
down, and as Colonel Crosby, in ringing
tones. declared that he did not think that the
reputation OF a good seaman Of twenty-seven
. Years standing should be tarnished by
the malice OF subordinate, he bowed his
head and burst into tears. The Colonel
while giving his statement was asked II the
!, interview with him published in the Herald
Yesterday clearly represented his views and
knowledge of the disaster Oh the Mohawk.
J The question seemed to nettle him, as
though he felt that the Coroner, who put 1t,
, doubted his word. Striding up to the plat
, form, a little way from where he was seated,
he said, upraising his hands as he uttered
, the words, ''Afy statement in the Herald to-
!. doy is true, so help me God!" The state
mcnt as published in the Herald was then
read, at the request of the Coroner.
, THE STRUGGLE IN THE CABIN.
, It evidently made a strong impression
5 upon the audience, and while that portion
was being read which described the strug-
gle for life in the cabin q silence OF death
} reigned in the courtroom, every one belne
+ anxious to hear every word that told OF the
way that Mr.. Garner lost his life in the
+ noble effort to save his wife. When the
: Colonel had resumed his seat it was evident
that he had won the day for Rowland, and
, his acquittal, which soon followed, was
foregone conclusion.
When the jury brought in their verdict,
: giving him his freedom, Rowland walked
[ over to Colonel Crosby to shake hands with
him; but it is said that the Colonel refused
, to take the protlered hand, saying, GAL
though do not think you were criminally
negligent, do believe you were Negligent
. There was no excitement when the inquest
, was ended, and Rowland walked out into
the street without any one, even Of those
who were anxious to hang him on Thursday
night, uttering word against him. The
moment he was acquitted Mr.. Pendleton, q
friend Of Mr.. Garner's, relnstated him as
, captain OF the Mohawk. Rowland's first
, act was to dismiss Fergessen, who had testl-
fled against him.
, THE VERDICT.
The Jury remained out for nearly an hour.
Meanwhile the Captain remained cool and
!. unconcerned and chatted pleasantly with
!, the reporters, laughing at the absurd ru-
mors started in the papers about his insan.
ity, and expressing his belief that the jury
would not censure him. at last there was
, shufiling Of feet ut the door, when the
: Jury came in and rendered the following
verdict
We find that the said William T. Garner
came to his death by drowning in the yacht
, Mohawk on the Goth day of July in cour-
ageous attempt to rescue his wife, who was
unable to move, being held fast in the cabin
by the furniture, which had been thrown to
Iceward, and by the ballast, which had
broken out through the flooring. The jury
further say that the evidence shows that,
with the approaching squall, it was not pru-
dent to get the yacht under way, particu-
larly with topsails set, and that had the fur-
niture of the cabin been fastened and the
ballast under the cabin-fioor been secured
the lives of Mr.. and Mrs. Garner and Miss
Hunter would probably have been saved.
The jury further say that there Is no eVl.