The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-05-24
THE CHESTER DISASTER.
OFFICIAL INVESTIGATION ny TIE CORONER
WE'RE THE MIN PROPERLY WARNED?

OFFICIAL INVESTIGATION ny TIE CORONER
WERE THE MIN PROPERLY WARNED?
CHESTER, Pa May 80 1877.
The Official inquiry began this morning before Coro.
Marshall into he OF and the responsibility for
the terrible disaster Of yesterday 1t Roachs shipyard,
by which seven men were killed in horrible manner
and many others narrowly escaped instant death, at
the launching OF the iron steamship Saratoga. The
testimony before the Coroner showed that while all the
usual precautions were taken to prevent accident the
question: Did all the WORKINGS hear the warning signal
OF danger:' ye, remains unanswered, with pre-.
sumption in favor OF the belief that they did not II
appears that within twenty-five feet OF where tho
Saratoga lay a hundred workmen were engaged In
rveiing the iron plates upon another iron ship the
ways. and that The dcafsnlng no,ss they made mus,
certainly have drowned the voice OF the foreman, Mr.
Fountain. when he called out for the carpenters 10
from under the SHIP he gave the word 10
cut the tie IL is customary at this yard suspend
work during launch, but yesterday ths rule was not
observed unfortunately, the WORK being behindhand
cor sequeutly the orfor 20 out from under tho
bottom OF the Saratoga not heard by all hands,
there .e 10 ear owing TO The din confused
noises al the various shops in the yard Ii also
out the testimony that Nj. Fountain Obliged 10
ave the order 10 cut the tie when he found hat the
ship had started otherwise everything would have boen
carried AWAY and the toss OF lie much greater than
was. Tho interval Of time that ELAPSED between Mr.
Fountain order to stand from undcr and launch
was but three-quarters oil a minute In that interval
como nity men had 10 make their escape from under
tho hulk o, the Saratoga to avoid bong crushed 10
DEATH
The following is the most important testimony thus
far taken.
pha, said this is on accident liable occur any
time; consider Mr. Fountain . reliable In every
sense, and had tho vessel been held instead OF cut
loose many more lives would have neon lost; the
sci was CON mcncng 10 loan over
John Farren. ship carpenter, testified that the ways
were laid properly was att when the men
killed Jumped out and saved myself but did not
hear she word given there was sevencighths OF
they were launched Jumped around Tie corner OF
the packing aud escaped when tho danger; all
precautions were TAKEN
tell tales: she strained tnrce-cighths OF al inch and
l called Mr. Fountains attention to It and she wac
strainng Immediately one hai-nch then Fountain
gavc the order 10 cut her off; do not know whether
Mr. Fountain had given the order 10 get OF tho way,
for was attending 10 my own business; have been
years, and this is the first accident that has
occurred.
Ed Burden--I a,n ship carpenter: the order was
given to cut away; shouted out stand cioar ard Il
took us a minute 10 saw her off, and could run the
length OF the ship IN that time; the shoe that
was three inches thick by sixteen inches; the cham
dragged everything down with her. did not hear Dir.
Fountain give the order.
samuel Harklns, sworn II am ship carpenter;
cut starboard plank; did not hear the order TO
get out; not under; heard ray sect out !"
had NO idea OF danger; there Is danger forward;
did not hear John Gay say stand clear"
Alexander Fountain, sworn:--l am q shpwright Of
forty years experience, and helped launch many
sells; tho Saratoga was we'll blocked when
started; forward heard the signal, 'tiet OF
the way, - from my and gave II myself; they had
plenty Of time 10 get out there might have been ~
iecn minutes; there were ten anyhow. time enough TO
20 twice tho length oil the sup was close alt aud
thought the men heard me, but | could not
whether they got out; went forward; no matter what
there strain put on the hydraulic before saving
away; alter my son gave the word walked to the
bow.
raR OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES STATEMENT.
Dir. J, Fountain, lhe superintendent, WAS sworn. He
said Al The time tho vsssc was cut Away there
not more than ntteen blocks under the vessel; went
forward to get under the vessel TO watch her the
ment got on The Stage John Gay told me tho ship
gong; looked at the tell-tae and found she had
gone fye.eignths OF nm inch asked Gay II she had
gwen that much, supposing the tell-ialo might have
been disturbed; he sald 'Yes, she had - thcn said
my my head round inside the way and called out. Get
out everybody | then gave Tho order to cut !;
going down the ways alter she was cut of she caught
the blocking with the cham and wrapping and dragged
the blocks att and In drawing the fore and ait pieces
caught the men aud killed them; the Same bolts and
sau.c number used to hold tho Saratoga as tho
Toxic, rekng, lIiantonomoh and other largo vessels
the fore and ATT blocking the damage
the blocks were MI ont when the nea were Killed; the
dead weight OF tho City OF Picking about 500
ana Of Saratoga about $50 every precaution
taken In the launch Of the Peking taken in she
Saratoga; the number OF bolts were tho same and at
the stem the Saratoga had substantial blocking
he the yard early, At SIX O'Clock, aud had the
alter blocking takon out before the tide came up also
ordered the outside Snoring TO be taken down.
TnE WARNING HEARD.
William Cruthers sworn-Assisted At nearly all the
launches that have been made in The yard heard tho
oruer gwen BY Mr. j. Fountain ne was under tho bow
near mrdships, when he heard the order to get out
the oiher men had time to get OUT the ship had com.
menccd TO move and the blocks had commenced to
cant witness got away; he was on the port side
the bolt by which the shoe was held had washers there
in as favorable position for getting out az witness
George Nobbils testified With another man be was
pushing down one Of she blocks under the keel when
the 10 got away was hoard they drove out to-
ward the starboard side; at that moment heard an
ORDER .'Gct out the ship is moving" he jumped out
OF tho way; Nobbits said that he assisted at all
innnches that had been made since he camo into the
yard; ut the launch Of the City OF Picking, winch was
much larger vessel, there were the same number OF
holds the Shore about midships when no heard
tho order given TO get ont from under the ship; he
could ottcll who gave the order; lie was so badly
frightened, and could not tell how long time elapsed
from the time The order was given until the vessel
went down.
VERY CAREFUL SUPERINTENDENT.
l.. IL Borlc, the general superintendent OF all the
works for forty yeRrs--Had assisted hundreds OF
launches OF vessels from 4 900 TO 100 tons;
better fitted YARD for setting up vessels, and con-
sidered Fountain very careful man the general ar.
rapgemonts made IN the best manner IL was not
uncommon thing to bo caught under vessel benz
launched, and had been so himself twenty or thirty
times; at lowest point there is four feet eight
inches clearance between tue bottom Of inc vessel and
the bottom Of the ways; Mr. Fountain has tccn accus
toned place the shores twice thick abso
urcly required TO add TO security
The inquest is to be resumed this evening.
EVENING SESSION.
The only witness xamned al the evening session of
tho Coroncr's jury was John T. Ives, who testified
worry briefly. in corroboration OF previous witncssee,
TO having hoard Mr. Fountain give the word TO
"Comc out from underN Witness was not underneath
the vessel but about going under the Ways her
stern when he heard the order OF Mr.. Fountain and
away
There was no further testimony and the Jury. after
dclibcrating, agreed TO adjourn until Friday evening
when they will deliver their verdict