The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-03-21


MAJOR HOWELL
denied that part Of the testimony OF the wit
ness in which the latter states that tar rope
was used in 1876 for the seams. The major
will show, by his books to-day, that no such
article was bought for the repairs at the time.
The board adjourned till to-day at the same
time and place.
THE HOPE DISASTER.
Further Testimony Concerning the Cir
cams tanees of Her sinking.
Yesterday the supervisors M essrs Flanders
and Moffett, heN another session to hear fur
Their testimony relative to the loss of the tug
boat Hope.
CHARLES A. LAGROUE
testified have been en- ployed in sailing YES
sells as captain for the last ten years. Have
been On the Hope-the first steamboat ever
was on-for the past eight months as clerk,
and occasionally acted as assistant pilot. The
captain Of the Hope, who holds license as
master and pilot. tspeciaD, was always on
board, excepting on the occasion OF the col
lision and one or two other occasions.
The captain of the boat having some I'M
finished business to transact in town, re-
Of the Louisiana Ice Manufacturing Com
pahy' distance OF ABOUT three miles. Never
held n license TO act as master or pilot of
steam vessels, but have always been in the
pilot-house Of the boat when under way, The
Hope is OF 1858 tons burden. We were run
ming up to the ice-house before noted, and
about Julia street noticed first the Texas
coming up behind me, at which time both
boats were distant from the outer line Of the
shipping about fifty or sixty feet the Texas
being about 500 yards behind me- The TeSas
gained slowly until She overlook us at about about
low Jack son street. Previous to coming m
with US she blew two whistles. at which lime
she was about 100 yards astern of US. to
which | replied by two whistles. The Texas.
instead OF keeping out. kent pressing me In
towards the shipping until She struck the
Hope, at which time | was from twenty to
thirty feet from the outer line of the shin
ping The Texas had barge on each side
the starboard barge striking our boat on the
Was travelling parallel with the shipping at
the moment OF collision.
The moment the barge struck the Hone orr
boat was thrown around across the bow of
the barge or Texas, / do not know which /
but do not know whether she touched the
bow of the Texas or not. On getting across
the bow Ct the barge our boat careened over
to the starbOard, and filled and PARTIALLY
sunk stern foremost Seeing the Hone was
sinking jumped aboard Of the barge. As
jumped aboard of her / addressed some gen
tleman on the bow, whom I subsequently re-
cognized as the captain of the Texas. for as
telling MIN that there was a family
in the cabin of the Hone. and asking him to
assist us in saving their lives. if possible, NV
appeal was unanswered The fexas backed
down to her barge and made fast TO it, The
captain Of the Texas then asked if any of our
men wished to be put ashore. and on being
told that we did. he sent us ashore, |
While on the barge q dozen or more
Of the passengers of the Texas asked me if |
there were any passengers drowned on The
Hope. to which / answered in the ALTERNATIVES. |
When | addressed the captain of the Texas
he was on the hurricane roof of the Texas,
and not on the bow of the barge, as previous
ly stated. Never saw the captain Of the Texas
on the bow of the barge. Mr., bernard. one
Of the passengers on our boat, asked me if |
he could go on back on our boats stern and |
motion the Texas to keen off. and on INV
my permission he went back and 80 |
TnOtinnnd with his hand kerohief tn tho Tayae |
and called out to them. and Mr.. Mitchell also
Inotoned TO them to keep out with his hand |
kerchlef The weather was clear, and it was
before sunset l thought that the Texas
been done before by large boats | do not
think the Iexas ran into us on purpose. l
thought | called to the captain Of the Texas
loud to be heard by him, but do
not know, that he heard me. The Hope, at the
time OF the collision, was heading parallel
with the line OF the shipping, and she never
sheered until struck by the barge. Do not
think it would have been unsafe for the Texas
to have backed down alongside of the Hope
and taken hold of her. The yawl Of the Texas
went to the wreck, and returned without |
doing anything. having been called back /
10 Capt. ReeL-l think that II assistance had |
been promptly rendered as called for, the lives
OF the persons in the cabin OF the Hope could
have been saved. This is merely a suppose
ton; do not know it. The tug was on the
bow OF the barge when called for assistance
to Capt Rea. When | called to Capt. Rea he |
was standing on the hurricane roof Of the
Texas, on the starboard side, forward. II the
engines Of the Texas had been stopped when |
have careened and sunk as she was pushed |