The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-02-12
THE METROPOLIS.


INVESTIGATION AS TO THE CAUSE OF HER LOSS
coNTINUED-EvIDENcE OF TWO STEAMBOAT
INSPECTORS.
In the investigat OF the which led 10 tho
loss OF the steamer Metropolis two steamboat in
specsors examined yesterday morning before
Messrz Jayne and Mathews, United States local
spectors Of vessels tor the port OF New York
Captain Ankers OF the Metropolis, who expected
to make his deposition, Is sick with pneumonia and
cannot leave his residence. Mr.. Lunt reported HIM
being seriously H. Tho inspectors will wait for
few days, and II he should not then be In condition
to appear they Intend 10 take his evidence ut his
house, The following the dispositions which were
taken yesterday
SURVEYOR MARTINS EVIDENCE.
Francis Martin, surveyor OF the New York Board Of
Underwriters, said that the Metropolis was taken on
the railway and cut Two and The ends drawn apart
for distance Of some fifty feet and built be-
tween the ends, the wor being carried iorward
aft on the old to mako IL the same II the ship
had been originally built that length; there
panking taken OIL from the outside; the whole
length and the ceiling taken from tho in
side in order 10 ascertain II everything
was perfectly sound; q lew defects had been found
and removed, and new timbers and plankIng suDsti-
tuted; In addition to this extra kees aud uers
had been put IN and witness thought ten pieces OF
diagonal IRON straps each side when this
completed he considered the vessel good ana sound
as when new, and perfectly seaworthy in every re-
spect; he had no personal knowledge OF any repairs
having been made since; he knew that repairs had
been made, but not under his Inspection since that
period.
INSPECTOR wHELLER's DEPOSITION
Mr.. r. W. Wheeler, Inspector, Atlantic Insurance
Company upon being sworn SAID that the Metropolis
wac opened forward IN 1873 and found somewhat de-
fectve; plank was stripped OIL each bow Tor Il DIS
lance OF about thirteen feet the port and ten feet
on the starboard sides, running alt to where the
Work was put IN wncn she WAS lenBtneneu III 1911;
all defective tmbcrs had been replaced BY now ones
additional umbers placed between many
of tue frames; tho vessel was opened att and
some slight delocts were found, but not
sufficient to cause the removal OF many
planks; some short pieces Of timber put aft
and she was opened In other places wherever required
by witness and other inspectors and fonnd sound;
she had partly new stem 1T the same time; she
was reastened aud all the tree mailing done which
thought necessary; she was recalked and yoI0w
Strapped, calked and painted; put In q new shaft
~ 1875 she hau some new beams, some knees
some Strengthening forward; she had some man
straps but witness could not rccolleot how many;
In January 1873, he looked at her Us seaw0rthy
vessel for the voyage 10 Brazil.
he has been an Inspector Tor the Atlantic IDsur
ance Company Tor i've years.
FURTHER EVIDENCES TO SHOW THAT SHE WAS
ROTTEN-wAs THE CAPTAIN SIXTY MILES
OUT OF HIS RECKONING?
PHILADELPHIA, Feb. IL, 1873
United States Steamboat Inspectors Mershow and
Hand examined Two important Witnesses today, aud
added there evidence TO that already obtained prov
ing the ship 10 have been both rotten and overloaded
WHAT THE CARPENTER SAID.
James D. Moclars, u coal passer testified to one
incident Of much interest. He said:-
About seven or eight O'Clock Wednesday evening /
beard that there wafer in the hold; l saw the
chief and assistant engineer run INTO the shaft
alley, and that there was some exc,ton,snt;
asked what the matter and OF the engineers
answered that their Eve feet oil hold;
went up to the top grating and the carpenter, Mr.
johnson, vas coming through from the port side; l
asked him what wac tho matter: he excited and
sad, 81 knew II would come TO this knew 1t; l told
the captain she rotten ut the stern, ana was q
fool 10 come In her" he excited he was almost
crying; he told me that he had told tho captain that
she rotten the before she sailed that
the captain had cautioned him say nothing It.
z. Did you see any Of tho ships timbers the
beach alter you got ashoreS A. Yes Sir, and 1t was
very rotten; on The passage from Norfolk to New
York, on board The Wyanoke, 1 heard the carpenter
say that the vessel WAS rotten and that no could
prove IT. but that II he had his tools replaced he
would say nothing about TT
THE QUARTERxAsTER's EVIDENCE
The testimony oil James Poand the quarterrnastsr,
whose state ment was gwen III Saturdays HERALD
pcaed some of the important evidence therein gwen
According to bis declarations the captain strangely
Cuiitucx Beach the captain supposed be was making
sale harDor within tho break water At Cape henry
Poland testified on this point as ioiiows:-
Al TWO o'clock the captain gave me orders to hard
apot to helm aud steer west by south Tor the Capes
as understood hun ut the lime he sand were
ninety mIos Vu from Capc Henry IN the direction
ordered me to steer; at quarter 10 three SAID 10
the second officer 81 think We are in shallow water"
he said, ''Oh no; we u long way Oh ye. from the
shore;" the chief officer came ana spoke to the sec
ond officer, and the second officer maze the remark
that he did not like the Sea breaking so Short
W. nhlhl lltnnI nf,.a
replied that be thought wo were IN deep
mater water, "a, ,nu any, any rate We WIN take
from his room and looked out OF the window OF the
wheelhonse, and IN about fifteen minutes the chivf
ocer came ana reported that VIC mad only ten fathoms
OF water the captain was surprised; he then hauled
her head 10 northeast, and she did not make moro
headway than one mile an nour; ut about hsEpAst
Two had discovered light bearing u little on tho
starborsd bow, aud reported the second oficsr
he sent man to tell the captain; tho captain camo
into the wheelhou the second officer asked him
II he saw the Light he took his glasses SAID he
thought IT was green light
MORE ABOUT THE LEAK
Y. Did you ascertain the cause OF the leak? A. |
asked, aud was told by the Captain and quurermaser
that tue leak was around the storm post, that was
quite rotten and the pumps would not work.
Y. Do you think the snip was overloadedP A. do.
O. How long have you boon sealnanY A. Eighteen
q. Do you think everything possible was done by
the officers TO save the ship and passengcrsf A. Yes
q. DO you consider that this was violent gale of
wiudf A. NO, slr; II WAS u moderate gale.
T. How did the pieces OF timber that came ash ore
lookY A. Very bad; some OF II was new, but some
from tho after part ol ihe snip was completely rotten
FOUR MORE BODIES IDENTIFIED.
WASHINGTON, Feb. IL, 1878
The crew oil No Lie Saving station buried YES.
erday two bodies, throe miles south the sta
lion, described as follows:-Dark complexion, black
HAIR sprihkled with gray, and partially bald
headed; medium height clean shaved, and sup.