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-EvIDEN OF TWO STEAMBOAT

INVESTIGATION AS TO THE CAUSE OF HER LOSS
CONTINUED EVIDENCE OF TWO STEAMBOAT
INSPECTORS.
In the investig cation Of IN which led to the
loss the steamer Metropolis two steamboat in.
spec,ors were examined yesterday morning before
Messrs Jayne and Mathews, United States local IN
spec,ors of vessels tor the port Of New York.
Captain Ankers, OF the Metropolis, who wus expected
TO make his deposition, Is sick with pneumonia and
cannot leave his residence Mr.. Lunt reported HIM
being seriously ILL., Tho inspectors will wait for
few days, and II he should then be In condition
to appear they Intend 10 take his evidence at mis-
house, The following are 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 IN Two and .he ends drawn apart
for a Of some fifty feet and built ~ new be-
tween the ends, the wor being carried iorward
anu aft ON the old make II the II the ship
had been originally built that length; there was
plankng taken of from the outside; the whole
length and the ceiling taken from the IN
side in order to ascertain II everything
was perfectly sound; lew detects had been found
and removed, and new timbers and planAing subst-
tuted; In addition to this extra kees aud timDers
had been put IN. ana witness thought ten pieces OF
diagonal iron straps on each side when this work was
completed he considered the vessel good
as when new and perfectly seaworthy In every re-
spect; he had no personal knowledge OF any repairs
having been made since; knew that repairs had
been made, but not under his inspection since That
period.
INSPECTOR wHELLER's DEPOSITION
Mr. X. w. Wheeler, Inspector, Atlantic Insurance
opened forward IN 1875 and found somewhat de-
fective; plank was stripped oil each bow Tor dis
lance ol about thirteen feet the port and ten feet
on the starboard Sides running alt TO where the new
work put IN when she heightened in 1871;
all defective timbers nad been replaced by new ones
additional tmbers were placed between many
OF tue frames; tho vessel was opened att and
some singh! defects were found, but not
panks; some short pieces Of timber put in aft
and opened IN other places wherever REQUIRED
by witness and other inspectors and tonnd sound
she had partly new stem ut the same time; she
reiastencd and all the tree mailing done which
thought necessary; she was recalKed and yellow
metaled; the dock in January, 1878;
Strapped, calked and painted; put in new shalt;
IN 1910 sne nao some new oeaus, some knees ana
straps, but witness could not recolleot how many;
in January, 1878, he looked ut her US a seaworthy
vessel Tor the voyage 10 Brazil
He has been an Inspector Tor the Atlantic lnsur
ance Company Tor i've years.
FURTHER EVIDENCES TO SHOW THAT SHE WAS
RorTEN-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 10 that already obtained prov
WHAT TIE CARPENTER SAID.
James D. Moclare, coal passer, testified to
incident Of much interest. He said:-
About seven or eight O'Clock Wednesday evening /
beard that there was water in the hold; the
chief and assistant engineer INTO the shalt
alley, and that there was some excitement;
asked what was the matter and OF the engineers
answered that their five feet oil in the hold;
went up TO the top grating and the carpenter Mr..
johnson, coming through from the port side; l
asked him what was tho matter; he excited and
said, al knew would come 10 this; knew It; told
the captain she was rotten ut the stern, ana
fool 10 come In herr" no excited was almost
crying; he told that he had told the captain that
she rotten the stern before she sailed and that
the captain had cautioned him to say nothing about It.
q. Did you any Of tho ships tmbers OH the
beach alter you got ashorep A. Yes, Sir and it
very rotten; on the passage from Norfolk to New
York, on board the Wyanoke, 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 It.
THE QUARrERxAsTER's EvIpEXcK
The testimony oil James Poland, the quarternastsr,
whose state ent was gwen Saturdays HERALD, re-
peaed OF the important evidence therein gwen
According TO declarations the captain strangely
out OF his reckoning, ami when tie ship ran ON the
Curfituck Beach the captain supposed he max ing
sale harbor within tho breakwaler AZ Cape henry.
Poland testified on TINS point US iollows:-
Al Two O'Clock the captain gave orders TO hard
apot to helm aud steer west by south Tor The Capes
as Understood him at the lime he were
ninety mos on from Capc Henry In the directton he
ordered me 10 steer; at quarter 10 three
the second officer, 81 think We in shallow watcr;
he said, son no; we are long way Oh yot from the
shore;" the chief officer came and spoke to the
Ond officer ana the second officer maze the remark
that he dl not like the breaking short,
ing that probably in shoai water; tho chef
replied that he thought We were ia deep
water; lat any rate We will take
cast VI the lead;" the captain came up
from his room and looked cut Of the window OF the
wheelhoase, and IN about fifteen minutes the chiof
OF water the captain was surprised; he then hauled
her head to northeast, and she did not make moro
headway than one mile an nour; ut about hslfpaa
Two had discovered u light bearing little on the
starborau bow, aud reported " 10 the second officer;
he sent man to tell the captain; the captain
into the wheelhouse and the second officer asked him
II he saw the lighl he took his glasses sad he
thought II was green light
MORE ABOUT THE
z. Did you ASCERTAIN the cause OF the leak4 A.
asked, and was told by the Captain and
that the leak was around The storm post, that
quite rotten and the pumps would not work.
Y. Do you think the snip was ovcrloadedp A. ! do
years
q. DO you think everything possible was done by
the officers 10 save the snip and passengers Yes
sir.
z. Do you consider that this was q violent gale Of
windr A. NO, SIR; II WAS moderate gale.
a. How Ola tue pieces oil timer that came ashore
lookY A. Very bad; some OF 1t was new, but some
from tho alter part oil The ship was completely rotten
FOUR MORE BODIES IDENTIFIED.
WASHINGTON, Feb. H. 1873