National Republican., 1880-07-15
MRS. ROLLINS DEATH.
Evidence Brought Out Before the
CorOner's Jury.
Statements OF Excursionists and tho omcers
aud Employees of the Boat-was Il n
Moonlight Night 7-soine Conflict
ing Testimony - A Verdict
Censuring the wharf
owners and Captain.
The seventh-street wharf Tragedy.


Coroner Patterson yesterday morning held
an inquest over the body Of Mrs. Sarah T..
Rollins, who was drowned at the Seventh
street wharf last Monday night as she was re-
turning from an excursion given by the Yves.
10y chapel congregation on the w. w. Cor.
coran The jury having been sworn in the
presence Of the body, at Mrs Rollins resi-
donce, No. 100 L street northeast, WAS con-
venCd at the first precinct police station, aud
proceeded to take testimony.
William L. Randolph who was nom.
Der Of the excursion party, was the
FIRST witness examined, and testified that
the excursion was landed about 9:30 y. M,
aud just before landing some one turned down
u light in the stern OF the boat, occisioming
some remark aud causing the passengers to
hurry down; at the gaug.plauk the witness
SAW Captain Blake, but he then had no light
in his hand; there was red light on post
just above whore the captain WAS standing;
there was another light in front Of the cabin;
the end of the gNng-Mank was about foo;
above the deck; witness noticed when
on tho gang-plauk that il was extremely dark
and no uthot lights could be secu except the
street-car lights, on the street. he cautioned
his people to be careful and to turn to the left;
witness heard some one say There's some one
overheard y and running to the edge OF the
wharf saw gentleman named Platt bringing
up man from the water; the man asked
about his basket; witness asked him II there
was any one with him, anl when the man
(Hochiuger) replied "Mrs. Sarah Rollins he
shouted for her, but received no answer; n
hat was then picked up on the water
and recognized as Mrs. RJllius hat;
witness reported to Captain Blake that there
was Il woman drowning under his eyes and
they wanted light; Captain Blake sang out,
Clear the wharf, you are the cra2cst people
have ever seen," and gave orders for his boat
to leave; the boat moved away, leaving the pas
sengCrs without light; witness altcrward pro-
cured light and Mrs Rollins body was recov
cred after being in tho water about thrty-hve
minutes. some of the officers and men from the
steamer Mary Washington assisting in the
search; the witness was quite certain that the
tragedy would not have occurred II there had
been man ut the plank with l'gh,; there
were about 300 people on the wharf at the timc;
there were no ropes there to throw 10 u drown.
lug person.
d. VI. Davis another member of the oScur-
sion party, testified that there was light over
the gdng-plank sufficient to get OF by, and
persons on either side Of the plank making
| the passage to the wharf safe, but beyond that
| there were no precautions; US the boat on the
| opposite side Of the wharf obscured
| the moon, the water looked to some like
Il roadway; the witness was certain that there
was no light on the wharf did not sec the ofi
| GERS of the boat directing any efforts; thought
that if Il boat had been lowered both would
have been saved; did not hear any caution
given, such as Keep to the Left" and WAS
| certain that if those parties had not gone over
others would have gone; the boat left the
wharf before the body was recovered; the cx.
| cursionsts were landed ut the narrow part
| Of the wharf
Mrs Elizabeth Mcclure testified that the
only light she saw was the one in the hands
OF the man at the head Of the gang-planl.
Mr.. w. w. Eichelbcrgor gave testimony
| similar to that OF Mr.. Randolph. There was
u light thrown upon the gang. plank. The boat
landed on the side opposite where she left in
the morning. The street.car lights being seen
in the distance, people going toward them
| would naturally walk oil the wharf.
John Carmody, a deck-hand ON the Cor
| coran, testified that Captain Blake was stand
ing on the gang plank with a light, and Mr..
| Fowler, the mail agcut, also, us the crowd was
coming OF; the men were ON the edge the boat
| aud witness was at the foot of the gang-plauk,
on the wharf heard the cry, "Man over
board" and went overheard after him aud
caught hold Of him, aud Mr.. Ellis (wheel.mau
| on the COrcoran) came over after him with q
heaving luc Mr. Belts, the watchman, helped
to haul the man up, Mr.. Ellis and witness
having hold of him; witness immediately went
back on the boat; there was no light on the
wharf; never heard any other alarm; heard
Captain Blake direct passengers to turn to the
loft; had talked over the occurrence, bat had
no understanding rs to what he was to testify
to; did not hear before the boat left that there
WAS another person overheard; witness picked
up the lady's hat in the water, aud some one
said lady was overheard, aud some said
thero was not; the boat was not in hurry to
get away to bring up another party.
r. NJ. Sullivan, who was on the excursion
testified to seeing Mr.. Uoefinger rescued aud
corroborated other witnesses about the lights;
he hoard lady tell Carmody that there was
lady overheard; Carmody went to Captain
Blake aud asked him for II Light Captain
Blake replied, 1--WE have waited here half AZ
hour why haven't you done something ?
Carnody replied, 81 got the man out bu
there is q woman overboard;" Captain Blali,
remarked, 81 haven't time" aud witness
thought added "Get on"
Mr.. Carmody upon being recalled denied th
part of Mr.. Sullivan's testimony referring Il
him, aud suggested that Ellis might have beer
tho one whos asked for the light. Mr. Sulli
van, however, reiterated that Carmody was tn
man.
Henry Ellis, whcolsman of the Corcoran
testified to being at the gang-plani when tn
passengers were getting off, and that lie rs
sisted in getting the man out of th
watcT did not suppose thorc was au,
one else overheard; heard il said tha
there was II lady overheard but thi
WIS ueuleu ny luuuyt VINO bslu sue llu BOn
up to the car: witness did not ask the capitals
for light there were three lights about tn
gangway; the custom was to have lights on tn
dock when the moon was not IN; tho mooI
was about an hour high at that time; wltues
was quite certain that CarmOdy did not asl
tho captain for light; had he thought thcr
was woman In the water witness would no
have come out until ho had found her.
Gilbert IIoeflinger the man who wake
overheard with Mrs. Rollins, testified that
was SO dark he could not tell the diAcrenG
between the water and tho wharf aud h
walked overheard before lac knew where Ii
was; heard no directions MS to which way /
60; did not know whether Mrs, Rollins wen
in with him on before or after him.
B. S. Plat testified to seeing lady an
gentleman walking toward the Nator; he cried
Lookout, lookout" but they did not hea
him and fell into the water; when Carmod
rescued the man, no asked him where Tia
woman was, and Carmody replied that ther
, was no woman in the water.
Captain l., i. Blake, commander of til
CorcOrau, WAS next examined. IIo state
that when the steamer arrived at til
wharf he rounded TO, rs it was not cor
vcuient to go into tho slip, which was crowd
cd with small boats, so they landed outside
the moon was shining brightly, and he sa,
no necessity for lighting tho large lamI
there was Il lantern on either sido of th
gang.wuy aud another one forward th
lanterns which were on the boat were held s
S as to light the way OF; when he heard the or
. OF imam overheard" he ordered the men TO &c
{ the heaying limo and 60 to the rescue; Carmod
had already jumped in and Ellis Joined hin
Al. H.. 4 Al