Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-07-14
LOCAL NEWS.
The Drowning Of Mrs. ROLLS rs.
CORoNER's INoUESr Tn-DAy.


CORoNKRs INQUEST TO-DAY.
This morning the Coroner DR.. Patterson,
held an inquest on the body OF Mrs. Sarah A.
Rollins, who was drowned on Monday evening
at the 7th street wharf, as she was returning
home from an excursion given by the Wesley
Chapel congregation, on the steamer W: W.
Corcoran. The jurors were Jacob ID. Hutton,
John ShoTwell. John Holmes, A. Z. Sardo, NJ.
A. ". Lewis, r. A. Rowe, S I. Murray. Ed
ward Morgan, J. NJ. Harmon. W. ". Wallace
A. f. Dinsmore and Samuel Slater. After being
sworn over the body at mrs. Rollins residence
16o street northeast, the jurors proceeded TO
the lst precinct station house TO hear
THE TESTIMONY.
VIM. F. Randolph testified that he was on
the excursion, which landed about 9E O'Clock
pm; that just before landing he observed
some one turn down light near the stern OF
turning out Of the light caused the passengers
to hurry down. Mrs. Rollins at this time
passed witness party and kissed witness Oldest
giri' remaI6lng mh6n & what pleasant time they had
witness recognized Captain Blake and saw
red light on post just above
had no lantern In his 6and 1dt uness M G he aS u
uEOer his coat There was another light In
front or the caoin. The end OF the plank was
about foot above the deck OF the boat, AID
& was very dangerous, especially TO those ladies
having children with them. witness noticed,
when on the gang plank, that 1t was extremely
dark, and 10 other lights were TO be seen, eX-
cepting the street car lights, on the street.
M1ness cautioned his people TO be careful. ana
tod them TO turn TO the left Then heard the
remark, There's some one overheard"
saw gentleman, named Platt, bringing up
the man from the water, who asked
about his basket. Witness then asked hun II
any one was with him and he replied. Mrs.
Sarah Rollins" and he shouted for her, but re-
ceiyed no answer. Some one said there was
lao hat on the water M and It was picked up and he
told Capt. Blake that there was a woman
drowning under his eyes and they wanted a
light. Capt. Bake sung out Clear the wharf;
you are the crazfest people have ever seen. "
and gave orders for the boat 10 leave and il
did, leaving the passengers without any light.
witness then went TO BaurS restaurant aad
stating What had happened the man said Take
that light" and lie did and the body was found.
Thinks that there were about 500 people on the
wharf Is quite certain that had there been a
man at the planks with light the occurrence
would not have happened. There were no ropes
about the wharf to throw to a drowning person.
The tide was high at the time. Witness then
described the recovery OF the body, some OF the
officerS and men or the Mary Washington as
sisting. Mrs. r. had been in the water about
S5 minutes before the body was recovered.
Capt Blake seemed Indifferent and only anx-
folS 10 get away.
d. NJ. Davis testified that he was On the boat
when it landed, and heard the splash indicating
that somebody had got overheard. Supposed
there was but one) At the time he got of about
One-half were of, and it was after he got on the
wharf that he heard the splash, and man cried
for help at the same time. When they passed
over the plank there were persons on either
SIDE, Which made it safe to reach the wharf.
but there were no precautions beyond. There
was light over the gang plank sufficient for
persons to get off by. The boat On the oppo-
Site SfGe Oh the wharf shaded Off what little
moonlight there was, and therefore the water
resembled to some a roadway. There were
no guards whatever about the wharf; saw
an object in the water and reached his um-
brella for 1t; was satisfied now that this was
the ladies shawl and bonnet. AS soon as the
man MADE an outcry gentleman struck
match Saw nothing OF the officers OF the Corco
ran, but supposed those reaching from the wharf
were boat hands for they seemed 10 be familiar
about the wharf. Is quite certain that there
was no light on the wharf; noticed one man get
down over the wharf. but don't know who he
was. Did not see any of the officers OF the boat
directing efforts; but the excursionists were
calling TOR rope and making other efforts. The
boat left the wharf before the lady'S tody was
recovered. Witnessed noticed that when they
Went on in the morning the wharf looked quite
wide, but they were landed In the narrow part
OF the wharf. When the man got out and made
known that the lady was overheard there was a
general cry for help; did not hear the captain
give any orders nor see any effort made to lower
boat; was certain that If the officers had been
sensible to their duty they would have lowered
boat, ard had boat been lowered when the
man went over thinks that both would have
been saved. Did not hear any caution given,
such as keep to left" A simple rope up the
wharf would have prevented any accident.
is quite certain that these parties going over
board prevented other parties going over.
Mrs. Elizabeth Mcclure testified that in CON-
ing Off The boat the only light she saw was
lantern in the hands OF man at the head OF
the plank, and she might have gone into the
water, for she thought the space In front was
roadway when it was water. Noticed no other
light.
w. w. Echelberger testified that he heard a
splash ana saw the man gotten out: heard him
ask about his basket and say that Mrs Rollins
was with him; some one called for her and
another said he saw woman so over with this
man. Witness then picked up a hat There
was no boat, light or rope about the wharf. A
tall man having ordered the people OIL the
wharf the boat lett. There was light thrown
On the gang. plank for he saw the cleats. The
to that she left; did not hear any one direct
passengers to the left. TIE water looked TO
him like an asphalt pavement, and the street
Sar lgnus pe,ng seen people would naturally go
wharf until some one-Mr. Rand0lph-brought
a reflector over.
John Carmody testified that he is a deck hand
onthe Corcoran: that Capt Blake Was standing
On the gang-plank with light. and Mr. Fowler.
the mail agent, also. as the crowd was coming
Off. The men on the edge OF the boat and VIII
ness ness " was a at the foot Of the gang-plank, on the
wharf. Heard the cry Man overheard" and
went overheard after him and caught hold or
him, and Mr.. Ellis (wheelsman On the Corco-
RAM came over after him with heaving line.
Mr.. Belts, the watchman, helped TO haul the
man up, Mr. Ellis and witness having hold OF
him. Witness Immediately went back on the
DOat. There was no light on the wharf; never
heard any other alarm. Heard Captain Blake
direct passengers TO turn to the lett; had talked
over the occurrence, but had no understanding
as TO What he was to testify to, did not hear
before the boat left that there was another per
son overheard. Witness picked up the lady's
hat in the water, and some one said lady was
overheard. and some said there was not. The
boat was not In hurry to get away to bring
up another party.
r. Nj. sullivan testified that he was In the
party and when getting OF saw a crowd on the
opposite side OF the wharf Capt. Blake was
calling cut "Hurry up," &c. Going over TO the
crowd saw man In the water floating ana
some one jumped In and seized him. Another
jumped in and went to the other Side OF the
man, when the man was hauled up. Saw hat
| floating on the water and reached after ft, but
failed 10 get ii. Called attention TO It, as also TO
| lady's hat, and [Jack) the first one who had
Jumped In got them. There was no light on
the wharf Heard lady say to Jack (preceding
witneSs) that she saw lady go overheard and
Jack went TO Capt. Blake and asked him for
light. Capt. Blake replied 1--WE have waited
here half an hour, why haven't you done some
thing? Jack replied 81 got the man out but there
is a woman overheard" Capt. Blake remarked
Il haven't time" and thinks he said ''Get on"
Witness does not think 1t was over 10 minutes
from the time he get off to this time. Witness
lully expected Capt. Blake to have rendered
assistance. Noticed the captain and another
party holding lanterns Capt Blake appeared
rather 1mpetuous. Witness then described the
recovery OF the body. Some one asked about
physician, but 1t was thought that she was
past resuscitatfOn, and no efforts were made.
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