New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-08-11

nation of the Seawanhaka their reports were all en-
tirev satisfactory, and we had only 90 accept thch
and grant the certificates. do not think the I'M
mediate cause of The fire will ever be known. 90
not think there is human being. alive or deau'
who knows or did know how II happened"
Andrew Craft. H. :. Inspector OF Iluils, SAID J
have been III this department and IN this position
for over fifteen years. and l have rejected many
vessels bat when examined the Sea yanhaka, on
March IS last, she was as nearly periccI ~
n boat be. There seemed 10 be no pos
sibihy OF DANCER OF fire IN tine, the f hecu
all my life shipcarprntcr and shpbullder, ana
know when boat Is all right. / never saw on one ~
better shape than this one was. There was realy
no fault to be found with anything. How / come
10 be indicted beats me. IL Is my first experience III
anything of this KIND" - -,
Inspector of Boilers Alexander Caullwcll SAID
" 1 examined the boat thoroughly March 10, loo9
and she was in splendid condition. II IL not sncn
very unusual thing for a boat TO take IRE but
thought tins one particularly well guarded. 90
not think we shall ever know how the hIo
Oriqnated-that is beyond us. II there had been
some one in the fre-rOOm at the time when tho life
fast broke out perhaps he could have told u, sono
thing about 1t bat here was no one there
THE PREsENTMENT.
The prcscntmcnt Of the Grand jury, which was
filed IN the cOurt. states that its members have
been investigating the disaster for some time and
that on the evidence taken. they believe that the
great loss of life was due to the criminal
careessncss and negligence OF certain Gov
eminent officers and of the officers ana
owners of the vessel. They examined many
witnesses concerning the general management
of all passenger steamers carefully considered the
Navigation laws and the laws governing the steam
boat inspection of the United States; carefully M
vestgatcd tho practice OF examining steam FeHsels
and their equipment. and the licensing OF cnglheeIF
and OF her officers under the different provisions OF
the laws: and she result Of such Inquiries they
presented the following specifications:
Frst-That under theraws ana the rules and reguia-
uons established for the administration thereof me m
sccuOn Of St vessels and the licensing OI eng eers
and other officers Of such vessels have not been ana are
conducted IN careful and Intelligent manner ana
to the end that the Court here understand aud be
informed as 10 the manner IN winch the hspcctoh Is
performed nd the examination OF applicants for posi-
lions engineers ana officers is made, we further say
That we the Grand Jurors. have examined the IN
spcctor known rs The Inspector OF Boilers ana Ma
ch merry OF steam Vessels al The Port OF New-IoTk and
seven licensed gnccIs II steam vessels now carrying
passengers 10 ana from the Port OF New YORK, holding
the certificates of the inspector, and we ind from the
the mlnues of such examinations that suCh engineers
incompetent tOrthcIr several positions ana mat Inc
evldrnce or such Inspector himself shows that he
That there is no form or system OF EXAMINATION through
which applicants are required pass but the inspector
simply views the man Physically, lns Testimonials 10
moral character are exhibited and then he - asked
such few and simple elementary questions As
suits the convenience and monetary intellectual grasp
the Inspector that pot Of the licensed engineers
examined 10y the jurors could answer the question now
10 ascertain the amount Of steam III Dpuef II lOraHy
such boiler had no steam gauge but IN several
instances In answer 10 the same question lhc hhs"er 70
the same we, the jurors. believe should be gwen by
competent enclneer without btsiiau"n lhe enRasers
admitted that they had not got the cdcauo 10 nGure
ont :" that m the allowance Of certificates to officers
vessels. other than engineers. conSlutTt
ton Is given 10 the question or the apPlcants @E1a-
by for special place than 10 his general quahea-
TONS
REQUIREMENTS or TIE LAW NOT MEL
And we the jurors, on oath, further present
That the requirements Of sections 4.417. AIS ard
453. the Inspection and examination of hulls.
boilers, and al appur,nanccs, necessary equipment
and machinery Of steamyesses are NOT observed 10 any
reasonable degree Of accuracy or honest u1lmenti
that Va many instances brought 10 tine attention OF the
Jurors. sieaycs.eis granted certificates as seawOrhy
aud suitable Tor tbe service IN which they are en-
pOyCd. absolutely UNIT for such service because OF
imperfect construction, longcontinued constant use
and Old age that scamyesses are permitted 10
such vessels only huiit Tor aud are |
only III 10 navigate the rivers and SIM water |
whore the danger is comrara gDly small; thai the life
boats. floats and prcserycrs are On many Instances
where certificates have been allowed inefficient ia num-
Der, rcJnYeuchly placed, ana I'D an uu-iie cohdlnhj
tlat instance has been shown 10 the Jurors where
the ssci has been put in motion. e-3odis nut al1a
or other suitable means cIp ca 10 t-' tiutI tue e
fcncv of the steamer or thai of her equipment.
And we further aud and present; That The form only |
vessels observed each ycari hat while me hYdro7tauc
TIE evidence OF experts OF great ABILITY taken by be-
cve to be inadequate as true and safe test is en-
but specifically operated. and no apparent distinction
is made between the examination Of an old or new |
satnR convenience aim of the Inspector are not
employed IN testing either outside OF ms de. even In the
= uS o ol1 's o,r by ,e w ,c1
n reiiaDco t. 9ny extent IA Is now tie p7acfice upon
have since been made is seldom compiler with, Gni
wo believe that It cannot In aIy case under
the present uncertain and speculative practice
be satisfactorily determined that tie boilers well
made Of GOOD and suatle ma eiIa that the open ngs
for the passag water and peoycy, and all
and free from obir u-ion tlat SPANS be en- and
around the fues sufficient, that the
hues arc circular in form, nat the fire line Of
nmum water line Of the bo that the arrangement
de ring the ie dwar is such that boilers cannot
he iniurei thereby; th.t adequate provision Is
made to prevent sparks flames from being driven
bach from the fire doors into the vessel and that such
boilers ana machinery, and tho appurtenances or boil
FRS aud machinery OF every name. nature and descrp
ton. may he safely employed IN The service proposed
IN the written application without peTil to life
WHY ACCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED.
And so say that because Of the licensing OF incom-
petent engineers and other officers and the
careless and imperfect inspection OF bulls,
equipment, boilers and machinery OF steam vessels we
believe all the accidents Ike the terrible and nexcus-
able seawanhaka calamity, have occurred. and to guard
against the recurrence thereof we here and
revision OF the laws and the adoption Of
uoLi anu orGi t ny ~ ~ n or s ,
that an association Eng and Of many years existence,
Inspection thorough and exhaustive that there has
explosion OF any boiler under It's charge
This Government must have like system.
Sec0ld-That we believe that the steam vessels,
rule. without any exception brought to our knowledge
are equipped managed run NJ the interests of The
owners without any fear Of regard for. the law and
It's officers and with but little regard for the comfort
safety OF the passengers that after the unfortunate
passenger has embraced and enjoyed the privilege of
" cheap excursion ucEet and embarked
upon OF these floating palaces" (Of DEATH. he is
to the aud protection Of Incompetent,
ghtless officers, and cOwardy and worse tnan in
crew, who have been employed because
they are unfit 19r other work. and without
regard to their character or quail lcatiOns.
That It IS not unusual for steam vessels
having socaod licenses to carry respectively 800. Goo
600 and 1000 persOnEactuay 10 take on excursions
900, 2,COO 5000 and 1000 passengers
stany IN danger OF destruction; ana the only punish
ment now prescribed by Law for such excessive ana
dangerous examining Of uususpcctng ana cOnndIng
people when accident results thercfFOm to the
sells following section OF the United States Stat
utcs:
"SECTIOS 4i65.-It shal not be lawful TO take on
board OF steamer greater number OF passengers
than Is statedn The certificate OF inspecton and for