National Republican., 1881-07-29
THE STEAMER ARRowsMrTH,
what Wer Lnte CnptnIn IIns 20 say About
the improvements.


Captain Barker, late of the steamer Ar
rowsmith, who has been q steamboat commander
for llcen years, furnishes the following statement
about the Atrowsmlth "When the inspectors
came on board Of the Arrowsmith about six weeks
ngo to inspect her | pointed out to Mr.. Lowery
what work ought TO be done to her and what was
lacking In her outfit. They put the pressure on
her boiler and left I received her certificate Of
inspection, also excursion permit to carry seven
hundred additional passengers. | spoke to Mr.
Philips, the superintendent about the work that
ought to be done TO make the boat comply with
the steamboat law, then IL an accident oc.
CURED there would be no blame fall on me.
lie promised me time and again to have the work
done The president Of the company came on
from New York spoke to him about IT, told him
we were carrying a large number OF passengers,
and that the bont was not equipped according to
law lie replied, III Mr.. Philips was willing TO
run the risk II was nll right. The travel on the
route was increasing all the time ! felt uneasy; /
had n talk with Mr. Thomas Roberts, the engineer
ftho boat, and VIC agreed to write to the nspcc
tors TO come over to they could not force Mr.
Philips TO comply with the law. / got Mr.. Lou
Clements, the deputy collector and inspector OF
the port to write to them, but, receiving no
answer, got him to telegraph for them.
In the meantime I had another talk with the
engineer lie said he had two old force pumps
that hardly supplied the boiler with water, the
pine plugs would fly out now and then, and the
passengers were talking about 1t. lie thought 1t
was best to stop her. We came to TIE wharf on Fri
day night with the intention OF not going out
again until these repairs were made Soon after
we landed Captain John r. Wood came on board
TO take command OF the boat. Upon examining
the steamer the next morning he refused to run
her until these repairs were made. The condition
of the boat was then reported TO the Honorable
0 G.aa
ordered the inspectors to the wharf
The inspectors said the boat was only little dirty
and few straps OFT the fe.prcscrvers and that II
was all n cock and bull story about her being un.
safe. Mr.. Philips, the superintendent Of the line,
says! i have worked twelve men four days. the
repairs are all made; the boat is safe again. II
the law required NJ. Moushaw TO detain the boat
four days to make the repairs before they would
allow her to run again. why was she granted ccr-
tcatG six weeks ago in the condition she was IN ?
Let us see if Mr. snv!llc's statement Of cleaning
up and sowing oil straps was all that twelve men
did in four days. The law requires q
stairway from the lower deck to the
upper one. It was put in. 1t calls for two fire.
escape ladders abuft. They were put in. The
couplings and hose are required TO be sound. The
repairs were made They ordered one OF the
bonts lowered to see how quick they could do It. It
took half an hour. They ordered another boat to
be put in the place of the one broken up and lay
ing on the wharf the law required this kind Of
work TO be done now, why was 1t not done before
they gave her certificate OF inspection? The in
spcctors made oath six weeks ago that she had
everything called for, knowing that 1t was not
| was anxious that Mr. Philips should put on
board the boat all that the law required. could
not get him or the president Of the company to do
IT, therefore refused to run the boat any longer.
Now the question comes in does n good dinner,
with champagne wine thrown in, weaken the eyes
OF the inspectors? If so, the owners of steamers
ought to know II. twas the opinion of old steam
boat men that the inspectors must have been
blind when they inspected the two ferry.boats,
and gave them certificate for one year With
these facts leave the public to judge whether
was right or not for refusing TO run the Arrow.
smith in the condition she was in"