Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-02-05
kilograms to The Star.
BAKER PASHA REPORTED DEFEATED.
QUEENS SPEECH TO PARLIAMENT.
REMAINS OF DE LONG AND PARTY.
PROMINENT DAKOTA LAWYERS INDICTED
INVESTIGATION OF THE COLUMBUS WRECK.
The Wreck Of the City Of Columbus.

THk INVESTIGATION BEGUN TO-DAY.
BOSTON, Feb. 5-An official Investigation into the
causes which led TO the wrechilg OF the steamship
CITY OF Columbus on Gay Head. Marthas Vine
yard. January 18th, by w.lich 81 lives were lost as
begun this morning before Messrs Burnhaln aud
Savage, constituting the board OF inspectors OF
steam vessels for this district. The rooms Of the
Board were crowded with the friends and relatives
OF the victims OF the disaster. Capt. Wright was
represented 10y MesSrs. Russell & Russell as coun-
SCI and Vas present in person.
The cXamin alton OF the witnesses was conducted In
acateeals1cai form 10y the inspectors
CAPT. wRIGHTs TESTIMONY.
Inc nrst witness examined was Captain 8. f.
wright. or the unfortunate vessel Mr. Burnham
stated TO Capt. Wright, before beginning the exam-
lnaton, that there were allegations OF miscoD-
duct or neglect, but the presumption was that,
JuuYllg from the character OF the wreck there
must have been such misconduct. careiesenesS or
neglect In response TO tue interrogatories OF III
Spector Savage, Capt Wright stated that he WAS
81 Years old; had followed the sea since he
was Is years Of age had held license as master
since 1869; had commanded five dilerent ships, all
OF them belonging to the Boston ana Savannah
steamship company; left Boston on the City OF CO.
lumDuS at 800 p. m On January 18th, and took the
p course 10 ana around Cape Cod to cross the
RliDS; from There We steered west 10y north. half
north. 10 NobSka light, until IL bore northwest,
half west; was at Tarpaulin Cove when gave the
order TO steer southwest by west / also gave
directions 10 the second mate to steer west south
west When Tarpaulin Cove bore west by nor Il
then L went below. Don't know whether the sec
ond mate gave the man at the wheel TINS order or
not l. was sitting on the Goor in my room with nv
back against the heater and my head in the pilot
mouse when heard call 10 port. IL was the star
board watch or, more properly the captains watch.
The second mate shares this watch. left the Sec
ond mate in charge OF the deck when Went below.
| had a bow watchman on the lookout. When
heard the cry OF "Portn L Sprang ~ and cried
"Hard-a- port" thinking we We're running down a
vessel could not see vessel. but saw the buoy
~ points on the pert bow. $50 or 2U0 yards dist ant
L think the vessel struck within 70 seconds after I
gave the order to "hard-a-port." | did not signal
the engineer before the vessel struck. We were
running at the usual speed. Alter size struck si--
nailed the engineer To reverse and back ship. The
snip went back her full ielIth and then went ahead
luil speed TO trrl her head of In a minute l re-
NerSed ana backed her again. when found IL or no
use. Engineer Morrison came to the puru door and
said "Captain, there's water in herr 1 then or
dered the quartermaster 10 leave The wheel and d-
reIted the mate 10 get the t1atS ready. Tie vessel
pounded hard anu flied Through the haIches and
after compartments. The after hatch was burst
open allowing the water ID iill her. The vessel then
listed TO port again, giving the sea a ful sweep
over her. The water WITS uD Ia my armpts. L
went mo the cabin ana aroused tie passengers
ordering them TO pat o-'l.ie-preseryers We usu-
ally had Waterman In the cabin To look out Tor
1lre don't know whether he was there after the
ship struck. The bulkheads or the ship were tight
as far as know. knew second Mate Harding for
three years He sailed with me- over a wear. lem
pioyed the officers or the ship. Mr.. Harding " IS
twenty-seven years old. He mad had experience on
tniS course before shipped him. The City OF c.
lumbus had six boats Had boat drills about every
time we made the port or Savannah. The mate had
charge OF the drills.
took to the rigging fifteen minutes after the
vessel struck She struck at Bis counted TWEEN
tv-eiglt men in the after-rigging after da light
was FORWARD myself with i've others l was the
last person TO leave The ship. / think IL was about
$3.50 the next afternoon when was taken of. 1 WAS
In the rigging twelve hours The ship had arfghIed
when gave the order TO low the boats. The
DOats We're cleared away 10y axes as fast as posi-
ble. don't J now anything about th6after boats
was forward. In a time like that the crew was
worthless The crew was demorali1ed 1 did not
see the rGCe or second mate attempt 10 lower the
boats. did not see any boats clear away, When
lett the ship the boats were all gone.