Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-07-02
THE STEAMBOAT INVESTIGATION.
Further Testimony to the Collision Be-
tween the Washington and Pentx

4
tween the Washington and Pentx
CAPT RANDALL AND ENGINEER MOORE THE
PRINCIPAL WITNESSES AT ToDAY's HEARING
ALL THE LOCAL TESTIMONY NOW N-ExpERr
EVIDENCE OF INSPECTORS TO BE HEARD.
The investigation of the collision between
the steamers Washington and Pentz was con-
| tinued today at the office of the steam vessel
| inspector generals Office. The evidence offered
this morning followed about the same line as
at the former sitting. Inspectors Seville and
Cooper conducted the investigation. The main
points which both sides dwelt on was as to
whether the Pentz at any time during the run
down had been ahead of the Washington, and
also whether the Pentz could not have safely
passed to the westward of the anchored schooner
and avoided all difficulty. The question
| also arose as to the Washington having pushed
the Pentz to the westward, the PentZ people
claiming that such was the fact, while the Wash
ington people claim that the Norfolk boat
simply steered a straight course for Alexandria
and. If anything, at times pushed off to the
eastward.
LOCAL EVIDENCE ALL IN.
So far as local witnesses are concerned
the investigation of the accident was
finished this morning. There may posi-
bly, be some witnesses outside of the city whom
1t VIII be necessary to examine through in
spectors in other cities. At any rate the inves-
tigation will be closed up shortly and report
made 1t is not thought by those who have
watched the investigation that any large
ataount of culpability will be found resting on
the shoulders OF either of the captains. Both
captains evidently thought the actions they
took were the best under the circumstances.
ENGINEER MOORE OF THE PESTz.
The first vifpesu todov NOS w II Mooro tho
engineer of the Pentz, who testified substan-
italy as the other officers on the Pentz The
Pentz, he said stopped after backing out from
the wharf and allowed the Washington to 60 on
down ahead. The Pentz then followed, and the
Washington slowing up the former vessel came
up alongside near the forks of the channel.
The witness described the signals which passed
between the two boats as hitherto brought out
The close shave which the Pentz had in pass
ing under the stem of the anchored schooner
was also described. At the trap nets the WASH
in6ton blew three snort whistles and witness
saw That the boats were coming together. He
received two bells and stopped the boat and
immediately heard grating noise and the
boats collided. The Pentz was carrying forty
three pounds Of steam at the time and WAS al
lowed to carry fifty pounds.
The witness said that at times the beam of
beam OF the Washington, which Is an important
point as bearing on the navigation laws and is
IN dispute between the two vessels.
The witness testified that the PentZ often
passed the Norfolk before reaching Alexandria.
but could not say whether the Washington
had ever been passed.
CAPT. RANDALLs TESTIMONY.
Capt. E. S. Randall the owner of the Pentz.
who was on board at the time. next testified
His attention was first directed to the Wash
ington when the two boats had Strengthened
no r.y hn
about fifty yards ahead and running very slow.
His idea at the time was that the Washington
intended to allow the Pentz to pass on ahead,
and he told the engineer to go ahead. At the
forks Of the channel the two boats were about
side and side and he could look from his for
ward gangway into the forward gangway of
the Washington. The Washington blew two
whistles. At that time the PentZ's beam
was twenty-five feet ahead OF the beam of the
Washington. and he thought by the Washing
ton blowing two whistles that she recognized
the fact that the Pentz was ahead. His atten-
ton was then called to small schooner
anchored on the starboard bow. He remarked
at the time that it would be pretty close work
passing the schooner, and if her yawl boat had
not been hauled IN it would have been run
down. In his opinion the Pentz could not have
gone to the westward of the schooner The
ferry boat was passed shortly. going to the
westward of the Pentz. On nearing the trap
nets the Pentz blew the Washington one
WHISTLE, Dut received no answer. Inc wash
ington afterwar1 blew three short whistles and
few seconds afterward started to cross the
Pentzs bow. The Pentz slowed down and
stopped. The Washington struck OH the
Pentz port bow. about 100 feet from the stern
of the Washington. The witness estimated the
damage to the Pentz at about $50. The Pentz
at the beginning. he said, could not have gone
TO the eastward, as there was not room.
HIS CRoss-ExAMISATIoN.
On crosse xamination If was brought ont that
at the time the Pentz came up to the Washing
ton she failed to blow one whistle, as is GUS
tomary when one vessel designs to pass on the
right hand side. The Pentz said Capt Ran
dali. was forced to the westward continually
The witness testified that on Wednesday even
ings the Norfolk boat gave way Tor the Pentz at
the Alexandria wharf and other evenings when
notice is given. The Pentz at the time of the
accident did not design to stop at Alexandria.
In answer to question he said he thought it
would have been more dangerous to have
slowed the Pentz down than to pass between
the anchored schooner and the Washington.
BY slowing up, he said, the Pentz would have
been drawn directly into the Washington.
Capt. Tuil of the Pentz then testified in
answer ~ question that he did not give any
signal to the Washington when he CAME up with
her. as he did not think it necessary.
Capt. Davis was then asked if in his regular
course there was always room to the westward
for a side-wheel steamer, and replied that there
was not at the point of collision.
This closed the testimony for the present.