Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-07-07
W AS IT A RACE ?
An Investigation Into the Recent
Alleged Collision on the River.
MANY WITNESSES ARE EXAMINED.
Their Statements as to the Action
of the Two Boats.
THE CAPTAINS TESTIFY

THE CAPTAINS TESTIFY.
The investigation of the charges brought
against the captains Of the river steamers
Randall and the Wakefield-for alleged racing
ending in collision on the Oath of June about
forty miles down the river, was begun this
morning in the Office of the board of supervis-
ing steamboat inspectors in the Maltby build
ing
The examination of witnesses was conducted
by Capt. John H. Cooper, inspector in charge
OF this district. Capt. Edwin F. White, who in
also an inspector in charge Of this district. sat
with Capt. Cooper. and occasionally took a
hand in the examination. Gen. Dumont, the
supervising inspector general, was present
at intervals during the hearing The witnesses
were allowed to tell their own story and then
Capt. Cooper questioned them. A stenographer
took down the evidence, which will be con-
sidered by the inspectors, who will submit q
report to the supervising general.
The facts as they were brought out show that
the captains of the two vessels were, to say the
least, rather stubborn. While some Of the wit
nesses refused to speak Of the affair as q race,
yet as both vessels were going about as fast as
they could 60 and had on a high pressure
OF steam, it appeared, as Capt. Cooper re-
marked. that the conditions for a race seemed
to be present.
The hearing was begun at 10 O'Clock and was
continued without br eak into the afternoon
The Testimony.
The notice sent to the captains Of the two
boats stating that charges Of violating the rules
had been preferred against them was read by
Capt Cooper.
CAPT. OWENS OF THE WAKEFIELD.
The first witness was William B. Owens Of
this city, the captain Of the Wakefield. He
stated that he had held that position since the
18th of February last and was in charge Of the
steamer on the oath of June. The regular
speed of :he vessel was about twelve miles per
hour and the steam pressure carried was never
more than forty pounds.
He then made statement Of what happened
from the time he came out of Smiths wharf
The Randall, he said, blew a whistle when he
got out. The whistle was answered, and when
above Chatterton the Randall blew again, and
he answered, letting them know that it was
dangerous to pass his bow. He said that the
signal for the Randall was for the right of way.
The two vessels ran along side by side and at
times came within each others suction. The
Wakefield held her regular course. From
Thorn's Gut to the black buoy the vessels ran
together. The passengers on board his vessel
were not frightened, and the first time he knew
that there was any alarm was when he read the
newspapers. When asked why he did not slow
down the captain said that the other boat had
plenty of room to pass.
MR.. VICTOR KAUFFMANN.
The examination Of Capt. Owens was sus-
pended in order to hear the evidence Of Mr.
Victor Kaufman, a reporter Of The EVENING
STAR. who was obliged to leave the city He
testified that he was on board the Randall on
attention was called to the Wakefield, which
came up alongside so close that the
people on board the two vessels could
converse. 1t seemed to him that they were
racing. The boats drew nearer, and he
supposed that the suction of the boats drew
them together and they collided. The shock
was not sufficient to throw the people on board
down. Then the Wakefield dropped back and
the Randall continued on.
On crosse xamination he stated that he was aft
on the boat, on the starboard side The mem
bers Of the crew jeered at each other and called
out. He thought that the space then between
the boats was about twenty feet. The boats
struck at the paddle box.
The witness testified to the fright on the part
of the women on board the Randall. He ex-
planned that the collision was not more serious
for the reason that the boats were nearly paral-
lei and they struck at a slight angle.
The witness believed that the vessels were
racing and that the Wakefield was irving to
pass the bow Of the Randall and the latter did
not wish to take her water.
Capt. NOVEL; OF the Randall asked one ques-
ton, which related to the employees Of the boat
had ha tha
Wakefield.
The witness replied that as far as he could
judge they were the deck hands.
At the request Of Capt. Cooper the witness
| read the report Of the affair. which he had
written, that was published in The STAR Of
June 26.
Mr. CLUsKEY CROMWELL.
The next witness was Mr.. Cluskey Cromwell,
a reporter on the Euening Neus He testified
that he had written the article which appeared
| in the Ne,rs, in which he stated that the boats
were racing and there was great alarm on the part
Of the passengers on the Randall He said that
the boats colIIded and the shock was quite
perceptible on board the Randall. The boats
| ran along side by side for some time. Owing
to the alarm on the part of the ladies in his
party and others, he asked Mr.. Lawrence Gard
ner if the racing could not be stopped Mr.. c..
Z. Lancaster, the president of the MARYLAND
Democratic Club, which had chartered the
Randall. asked witness to say nothing Of the
occurrence in the newspapers. and the witness
said that he could not do it, 1t was the impress
sion of the witness that the officers OF the boat
were rather reckless in allowing the racing.
DIR. ". CHAPMAN.
DIR. N. Chapman then testified that he lived
at $40 street and that he was on board the
Randall on the day in question. He was on
| the bow of the boat and saw the Wakefield come
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