Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-09-28
INQUIRY Into the Recent Potomac
River Collision.
STEAMBOAT INSPECTORS IN SESSION
How the Columbia and Newport
News Went Together.
CONTINUED TOM ROW

United States Steamboat Inspectors John
Cooper and Edward F. White. comprising
the local board having jurisdiction in this
vicinity, began the inquiry into the recent
collision between the Norfolk and Wash
i1gtOn steamer Newport News and the
Alexandria ferry steamer Columbia at the
Georgetown custom house this morning.
The collision occurred at Gal am Sep
TENDER &, off Shepherds wharf the New
port News being commanded by Capt. s..
A. Geoghegan and the Columbia by Capt
r. O. Fawkes
Before the testimony was commenced
statements of the collision in writing were
read from the two captains. Captain Geo.
shegan's simply announced the fact that
the collision had occurred. Captain
Fawkes wrote as follows:
we left Washington at $40 am today:
weather clear and bright, but became
thick and foggy about five minutes after
leaving dock. Slowed down and stopped
until the steamer Belle Haven passed US at
the forks of the channel abreast Of Gies-
boro' Point. / then took my departure
from the channel buoy, leaving it about
nifty feet to the Starboard, and held my
course south by west and made the black
buoy below Giesboro' Point, about 80 feet
to starboaId. The mate, Mr.. Punch, was
IN the pilot house on lookout and Jesse
Newman. deck hand, and James Scott, a
river pilot, were on main deck forward,
n
bleaching steamer, which 1 answered. They
were fog signals. l slowed my engines ami
continued blowing fog signals. Heard
whistles to starboard and approaching
then blew three whistles and stopped
my engines. and at same time hauled from
south by west to south to hold my course
close to the east bank of the channel AZ
ter drifting about three or four lengths
saw the steamer Newport News. about
three and one-half points to starboard,
coming rapidly. and struck us head on,
about three feet forward of wheel going
through guards, main beams, guard beams
ana wheel MASKING it and bending shaft,
breaking the spring journal, main pedestal
castings and gallows frame. Her stern
stopped at our hull. She then backed clear.
we were picked up by the steamer Belle
raven ana lowed to Alexandria. No pas
500" "'ou' 3D.
Capt; Fawkes was the first witness. and
reclted the same statements as those con-
.aiHeu III MS letter. Other witnesses ex-
ahmed were James j. Punch, James X.
webster, mate and engineer of the Colum-
pla; f. w. Richtor, a passenger on the
Terry boat: John kearns. Joseph Massey
ana manager Walter Burton of the Ma
tonai Hotel. witnesses of the accident
The weather was foggy, and there was a
diversity of belief on part of witnesses as
70 Which boat really ran into the other
The hearing will be continued tomorrow.
Capt. GeUghegan, after Mr. Burton had
concluded his testimony by stating that he
had the impression that the Columbia had
run into the Newport News, took the stand
He said his steamer left Alexandria at $50
ard ran into a fog bank near Shepherds
He slowed down and blew fog whistles He
heard a whistle he could not locate and
stopped his engines. He heard the whistle
a second time. 1t was off his port bow
and he Immediately reversed his engines
ard blew three whistles, getting a reply of
three. Very soon the Columbia was seen
crossing his bow. going toward the Mary
land shore, and the crash occurred.
Witness also stated that from the time
he stopped his boat to the time OF the
collision five minutes elapsed. The cap
tain said the ferry boat people claim they
have to keep the cas-. side in order to en-
ter their slip at Alexandria. The rules
require all boats 10 keep to the right In
clear weather he frequently gave the ferry
boats the east side and put his wheel
hard starboard in order TO give them re en-
Captain Cooper did not like the idea Of
violating the law and thu regulations in
letting the boats pass each other on the
wrong side and virtually claimed that any
one who would steer out Of their way
was as bad as the person on the other
boat who chose the wrong side.