The San Francisco call., 1899-01-26
The William DIS Sur
vivors to estify.
TRYING TO FIX THE BLAME
INSPECTORS OF STEAM YES
Sells TAKING EVIDENCE.
An Eyewitness to the Collision
Throws Some New Light
on the Dreadful
Disaster.

Another chapter to the disastrous col
usion on the bay between the Oakland
and the gasoline launch William D, which
resulted in the loss of two lives, was
added yesterday, when the United
States Local Inspectors of Steam
Vessels took testimony with view TO
fixing the responsibility for the accident.
The testimony adduced at the hearing
was strongly against the officers of the
ferrv-boat. and unless new witnesses come
forward in their behalf they are likely
to suffer the loss of their licenses or a
heavy penalty.
The examination was conducted by Cap
tain o. F. Bolles and Captain ]. K Bull
ger. Eight witnesses were called, but the
testimony of ]. J. Flaherty, a deckhand
on the United States survey steamer
Macarthur, was the weightiest, he having
witnessed the collision and the movements
Of both boats up to the time it occurred.
Flaherty testified that he was on deck
filling water tanks, and saw the gasoline
launch coming up under the bows OF the
Macarthur, followed by the Oakland and
overtaken.
when first saw the boats" the wit
ness said, ''the ferry-boat was overtaking
the launch. The collision took place about
three or four hundred yards from the Nc
Arthur AS soon as it occurred / re-
ported to the Quartermaster, and we got
out our launch and went to their rescue
The witness further stated that he was
positive he heard no whistles blown, and
his assertion is borne out by those VINO
were on the launch.
W. Clairville, the captain of the Oak
land, was the first witness called. At
ment: I'VE left the slip at SOP. was
in the pilot house with Pilot Douglass.
Douglass came in after the steamer mad
cleared the slip and relieved me at the
wheel. About 800 yards from the slip he
called my attention to something right
abeam and said, What IS that fellow
trying to do? l looked out OF the win
dow as he blew the danger signal, stopped
and backed the steamer. l then saw
launch right down forward of the wheel,
under the pilot house. l Immediately went
10 the other end of the boat and found
that our ufeboat had been put on TO the
launch and was picking UP her men,"
He also stated that II was customary
rule of the railroad company 10 station
a lookout forward, whose duty it was to
report vessels crossing the steamers
bows. He admitted that in this instance
contended that the launch left Folsom
street after the Oakland had begun her
First Officer j. H. Douglass corrobor-
ated his superior officer and also de-
scribed the position of the two boats be-
fore ana after the collision.
Lars H. GuStafson, VINO was in charge
of the William d on the fatal trip, gave
a clear account of the sinking of his
the wharf l was told TO head toward West
Berkeley. steered my course to the
west side of Goat Island. We were trav>
cling at about six or seven miles an hour.
The first knowledge had Of danger was
q warning to look out. l graSped hold
OF the window sill to see what was wrong,
and as did we were struck. The water
came rushing in and jumped. When
! came up l found myself forty feet from
the launch and 200 feet from the Terry
boat. l saw a man struggling in the
water and tried to reach him, but failed.
l was picked up by the Iifeboat."
GuStafSOn also stated that ne could see
all around and stated that the noise of
the william DIS machinery would not pre-
vent him hearing the paddle wheels or
the whistle Of the Oakland. He was pos
tive no whistle was sounded.
Ben Hansen, q deckhand on the Oak
land, said he was in the forward part of
the boat when he heard a short blast and
on looking forward saw the launch abeam
on the Oakland. He admitted being on
duty as lookout. but stated that he was
going TO his post when. the crash came.
Charles c. Finn, a brother of one Of
those on board the William D were search
ing. testified that he saw the Oakland
leave her slip. He said he and Mr.. Orr
were standing aft, and when ne saw the
! oakland bearing down on the launch he
warned those in the cabin. He was un-
able to state what distance interviewed be-
[ tween TIE LNO DOdIS Nnen the Oakland
/ left her slip, but gave as his Judgment
that IL was about a block. He described
how he was thrown into the water and
OF his being picked up. Young Finn was
unable TO give the relative positions of
the boats at the time Of the accident. He
/ was also positive that no whistle was
blown by those on board the Oakland.
J. II. Matthews, who was a passenger
on the i'll fated craft, corroborated Finn
on material points He said there was no
warning until the collision actually took
place.
William Carson, a steamboat man. was.
! called and gave the only testimony in ia
/ vor Of Captain Clairyille and First Off
! Ger Douglass. He said he was standing
on the after lower deck when he heard
/ a short whistle He paid no attention un-
( I'll he heard four bells, when he stepped
/ to the rail and saw the gasoline launch
/ just twenty-five feet off.
Henry Peterson, the owner of the
/ sunken boat, informed the examining
/ board that he had a number of witnesses
/ who were passengers on the ferry-boat at
! testify that no whistle was blown.
| The commander of the Oakland and his
| first officer also stated that they had
| material witness who would testify in
! their behalf and asked to be allowed to
produce him.
The request of both sides was granted,
and postponement was taken until Fri
day at l o'clock, when further testi-
mony will be heard.