The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-08-15

statements of all the other witnesses
who said that al the time OF the acc
the water. and was wen balanced
Large Crowd Present.
Quite a crowd was grouped about the
morgue when the inquest began. Shortly
before It's close the last body lying there.
that Of Herbert Coates, was trundlsd
away in a hearse
The witnesses made their statements
in a clear and concise manner. few ~
them varying I'm even minor details in
their description OF the actual manner in
which the accident occurred.
Dr. c. ". Wagner, who lives at 81
I Street. and who is part owner OF the
boat was the first 10 take tine stand
he made the following statement:
Il became part owner Of the Recrea-
ton two years ago last July. During
the summer season we have been 4c-
Customed TO using IL several times h
week I am familiar with the machinery
OF IT, and was in charge of the engine
at the time OF the accident In M
opinion. il was entirely eawOTthy boat
] believe we have had as many as six
teen passengers in il al one time
Fatal Trip.
"The boat was kept down in the har-
Dor at the foot Of Thirteenth Street
About II 80 on Saturday Mr.. Woulfe
and myself went down to the wharf TO
get her ready. 1t was after y when we
left for Thirty-second Street, George
town I had an appointment with Mr..
Boose. and he was there waiting on the
float for US at Cumberland boat house.
I also had appointments with DR.. Stew
art and Mr.. Lederer. At the boat house
Mr.. Boose, Lederer. DR.. Stewart Wald-
man. and the two Smiths all got aboard
there f= clear
went but We made circle and a the
Potomac boat house Dr.. Bblmer was
standing and he got on board We then
went up beyond the Apueduct Bridge.
turned back. and proceeded down river
TO below the starting point. One OF the
Smiths had some Shriners excursion
circulars with him which he was anN-
ious to distribute.
ITO do SO It was necessary to come
close in shore We did so. and passing
Thirty-ffth Street Mr.. Smith saw some
young ladies on shore and waved 10
them. They motioned fer the launch 10
come closer and Smith asked me II We
could not take them aboard. I con
sented. and the ladies were assisted into
the hamper.
Dnfted Away.
THE boat drifted out into the water.
taking its course probably for ten min
utes. 1 was afraid 10 turn on the power
for fear OF running into some OF the
small craft that were hanging about"
How were the heats in the boat ar
ranged?" interrupted Deputy Coroner
GIazebro at this point
THE seats were arranged with bench
es on either side" was the reply. The
weight was perfectly distributed. Mr..
WouIfe was in the bow at the steering
wheel myself at the engine. and D..
Stewart was the only one standing He
was at the stern.
hT"eboat.s nose turned out into rhs
channel and I thought that she would
feel her way out ] noticed the mill
race. but thought X was a sewer. I did
not pay much attention to il, but when
we drtfted into the turbulent water a
splash came up against the ladies SIT
ting on the side toward the city.
They scrambled away from II. This
upset TIE boat. and just at that moment
there was a terrific crash. which was
the awning swapping or I felt myself
being drawn uEser, but stuck to Caa
side. felt someone's hands gripping
me. / sank and they slipped of.
In he Water.
Coming up, I saw Dr. Stewart cling
ing to a pile. Some one had thrown him
d plank.
I struck out and gained the pilinS.
Upon turning around 1 observed DR..
BluIner by himself struggling in the
water. / also saw William Smith with
a woman clinging to him.
II noticed some launches close 20 the
scene. and they were throwing out Ufa
prescrVers. All IL them fell short. blt
one was only ten feet from Dr. BIu-ler-
The occupants Of the boat were NOT
standing up a. the time.
J. \. Woulfe said; Il boarded the
boat with DR.. Wagner and bailed her
out The machinery, so far ] know
was in good working order. On our