The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-07-14
THE CASE WAS CONTINUED
Until All Evidence Which Will be 200
Pages, Can be Typewriter.

Have a Copy of the Evidence Before
pesses Were Examined Yesterday.
All the evidence in the investigation
concerning the collision between the
steamers Wilmington and Sea Gate
which occurred on June 21st, is now
in, the last witness having been *
amined yesterday afternoon. 1t was
thought that the attorneys would adj
dress the board of inspectors imme-
diately after the conclusion of the teS-
timOny, but they prefer to wait until
they can get the typewriter testimony
before making their speeches. Miss
Stella Shrier took down the evidence
and she says it will be at least a week
before she can get her notes typewrit-
ten and that there will be fully two
hundred typewriter pages Of the tes-
timony.
This being the case. nothing definite
has been decided as to the time of ar
gument by the attorneys. The case
may be resumed next Thursday as In
spectOrs Rice and Borden will have to
be here on that date to inspect the Sea
Gate. A boiler Of the Sea Gate is now
being repaired, at the Cape Fear Ma
chine shops, and the owners Of the
boat want to get her back into COM
mission as soon as possible. If Miss
Shrin. non onf fbn toStinoOnV written
out by next Thursday the case will be
argued, otherwise some later date Will
have to be named by the attorneys. At
ter the argument by the attorneys 1t
will be some time before a decision is
rendered as the inspectors wish to 50
ever the evidence.
Yesterday 5 Testimony.
Thre was so much noise on Water
street that the board decided to old
the sessions in the federal court room
in the postoffice building. When the
board met Captain J. W. Craig, who
was an expert witness, summoned by
the owners of the Sea Gate, resumed
his testimony. His testimony was
nearly altogether concerning the depth
of the channel at and just below the
point where the collision occurred.
Captain Burriss, of the steamer
Southport, testified as to the depth or
the channel at certain points in the
vicinity of which the collision occur
red.
Rev. Father Dennen, pastor Of st.
Thomas Catholic church, testified that
he was ON the Sea Gate and witnessed
the whole occurrence He said o o
after the Wilmington left b Carolina
Beach pier that he noticed dense vol
umeS of smoke coming from the smoke
stack of the Wilmington and that he
asked Captain Craig if he Wilmington
was going to pass them and he stated
that his reply was that he would not
be surprised if the WILMINGTON didn't
90 by him. as n of his engines was
disabled.
Rev Father Dennen testified as to
the signals given at different times.
After passing Big Island he said the
boats got very close together II he
became uneasy for fear that Il COILS
ion would occur and that he Went to
Captain Craig and told him this. Cap
tain Craig, he said, asked him to see
how close the Wilmington would come
to the Sea Gate Just before the col
lision. he said. he felt Il leCuliar II
lion under foot and about this time
the engines stopped. The Sea Gate, he
said, after the engines were stopped.
sheered and struck the Wilmington.
Police Officer Leon George was or
the Wilmington and his testimony was
to the effect thai the Wilmington was
to the best of his knowledge, from 100
to 200 feet east of beason light NO. I,
when the collision occurred. He stated
that he was familiar with he river,
having run on a United States revenue
cutter for some time several years ago.
Mr.. w. A. Furlong, who was enGi-
neer ON the Sea Gate, was next eXan'-
iued. He testified as to the signals
and said when the collision occurred
both engines of the Sea Gate had been
stopped. Mr.. Furlong said there was
no time after he passed the pier until
the collision occurred when he could
not have stopped the engines within Il
few seconds. When asked what ne
was doing on deck, Mr.. Furlong aid
because it was so hot in the engine
room.
Mr.. r. w. Weeks, of Southport, was
on board the Sea Gate and he teStlhed
that when the boats were near 16 l.
buoy that it looked like there was go
NV
ing to be trouble. He said from the
time Captain Harper blew his first sig
nal until is - buoy was cached that
il Captain Craig had so desired he
could have placed his boat on the ex-
IRENE west side of the channel. This
was his answer Oh cross examination
in response to the query as to how FAR
west the Sea Gate could have gone
from the time the Wilmington's whis-
tie was blown the first time until 16 IL
huOy was reached.
On direct examination Mr.. Weeks
stated that he helped Captain Craig
roll the wheel to s~tarhoard and later
INSPECTOR Rice wished TO know Of
the witness if Captain Craig asked hir
to help turn the wheel. T(e reDlie1
that he was not positive but he
thought that Cartain Craig did ask