Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-13
Washington Not Going Slow,
Engineer SWears.
TESTIFIES AT HEARING
Order to Reverse Allowed Two Rev.
olutions Before Collision.
MAKING Is MILES AN HOUR
Other Witnesses Tell of Conditions
Under Which Lackawanna
Was Wrecked.

At full speed the Norfolk and Washing
when it collided with the Washington and
Alexandria ferry steamboat Lackawanna
the morning of November 3.
This statement was made and sworn to
today by Henry Chesson, assistant chief
engineer of the steamer Washington, and
i'm charge of the engine room the day Of
the disaster He testified at the hearing
before Local Steamboat Inspectors Chas.
w. Wright and Edwin F. White this fore
noon at the Office of the Norfolk and
Washington Steamboat Company foot of
7th street.
Luther B. Dow, national counsel of the
and Pilots, appeared for the defendants.
The board began the investigation Of
charges, growing out of the collision,
against Capt. Henry Kendrick, master
and pilot of the ferryboat Lackawanna,
and Capt Frank NJ Phillips, master and
pilot Of the steamer Washington.
E11Cccu W1loS an aOur.
Engineer Chesson testified that he was
on watch in the engine room of the
Washington the morning of November 3
when the steamer left Alexandria. The
engine was making about 1OS revolu-
tions. which would give her a speed of
about fifteen miles an hour, when the en-
CINE room received from Capt. Phillips
in the pilot house -four bells and two
jingles," the signal to reverse the en-
gines.
Following the signal the engine made
two revolutions when he felt the crash Of
the two boats coming together.
Reiterating his statement, he said the
Washington was running at full speed
just before the collision, making about If
teen miles an hour, when the order came
to reverse. She had been making full
speed ahead four or five minutes before
the crash. The witness based his esti-
mate Of the speed on the number of revo-
lutions of the engine.
First Mate James Marmaduke, who Is
also a pilot, said he did not see the Lack
awanna until she suddenly doomed up out
of the fog, close to the Washington.
Heard Fog Signals.
Howard T. Etheridge, quartermaster OF
the Washington, was at the wheel Of the
Washington at the time of the accident.
He heard the Lackawanna's fog signals,
but did not see her when the two boats
struck. He testified to giving the proper
signals.
The Washington ran into the fog bank
OFF Shepherds.
J. L. Forbes testified to the ringing or
the alarm or fire bells on the Washington;
also that the signals were promptly given
just before the collision. He assisted in
lowering lifeboat and rescued a woman
and little boy who were overheard cling
ing to floating timbers.
A. III. Whitmore, express messenger on
the Washington, testified that the steamer
appeared to be lust drifting along just
before the crash came" He judged OF
this by looking at the water.
Testimony was given by John H. Robin
son, who was cunning from q skin near
the scene of the accident. He said the
Lackawanna appeared to be well over to
the District side of the channel.
Capt J. T. Barker, a veteran riverrnan
and master of the Trenton: George WASH
ington, second mate Of the Washington;
Lewis Southan and others also testified.
A recess was taken at / o'clock.