Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1908-05-18
THE SINKING OF THE TRENTON


The coroners's jury, summoned ie"
DAYS ago by DR.. 5. B. Moore, met last
nlltt st Mr.. b. Wheatley's undertaking
establishment for the purpose Of sscer-
taloing the cause OF the sinking OF the
stsamtr Trenton at her whsrf at this
port on Msy and the drowning OF
STANLEY ID. Posey, the eighteen-montbs-
old son of Mr.. and Mrs. E. MaurY
Pose-. Witnesses were examined until
1870 O'Clock and later the jury adjourned
TO meet again tomorrow night at O. clock.
John E. Taylor, president and general
manager ofthe Potomac Navigation Com
pany which owns the steamer Trenton,
was the 6rst witness.
He testified that because of some IN
pleasautness that had been caused by
his suggestion as to the loading Of The
boat, some time before May 8, he had
called the captain and mats Into bis
Office and told them that in the fornre
he would not interfere In these matters,
but that about ten minuates before the
Trenton sank he went to Oapt. Davis
and called his attsntion u the fact that
the propeller of the boat was showing
above the water, and said, 'You are
getting her pretty well down by the head
and she will root all the way down."
The captain replied, he said, that 1t
would be all right as soon as they COM
meuced to load freight aft. Mr.. Taylor adj
mitted having offered the fireman quar-
ter to assist in loading the boat, but sub
aequent testimony tended to show that had
the fireman been in the engine room, he
probably would not have discovered that
water was pouring into the forward
portfolios.
Mr.. Taylor stated that on river
route of less than 100 miles the law
requires that only the number OF psssen'
gers aboard shall be noted, but that his
company kept passenger list, which
the purser was supposed to make mp
after the bost left Washington. Such
list had been made the day of the &C.
cident, Mr.. Taylor said, and he
found 1t yesterday morning in the mud
in the bottom of the boat. 1t contains
twenty-tbrse names, including those OF
Mr.. and Mrs. Posey, but did not contain
the name ofthe POsey children, as no fare
was charged for them.
Mr.. Taylor was subject to a crOss-ex-
animation by Messrs, G. A. Perry,
and Rosa ]. Downing, counsel for
Capt. VIM. Davis and mate Jas. Beach.
Oapt. Davis testified that the only ex-
plsnation for the sinking of the boat was
that some one, contrary TO his strict Of
ders, repeated to the crew many times,
had gone below and opened the forward
portfolios. 1t was dangerous, he said,
TO have the portfolios open at any time,
aud when be made his customary in-
spection of the boat just before leaving |
Washington, they we're closed. Capt. |
Davis stated that the boat was being /
loaded, the freight being so dis
trnbuted as ID keep her on an even keel.
James Beach, the mate, testified along |
the same lines, and Mr.. and Mrs. E.
Msury Posey, the parents OF the child
that WAS drowned, John Z. Edelen,
Harry AitchesoD, Peter Aitcheson and
others described the sinking Of the boat.
Attorney Terry offered to read su
affidavit alleged to have been made by q |
colorsd deck hand, in which he admits |
having been responsible for opening the |
portfolios of the steamer.
Following this statement, Coroner
Moore directed the city sergeant to make
30 eff TT to get the deck hand before the
inKV i