Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-06-01
SINKING Of THE LOTUS.
Damaging Testimony Against Parties
on Motorboat Sunk by the
Steamer Angler.

|
| hide the fact that two women had been
on board; that the launch displayed
no lights, and that some Of the five
men were intoxicated, was given yes
terday afternoon at the coroner's in
quest at the morgue, Washington into
the death Sunday night Of Mrs. Bessie
Haller and Mrs. Sarah Nelson, who
were drowned following collision be-
tween the launch and tie steamer
near Shepherds, snort distance
above Alexandria.
Preceding the coroner's inquest an
investigation into the collision was
held by E. NJ. White and Capt. Chas.
W. Wright, steamboat inspectors, at
Mariners Temple. This inquiry was
called for the purpose of ascertaining
whether any of the licensed officers Of
the Angler were responsible for the
accident.
The most startling testimony at the
inquest was given by Louis Jefferson,
a member of the crew of the Angler.
who described his attempts to save
one Of the men survivors Of the ac-
cident and one Of the women. He tes-
tilted that after the five men had been
saved he was talking with one Of them
in his cabin, and had asked about a
woman he had seen near the Lotus
after she sank.
"Whcn l asked him what had be-
come Of the woman, the man first de-
clared there had been no women on
the boat, but when told him fatty
that l had seen one and heard her
scheam, he admitted that there had
been two women" said Jefferson.
after admitting that, he added:
There were two women on board, but
don't say anything about it to any
body"
Charles 1oetfer, Jefferson declared,
was the man. Tocffer denied it fatty
and said he had 10 conversation al
all with Jefferson.
Arthur Simpson, owner of the Lotus
said that two women and a man were
taken on board at Marshall Hall.
The women and the man told him they
had missed their boat back to Wash
ington. He said he was filling the
lamps on the launch when the accident
happened. Simpson declared that all
had had two bottles of beer apiece,
but that all were sober.
James Vcnable pilot Of the Angler,
who said that he had been on the river
for more than 10 years, was caustic in
his criticism of the men Of the Lotus.
an my opinion the Lotus did every
thing it could to make collision in
stead of avoiding one" said Venable.
"The boat acted as though it had no.
body on it,"
Charles Tocffer, the pilot, said that
there had been about % bottles of
beer on the Lotus, but that ne had on
ly opened two bottles. He confirmed
Simpsons story about attempting to
fix the lights. He claimed to be an
experienced pilot and to know the riv-
er regulations "pretty thoroughly"
but insisted upon using the terms
"left" and Fright" for the port and
starboard sides of the boat, and could
not tell what color lights should have
been on the two sides.
81 saw the Angler when she was
about mile away" he declared in an
swer to questions put by assistant
United States Attorney Hawkin. u
then looked down to see what was
wrong with the engine and did not see
the steamer again until she was about
80 feet away. I heard a whistle just
before we struck. | was thrown over
board and suction drew me into the
wheelbox of the Angler. / was gotten
out after I had called for help"
L. E. Dameron said he was chang
ing his clothes in the cabin when the
collision came. He jumped and one
of the women jumped with him and
caught hold Of his shoulder.
"The woman clung on to me while
swan to the bow of the Angler,
he continued. "No one threw me a
lifeline. AS l reached the side OF the
steamer, a negro leaned over and
hauled me on bard by my wrist. he
jerked me so that the woman lost her
hold and dropped back into the water
asked the colored man to let me save
her. but ne paid no attention to me.
Lieut.. Dean, commanding the har-
Dor precinct police. at the investigate
on before the steamboat inspectors
said the running lights OF the Lotus
mad been found in closet in the cab