The Washington herald., 1912-06-01
OF LOTUS
WASING0MPETEhT
Inquest Into Drowning Of Women
Shows Man at Wheel Was IgnO-
rant Of Regulations.
WILL CONTINUE PROBE TODAY

That the man at the wheel Of the pleas
ure launch Lotus. when IT collided with
the excursion steamer Angler last Sun
day night in the Potomsc. knew practi-
cally nothing Of steering or OF nautical
terms. signals and regulations, was
brought out yesterday afternoon at the
District morgue at the inquest over the
bodies OF Mrs. Bessie Haller and Mrs
Sarah Nelson. the two young women oc-
cupants Of the little craft. who were
drowned following the accident.
Charles Toepfer. OF 45l H Street North
west. who was steering the pleasure craft
when the collision occurred. when asked
by counsel what part OF the Lotus was
struck by the Angler. said that the crash
was on the left side" Of the little vessel.
Samuel McComas Hawken, Assistant Dis
triet Attorney. Immediately asked the
witness for the nautical term applied 20
the left side" After somo hesitaney he
replied correctly. He was uncertain.
however, whether the red or green lights
should be on the port side. He was un-
able TO explain the meaning OF the two
whistles sounded by the pilot OF the
Angler.
Denied women's Presence.
A sensation was caused when Lewis
Jefferson, colored, manager OF the Angler.
deposed that during conversation with
Toepfer following the rescue. the latter
upon being questioned, denied that there
were any women on board the Lotus.
Jefferson said he told Toepfer that he had
seen a woman in the water. and that the
rescued man then replied: Pal, there
were two Of them, but keep II still" The
colored manager said that he inquired
their names, and received the answer:
II don't know, and don't give q d."
Arthur W. Simpson. owner Of the
Lotus. was the hrst witness placed on
the stand when the inquest was called
to order by Coroner J. Ramsay hewitt.
Simpson said that he left the city Sun
day morning in his boat. accompanied
by Toepfer. Claude Burllngame and Je-
rome Kaufman. The two girls were met
in a restaurant at Marshall Hall Simp-
son said that they missed the steamer.
and that as they desired to rech the
city by 80 o'clock in the evening he
offered to take them to Washington in
tho launch. When Fort FOOte was
reached, the witness said he attempted
to light the lamps. but while he was In
the act OF refllinE them with oil the en-
gine stopped running. and he was COM
PEELED to give his attention to Il. He
was adjusting the engine when the crash
came. There were no Ights on the cratt
with the exception Of a small electric
Eht In the cockpit. He said that he
threw two Hve-preservers into the water
in the direction Of the girls and then
on top Of the cabin. as he could
not swim.
Signal Not Answered.
Pilot Venerable. OF the Angler. testi-
fed that he did not distinguish the Lo-
tus as a boat until he was within I5O
feet OF i. He said that he blew two
blasts. meaning that he would starboard
his needle and pass to the left. He
no response from the Lotus. He
said that II the little craft had kept TO
her course the accident would have been
avoided. and explained that the Lotus
changed her course and attempted to
cross the bow OF the Angler.
Toepfer testified that he saw the Ang-
Ter when II was a mile ahead OF the
Lotus. and that the next time he looked
in that direction the steamer was with
in forty feet OF him. He was knocked
overheard by the impact. and was
sucked UP into the paddlewheel box. He
said that none Of the party was drunk.
but that twenty-three bottles Of beer
had been taken aboard at Marshall Hall.
Jefferson said that he saw a man and
a woman in the water and threw a