Year: 1866




Result of the Official InvestIg alton
Testimony as to the SeRwOrthiness of
the Vessel-The ship Lost by an Error
Of the CaptRln-Veakness of the Crew
Probable Cause of the Disaster-Tbe
New York inspectors ExOnerRted from
Blame, Etc.


WAsHINeToNy November 9.-The officAl investi-
patonbordered by the Treasury Department into the
that ed to the terrible loss Of the steamship
Bventng Star has Teen concluded, and the report
Captain N. NJ New who is IN charge on the adj
ministrauon OF the steamship laws.


The report is very lengthy and exhaustive. Mr..
Waterbury, ship.builder, of the firm of Roosevelt,
Joyce Waterbury, testlfes under oath that she
was as strong ship as he had ever built in his
twenty-elght years experience. A null description
OF the manner IN which the ship built then fol-
lows, with this concluding Commentary


From this 1t will be seen that the ship was thor.
oughly we'll built, and that much OF current
report TO the contrary manifestly erroneous rae
engines, though built in 1854 and originally IN
tended tor lake navigation, are proved to have been
OF sufficient capacity and power for the ship. and
the evidence show that IN neither engines nor boiler
VAS any defect discovered, Her spars, sails, and
ngging were all new and in excellent condition.
She was not provided, however, vito any extra
of captain, first and second officers, boatswain and
ten seamen. The engine department was composed
of one chi1 engineer, Two assistants, three water
tenders, six hremen, and eight coal-passers.


she was provided with all the life. boats required
by law, six IN number beside one extra twenty ieet
boat additional The ship had once been ashore on
Pickle Rect, Florida, on the 91st OF Nay asst, and
evidence was taken TO show the extent OF the injury
she then suffered. 1t appears that, though on the
reef fifty hours, he continued her voyage to New
Orleans returned, and made another trip.


In July il was thought best to give her over
hauling, which was DONE and 1t was discovered that
her keel was split IN places extending from about
mdships TO thirty feet aft, but 1t not started any
way in the seams. This poi ton OF her keel was
removed and new piece put on and securely
fastened.


she was completely overhauled in other respects
by the local inspectors i'll New York before leaving
the ways, and it was tOund that she in as good
condition as ever, The conclusion OF the report
with reference to the seaworthV condition of the
vessel IS in the following lanPuage;-


"The evidence seems TO be conclusive on this
pOin, ana the testimony proves that up TO her SAIL
ing for the last time from New York she was good,
seTviceab!e seaworthy vessel"


The details of the disaster as developed by the
evidence are thus given with great mnuteness
The final sinking of the ship being caused by the
heavy sea forcing the forward gangway ana pouring
great volumes OF water INTO the englneToom. which
1t impossible to relieve the ship of, as there
no ships carpenter on board, nor any apparatus
Ior the purpose.


Captain New, in recapliulang the testimony ar
rives at tho conc uslOn that the principal cause of
the disaster was an error OF judgment the part of
the Captain because, having strong Uremonitions of
The Storm he might have avoided its main force nv
changing his course He did not do so, however,
but kept on his direct course, encounterng the full
force OF the storm IN the evening. The report saws


'It will be seen from the first hour the settled
course of the storm was norhward and 1t is believed
that had the ship been headed west early the at
ternoon OF Tuesday, the vessel might have been
saved by escaping the full fury of the tempest, and





the Gulf Stream. This, II IS believed, would have
been the part OF wisdom, If acted upon ID season.
But it ls likewise certain that to attempt to his
ship after the gale had eliminated the hurricane
wouldghave been hazardous experiment, and his
only chance for safety would have been to keep his
ships head TO the sea- which it is believed, might
nave been done by means of q drag assisted by a
little show OF canvas on her mainmast. Nothing OF
the sort was even attempted and from the time she
fell of into the trough of the sea, effort seems to
have been made 10 haul her up after the rudder was
secured, and the only means of safety in the judg.
meOl OIL tne captain seems to nave been IN keeDiDQ
the ship free of the woter which she shipped, bv
bainP, etc. In the hope that the storm might bate
II IS wonder that the vessel lived so long under
these circumstances"


The report further says al confess to the belief in
staunch in her hull, had there been carpenter on
board The ultimate cause of her ROing down was
the shipping of such immense quantities of water
THROUGH the breaches in her upper works on the
starboard side, Whether Captain Knapp would
have been led to adopt expedlents for getting the
ships head TO wind or sea had he had larger crew
it is impossible to say; but taking INTO consideras
tion his long experience at and his reputation
q seaman il is difficult to account for the fact of
his not having done so, excepting the ground of
the evident inability OF any such attempt with so
weak q crew. Indeed, with the lew seamen at his
disposal IN such gale, he must have tet himself
comparatively helpless" The report in conclusion
says:lt gives much satisfaction in being alb 10 to
state that the Inspectors in New York. who are Sound
practical meO, discharged their whole dutv in the
inspection of the E0eRing Star in August last"