Year: 1875

GATED BY THE UNITED STATES STEAMSHIP


INSPECTORS.


An investigation was commenced yesterday at tho
office of the United States Local Inspectors Of Steam
ships in Pine street. before jeremiah Simonson Local
Inspector OF Hulls, into the causes OF the collision
between the steamer Americus and a steam launch on
Eighteenth street. North River, when Andrew Leahy,
the engineer of the launch, was drowned The said
collision occurred Sunday, the 18th of August 1875
The following evidence gwen by the several parties
connected with the Steamers


LUKE soHEscK PILOT or THE STEAMER AMERIcUs
being sworn, testihed-When l first discovered the
launch we about six lengths away from her; at
first did know it a launch, but supposed to
small sloop; the launch kept on until about one
length off when the furnace door was opened and
showed what she was she coming down very
fast slowed my boat and Immediately after COM
menced backing; before ringing my slow bell blew
one whistle, which not answered by the launch;
/ heard, were approaching the launch,
some call out herto put tho helm ''hard star
board" this when we were less than length of;
the wheels Of the Amercus made i've or six turns back
before striking the launch; when together she
sagged right toward the shock was so slight that we
hardly noticed it, but the


LITTLE CRUSHED THROUGH AND DISAPPEARED
out of sight; wheels then stopped and we got
a boat ready to lower when boat put out from
docks render such assistance as was necessary
laid by some ten minutes when we were told all
saved and as We had drited near the bathhouse
started ahead and made our landing at Twenyfourth
street; as l said before


and did not answer my whistle; had they kept their
course ported their helm instead OF starboard
ing the collision would have occurred; lights
were all up and burning at the time l did all in my
power avoid the collision; went aft to lower boat,
but did not do so, there another boat already
there picking up the people in the water we we're at
the time about 600 feet oil the docks.


WILLIAM LEWIS, HOOK PILOT
and passenger the steamer Amercus at the time,
testned-When l first the launch she was
about point off our port bow; the Americus was
about lengths off the docks; when first saw the
launch the pilot of the Americus shut her of, as she
was going full speed at the time he blew whistle
and rang one bell 10 slow ana then stopped; a. the
time leaning out of the after port window OF the
pilot house, and AZ that time saw this launch star.
board her helm; previous to thus you could not tell
what she was, she had lights said TO the cap
| tain 10 back her quick, which he did but she was
right bow; the Americus was backing until
she struck the launch; after the launch was struck


the Americus stopped and laid by for some time there
were no lights up; certainly the starboard
side; nothing 10 indicate that she was steam
| vessel;


the pilot of the Americus did ALL in my opinion, in
his power avoid a collision; If the launch had kept
her course the collision would not have occurred; the
Amercus did alter her course; it did vary one
| quarter OF point either way.


| vALKKNBURGH


passenger the steamer Americus, tesfed-was about
to go deck, to land at Twenty fourth street,
! and when / got at the forward gangway, the port
side, heard whistle from the Americus went
forward and small vessel; the bell then rang
to slow and stop and back, which all came together;
! then what it was; heard some one on the launch
sing out to hard 10 starboard the hem three or four
times; then something passing under our bows;


went to the sarboard side and as got there
saw the fire fly out of the furnace of the launch
| CRASH;


Immediately went and told the mate 10 lower
boat and at the time saw boat put out rom
the dock to rescue the people; when l first the
boat she was on our port bow saw no lights the
| launch the launch was putting her helm to star
board saw the light from her furnace; the Americus
laid by fifteen minutes after the collision.
OFFICERS MOSES W. CoRTRIGHT AND HRERY AITKIN,
of the Sixteenth police precinct station, testified in
more or less under the influence OF liquor, as
they he oncers had opportunity of judging as the
men were with the officers all OF threequarters oil an
| hour.


The foregoing evidence corroborstcd the main
by Solomon Coombs. wheelsman of the steamer Amer
icus and Thomas Liddicoat master of the steamship
Gamma, plying between this port and Bermuda


WILLIAM MILLER, CHIEF ENGINEER OF STEAMSHIP CUBA,
testified that he passenger on the launch and he
did the Americus until she was on them; that
they up the river pleasure excursion, and
being acquainted with the river did not know how
far up they WENT returning landed part Of the
party at Thirty-sxth street and proceeded down tho
j river he being the heinz there aboard
the boat intoxicated; Mr. Lynch did hold pilots
! license to my knowledge; he twas foreman, and
steered the boat according to his orders cannot swear
that there were any lights up; did not hear any
whistle blow; / heard the order 70 starboard the
helm and the order TO blow the whistle but it was
impossible to blow under the circumstances; the
| Americas struck before had q chance TO blow.
LYNCH


owner of the launch testified that the collision occurred
Sunday August 10, 1875 at about eight p. M We
had been up to Excelsior Grove, and coming down
landed Mt Forty sixth street. ana as came down in
turning Twenty fourth street sighted the Americus
she leaving Tenth street; " that time Mr.. Miller
at the helm; told him TO keep in close to the
| docks, as the Americus coming and wanted to
Keep out of her swell; told him 10 starboard as
| the Americus coming toward US; was for
ward standing in the bows when she struck
us; the that was drowned went over
| on the port side; Miller and went over
ON either side the Americas stem and under the
wheels, l suppose the wheels cf the Americus drew
the other (Leahy) under and struck him; we had
to swim for the dock; one offered any assistance;
asI reached tho corner of the dock met boat and
told them the assistance of the other two
they found Miller and not Leahy; this launch had
never been inspected; she not ready for nspec-
ton; constantly making alterations on her !;
A there licensed master or pilot aboard; we
/ had been up the river and stopped at Excelsior
Grove there lager drank there also there
keg Of lager aboard, but none of the persons
board under the influence OF liquor; the damage
to the launch about 81, 300 sio has since been
raised; there was one life lost-viz, Andrew Leahy
engineer.


The investigation was then adjourned sine die de-
| cison in the will be reached in a few days.