Year: 1872

Steerage Passengers Were Cooped up.


PROVIDENCE, r. l., Sept. s, 1872


The government Investigation into the causes OF
the Mets disaster was resumed here to-day, and as
will be seen the testimony adduced was not only
important, as showing the condition OF affairs
about the time Of the terrible climax In the rain
storm, but furnishes q thrilling narrative Of the
surroundings when all hope seemed gone. That q
widespread interest is taken In this inquiry by the
community at large Is evident from the earnest
manner In which the sad calamity continues to be
discussed. The great tide CT travel on railroads,
too. is not little significant, and people will
hardly jeopardize their lives until something Is
done to instill more confidence in the manage
ment of Sound steamers than at present appears
to exist 1t seems strange, moreover, that so
many appalling msiortunes should happen almost
In one week-the wreck Of the Metis, the burning
OF the Nevada and the loss Of the Benville and 1t
Is safe to say that numerous accidents, frequently
attended with serious results, occur on the Sound
that


NEVER COME TO LIGHT,


except, perhaps, by the mysterious and indefinite
intelligence to the effect that an unknown schooner
was run into such and such night, and nothing
more. Under these circumstances it is confidently
hoped that this investigation properly organized,
with the sincere determination of first ascertain
ing all the facts connected with the horror of last
Friday morning, and especially Of inquirng what
equipments and appliances were at hand in the
moment OF the trying emergency, will be
the means of inaugurating safer system
of travel than at present Is permitted.
Whatever conclusion may be arrived at certain 1t
Is that some reforms must necessarily be sug-
gested, while many concur In the opinion that the
law regarding steamboats, and sailing vessels must
be more rigidly enforced. In reference to the
statements Of many of the passengers it must be
said, In justice to the officers Of the Mets, that
some exaggeratons naturally characterized them,
for 1t appears that when death stared all hands In
the face they were found at their posts and failed
not to do what they could, little though 1t may
have been, to relieve the crowd OF clamorous and
despairing human beings that crowded the hurri-
cane deck That, however, Will not form the main
Issue of the inquiry. 1t is rather


THE IMMEDIATE CAUSE AND RESPONSIBILITY OF THE


COLLISION,


which will occupy the Board Of Inspectors who, 1t
Is to be hoped win leave no stone unturned to un,


mystery. 1t Is therefore plain that the result OF
the investigation will be regarded with keen inte-
rest by all, nasmuch as 1t is expected to bring to
light the present defects Of steamboat travel on the
Sound, and to recommend such changes and the
enforcement OF such regulations as may be deemed
necessary in order to insure more confidence, and
to establish safe precedent whereby vessels
hencefOrth carrying passengers must be guided





down here with Inspector Low to investigate the
Metis matter found no end OF dillculty in getting
q chance to examine witnesses, who, although
many were believed to be in Providence, were


UNCOMMONLY SHADY.


~ rins 'e ne was ne nn r 40 pe s Sa
Inspectors visited the Custom House and inter-
viewed General Shaw, Jr, the Collector OF the Port
He extended all the aid in his power and made an
arrangement whereby the United States Court
room will be placed ace, a the Inspectors disposal TO-
carried on comfortably at least. SO much having
been satisfactorily settled, Inspectors Beckwith
had arrived from New York at noon. The object Of
this visit was to enable Inspector Beckwith to
become familiar with her peculiar build, as
e he haa Ms1 s never seem On board ' the % pors
were found J. c. King, the chief engineer of the
in a small stateroom, nine by four. The desk was
wofully small and the bench was narrow berth,
where were perched the Court.


THE TESTIMONY


was very important, especially the bow watch.
mans lie detailed the circumstances surround.
ing Immediately preceding the collision. He told
how two lights were visible to him ON the port and
starboard bows for ten minutes before the accident
took place, and how the steamer Nereus was close
space Of time which took {}n,, In the ., scenes Of
have hailed her at any time, If we wanted
help and got it," said he ''But we blew on the
whistle the signal Of all right and started ahead
while she went Off on her course. SO 1t was:n and
the witness narrated tale Of thrilling interest in
his rough, "down Eastern" way giving an account
OF his narrow escape on bucket rack, which he
had launched when convinced of the vessels sink
ing condition. Then lie told OF his rescue by the
lows worked in the watch Hill surf boat to save
their struggling fellow creatures from watery
graves But the whole is given below. Suffice 1t
TO say that this mans testimony could not be got
through this evening; therefore the inquiry was
adjourned until tomorrow morning, at nine A. NJ.


Testimony Of Chief Engineer King.


Mr.. King said IL was Chief Engineer of the
steamer Mets from the 2oth Of July last until she
was lost; was serving In that capacity on the night
OF the disaster about halfpast three O'Clock the
morning OF the 3oth was awakened while In my
room aft, by the stopping Of the Wheel I jumped
up, having lain down with my clothes on,
slipped on my shoes and ran forward to the engine.
room as was going forward I heard some one
say that man was overheard; did not stop, but
kept on TO the engine room after had been there
two or three minutes one OF the deck hands came
TO for some nails saying he wanted to nail some
canvas over hole which was ~, burst IN
start start ahead, which We did. within two Of three
thought we had sunk the schooner and that proba-
bly, all hands were lost and asked me II the steamer
was making any water; told him the oiler was
down below looking, who reported that


THE PUMPS WERE SUCKING AIR;


the bilge pumps were working all the time while
the engine was in motion; I thought we were look
ing for the schooner; the steamer had quite o
heavy list to the port, and was seemingly set.
tlng forward; the mate then commenced to run
freight up on the starboard side, to right the ship
but 1t answered no purpose; he then went for
ward; as was not fully satisfied abont the ships
leaking, sent my assistant down, who went into
the run where our pumps take water, and lie
also reported that the pumps were sucking air;
then stopped to look down into the fre-room and
saw the water bursting through along each side Of
the boiler; coming from tile forward should
think that the space was about eighteen inches
wide on each side OF the boiler, and that the cur
rents OF water were about four feet deep, which ap
parently broke In at once; then sent the second
engineer to open the bilge Injection which he did
Immediately, and by the time he got IL open