Year: 1870

INVESTIGATION BEFORE CORONER wHITEHILL


IN RROOKLYN-TEsTIMONY OF THE CAPTAIN


AND PILOT OF THE NORwALK.


coroner Whitehill of Brooklyn last evening
- am ton into the circumstances by which
Johu T. Phean of No. 10 West Twentysixthst this city
who WAS q passenger the Coney Island boat Norwak
AZ the time she came in collision with the schooner Lazy
Helen lost his life The Coroners room IN the kmgs
County court House, where the investigation Is held


,os, NIGHT Allied by witnesses and interested listen


arc Te foowipg are the names OF the jury which has
been impanneled Thomas Wayne, Edward Daley Den
MIA O. Keete Francis Harkman, Daniel Higgins, Chares
Mayor Edward Pierce, Francis Clyker, Valentine Ma
nengart, VIM. H. Perr1ne'


The arst witness called James Lyons who deposed


reside at fremont NewYork was on the o'clock trip
Of the steamcr Norwalk the 18th inst Mr. Phaen the
deceased was with recognize the body found as that
OF Mr. Phalen when got on the boat we took drinks
at the bar standing close by Phaen, and heard
the crash when the boats coided was Knocked down.
and did not deceased aferward until recognized
his body upon recovering my feet jumped on to the
OF the schooner the bar upon the deck OF the
there were about persons upon the deck of
the schooner that fast TO the steamer some one said
that the schooner sinking, and then got back on
the steamer the schooners bowspt was into the side
of the steamer the Wheel 1t was dark at the time
the collision occurred, and do not know whether the
schooner had any lights do not recolect seeing any
Il
believe that the collision caused Mr. Phaen to lose his


life the Captain appeared to be collected and discharg-
ing his duty faithfully heard no whistle blown before
the collision, but did after IL occurred the whistle
might have been blown before the collision and would
not have noticed it do not know whether the boat or
scG9On1r saTs Hno9s Spyeea Geere 70 look for
perfectly sober at the time Judging from the P oaPan
actions after the collision, would DO again Wiling W


Capt Wilson deposed-Nly name is George w. Wilson;


H. 90 rcf Rrank klVn an
the steamer Norwak, and was at the time OF inc COZ
lsion the boat was on her O'clock Trip rom cGney
tween 800 and passengers the Jesse HOY We first
passed, and returned whistles with her OF Bay
Ridge I was attending TO my duty and was going from


sen e a1eT r Whistle Was blown once almost sm
taneousy one bell struck; ran up TO the forward
Rat Of on the the boat asa S the
STUCK STUCK us u.s. T fm%ediately went below to the
main deck went aft to the ireroom, and met fire
answered mo-" told him to keep sharp ookout
then went board OF the schooner the schooner struck
US and got my head down to look under our guard to
see how far the OF the schooner had gone into our
side; found that the fracture was just about three
bat on the sta sarboard de asked several gentlemen
to assist me in getting the passengers on tat SIDE as9
ance; then i went back to the schooner, which had
oil her sails set; l sung out to the schooner, ana
asked the captain got reply and none from any
OF the hands; the passengers were In the meantime
going board of the schooner which was locked to Le
steamer; word from OF the passengers that
there was not soul Of the crew on board OF the
sclOOuer: i
schooner and her hayards 50 that the sails might be
lowered by that time the tug had come up on our star
to her. which he did; urged the passengers to come
back on the steamer that would take them ashore
got quite number back, but some remained
the the then ad sn to%
fast 10 the schooner by some passengers 10 hold her as


ordered these ines cut %e NJ toa % so e lug eond
taking in water the tug took us TO the foot OF Sullivan
st. Brooklyn, and there we landed all our passengers
safp 1


did not witness the collisions one OF my passengers


cir yaw-boat did not know that the crew had left
the schooner when l cut her S loose Sc from US; |
could manage TO navigate her the captain OF the
told me to-day tes ne ft sa e % a
sink; at the time Of the collision IL was flood de my
duty is to give the pilot his point OF destination anq hO
the passengers; the pilot was at the time OF the collision
whistle that the collision occurred the pilot could have
we had stopped the steamer the collision would have
been worse, for the schooner would have
g0no Gas not aware that anybody was drowned
heard that some had gone overheard, and that was
any lights on the schooner boat had lights fore and
aft; did not know Mr.. Phalen, or that he my


Se epGnerodm; we had about 300 aboard we had out
bow-ght, sgnalisht on each wheelhouse tgreen and
red) and a white light the after flagstaff just
as sober during the time as am now had not drank
drop; we had all the fe,preseryeTs required by law



were thrown overheard by som0 one and were drifting
all around.


George B. seeey deposed Ireside at No. $40 Washing
ton-st., NewYork City; was pilot on the N0rwak at
OF the collision were on our regular course
TO New-York and had got OFF Bay Ridge buoy; from
there my to pier No. Is northeast by north half
north was steering that course up we were haf
mile north OF this buoy when passed the Jesse Hoyt
to the westward bowed my whistle twice for her and
she answered then saw this schooner coming down
about quarters Of mile ahead the schooner was
standing south saw her two lights before
got her shut her greer light in from her bsays to
the eeward in about four minutes was looking out
and her coming down to US, and then blew my
whistle once go the hight OF her and for her to go to
the right Of Inc seeing that she coming upon us
rang the bell to slow the engine. know
ing that II | backed / could not escape heri |
Capt. Hazard, who was in the piothouse, cried |
them luf when they twice the length OF the
boat of then my wheel harda-port; with that
she came into forward part OF the wheel then the
boat stopped there great excitement, ana some pas
sengers tried 10 jump the schooner as the steamer
sinking; went into the forward cabin, and found
that the boat not making water then went back
10 the upper deck and blew the whistle, by taking h0ld
Of the valve the wire had broke; the tug watkins
up stern and got line fast to us and towed
us OFF; did not know Mr.. Phalen.


lha furtla pfrta tfsraf fhanQ AL