Deception
Captain Roberts Story
Captain Roberts was interviewed by the newspaper and again at the inquest immediately after the tragedy. Free of burns, he provided specific detail of the steamer's grounding and the victims final moments.
It was almost entirely false.
19th Century Jury
I stayed on the hurricane deck till she struck ground. I stayed because it was my duty and my proper post.
I did not ring to stop the engines and they were kept running purposely…
-Captain Roberts
Captain Roberts Recital, A Horror,
The Florida Daily Times, Tuesday April 25, 1882
Captain Roberts Recital
Newspaper Interview
William H. Roberts, the Captain of the City of Sanford, is a man in the prime of life, a native of Middle Florida, though he has lived most of his life in Jacksonville. He had been Captain of the Sanford about two months, and in the tragedy in which his connection with that craft has closed has shown himself a hero, He is quiet and evidently very deeply affected by what has occurred. He visited The Times office at request and made the following statement.
He said “I was lying down, but not asleep. It was just before day. The watchman came to my door and gave the alarm. He said “Captain, the boat is on fire”. I sprang our and saw the fire coming up from the main deck on the port side. I did not stop to deliberate. I ran immediately for the pilot house, On the way I met the purser, I told him to get the passengers out while I beached the boat.
We were not more than two hundred yards from the shore. I climbed to the hurricane deck, where the pilot house is, and had her headed for the shore just as quick as it could be done, and I ran her at full speed, trying to beach her so high that she couldn’t swing around and drift or be blown off. The tide was flooding and the wind was with the tide; there was nothing on shore to tie to.
I stayed on the hurricane deck till she struck ground. I stayed there because it was my duty and my proper post. I did not ring to stop the engines and they were kept running purposely to keep the steamer against the bank. If the engines had stopped she would undoubtedly have swung off into the river."
I found it difficult getting down form the hurricane deck on account of fire. I went through the saloon to see if all the passengers were out. The saloon was open, and the fire was fast catching on the end of it. No one was in the saloon, but Mrs. Keep and her child were in their state room. I told her to get out very quick. She said she would be out in a minute, and I told her she didn’t have the minute to spare! I opened her door. She was sitting on the lower berth putting on her shoes; her dress was on, but not buttoned. I caught her by the arm, and she in turn caught her little boy, and I dragged them both our astern to the gangway.
I don’t think that till I pulled her out of her room she had realized how near the danger was. “I told her to jump into the river. I said “the water is shallow; the boat is aground.” But she held back.
19th Century mother and child.
Publisher unknown
"I made Miss Ireland jump. She lost her footing in the water, and was getting under the wheel. I sprang after her, drew her out, and got her ashore."
-Captain Roberts
Captain Roberts Recital, A Horror,
The Florida Daily Times, Tuesday April 25, 1882
I made Miss Ireland jump. She lost her footing in the water, and was getting under the wheel. I sprang after her, drew her out, and got her ashore. I went back immediately, but when I got there the place where I had left the ladies and children was in a blaze, and they had disappeared. I never saw them again.
“The steward was standing with me and the ladies when I jumped overboard. He tells me that just as I leaped, Mrs. Ireland’s little girl got panic-stricken, and ran back into the burning saloon. Probably her mother ran to catch her and the other two were dazed enough to follow. I believe now that if I had thrown one of the children overboard, the whole crowd would have followed."
Mrs. Keep was found atop the wreck at daybreak. Her head had been burned off and the charred remains of her son were by her side.
Miss Ireland's hair was burned off. Her hands and face were badly burned and she had been injured by the wheel. She never jumped and never saw the Captain on the stern. She was on fire when blown back into the paddle wheel.
Captain Roberts wasn't burned because he wasn't there.
Captain Roberts Testimony,
Florida Daily Times April 25th, 1882
“I came down and went through the saloon. I opened the door of the first room and spoke to Mrs. Keep…. I shoved the door open and taking hold of her arm took her and her little boy out.”
-Captain Roberts
Captain Roberts Testmony
Coroners Inquest
“I was Captain of the City of Sanford. I was lying down when the alarm was given. I had been sitting up late and had been in my room but a short time when the watchman called me. I jumped up, ran out and saw the flames coming up on one side of the boat. I ordered the pilot to head her for the shore. When I first came on deck, I ordered the pilot to get all the passengers up and see that they all got out; then I came down and went through the saloon. I opened the door of the first room and I spoke to Mrs. Keep who was in the room and told her to get out as quickly as possible; she answered, “in a minute”. I said you haven’t got a minute. I shoved the door open and taking hold of her arm took her and her little boy out.
“I took them aft and, getting there, found two other lady passengers. I told them to jump overboard as the water was shallow and the boat was aground. One of the ladies, Miss Ireland, jumped overboard. I saw that she would be sucked under the wheel and jumped over after her telling the others to follow me and I would take them ashore. I carried Miss Ireland ashore and then came back to the boat. When I got back the flames had covered the spot where I had left the ladies. I was in the water some time after that but could render no assistance.”
“The Captain has full charge in case of accident….
There was no necessity of anyone drowning in three feet of water.”