The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-07-12
DEATH RESULTING FROM CARELEssNEsl
ON SHlPBOARD.
Sweeping Verdict Against . Steamship
Company.

Sweeping Verdict Against q Steamship
Company.
Yesterday morning Coroner Herman held an
inquest at his Office No. 40 East Houston street, In
the case of George Fitzgerald, chill three and
half years OF age, whose death was caused on the
9th ultimo'on board the steamship Greece of the
National line, then lying at Quarantine, by drinking
from cup poisonous mixture used for disnfect-
ing purposes. 1t was charged by the parents Of
deceased, who came as passengers on the
Greece that the agents Of the ship were re-
sponsible for leaving the poison where the child
could reach 1t, and the result showed that they
were right In their conclusions. Below will be
found brief synopsis OF the evidence adduced and
the verdict Of the jury
Edwin Page, surgeon on board the steamship
Greece OF the National line, deposed that on the
trip previous 10 the last the ship arrived at this
port on the 4th ofJune; at Quarantine the Quaran-
tine authorities took entire possession OF the ship
for the purpose OF dsinfectng; none OF the ships
officers have anything whatever to do with the
fumigating nuid; deceased drank the mud pre-.
vious to placing the fumigating nuid about the
steerage the passengers are ordered on deck, a.
was the case in this instance; the witness was
called to attend deceased and the child left the
William Jay, second steerage steward aboard the
Greece, deposed that as soon as the ship arrived
ct Quarantine the steerage passengers were or
fumtgated; the witness was the last to leave the
steerage, and the passengers were the first to 60
In all the apertures were closed except one ;
about an hour after the fumigatinQ was started
the witness went down with the officer Of the
watch; the witness placed man to prevent pas
sengers from going down; then opened every
port and door In the steerage to allow the fumes
Ing nuld overheard; saw Mrs. Fitzgerald and her
child at the bottom Of the ladder: soon heard Mrs.
Fitzgerald scream, and saw the baby in her arms
frothln9 at the mouth; sent for DR.. Page; man
was placed at the top OF the ladder; the man
was placed on the starDoard ladder; the hatch 10
% the steerage; It is possible that the man in
charge OF the ladder will allow persons to go
down in spite OF bis warning; it is this mans duty
to allow no one down till the witness says that
across the hatch. From much questioning the
witness became slightly impertinent, and was
properly rebuked by the Coroner
posed that no one told her not 10 go down the
hatch and that there was no rope at the hatch
Jacob s. Mosher, M. D., Deputy Health Ofncsr,
deposed to fumigating the steamship Greece, which
Ia done with chlorine. produced by pouring sui
phCric acid on mixture OF peroxide OF manganese
and common salt; the Immigration is done IN yes
sells furnished by the ship. So.
Deputy Coroner Cushman, who made post
norton examination on the body, testified that
compound OF sulphuric acid and peroxide Of man
ganese.
dered the following v,1,,cr
THAT George Fitzgerald came to his death rom
gastritis by drinking poisonous liquor, on June Z,
ISIS lett careessly BY the officers OF the s snip
was within reach OF SAID child, and that the COM
pany is responsible for the death OF the chin
caused through carelessness OF ITS omcers"
tends bringing civil suit for damages a2ainsttho
owners Of the National steamship Company.