The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-08-24
CARL BURK'S ADVENTURE.

CARL BURK'S ADVENTURE.
WHAT THE CAPTAIN OF THE CONTINENTAL SAYS
ABOUT IT SUPERINTENDENT wAL1INa's
OPINION.
II the remarkable story told by Carl Burk Of his
pcrous adventure board the Sound steamer CONT
mental Monday night proves true 1t Will bring to
ligh. new and horrible phase of crimc and one thar
will awaken a of insecurity among steamboat
travellers. 1t seems highly improbable that
could be assaulted robbed and thrown overheard from
the deck of steamer crowded with passengers and no
knowledge OF the fact to those on board. But con-
siderng the late hour Of the occurrence and the
straightforward story told by Burk there is no good
reason to doubt his statement and the matter should
be thoroughly investigated He gives clear account
OF his dongs through the day and up to within halt an
hour eleven O'clock when he parted from his friend
board the Continental, which left at that hour. Tho
tmo when the outrage occurred would allow the steam.
boat reach the point where he rescued by pass
ing schooner and he could hardly get there by any
other means However he in the water, it was
fortunate Tor him that he was expert swimmer and
a muscular man. If the had happened to
weaker man the story would probably be told in few
words from the Coroner's office
dligeni search by Detective Hey failed to elicit any
Glow by which to work out the Burk was In the
habit of carrying large wallet filled with papers, but
containing very little money. The only place he ex-
posed 1t view in restaurant whore he took sup
per- He stoutly denies that he under the influence
OF liquor that night, aud his statement
Is confirmed by the friend who passed
the evening with him. He further said it
was unreasonable to suppose that he could
NAMED aloat for hour in such a condition. He
left Tor New Haven yesterday by the cars saying
amount Of money would induce him TO go board tho
steamboat again. When leaving he promised tn write
to he ard give ali tho aid he could to dis
cover the rulans who robbed him.
Captain Peck, of the Continental, yesterday made
the following statement:-
CAPTAIN PEcK's STATEMENT.
Nv first knowledge Of the matter was on my return
to New York on Tuesday afternoon whom was waited
upon by Detective Hey in company with Burk. at
once instituted investigation, the result Of which
makes conclude that the man was not thrown
overheard claimed %
That no was found in the water one mile away from
land is of course ndisputable, and will not deny his
being on board my boat, although am not satisfied
that he was The waichman oil the steamer Is a faith
full ana vgilant officer, and Of his most important
duties rs TO closely scrutinzs passengers as they come
board. This IS rendered necessary to prevent per-
from stealing free passage and aiso to stop dis
reputable characters from making the trip. The
Waterman was confronted with Burk, but failed to
recognize him. The purscr and tho hall boy also
failed recognize him, and IL seems to me that one OF
them would have remembered his lace had no been
board. lie admitted not having purchased ticket
and his name was consequently not on the register
carefully examined that part OF the boat where he
claimed TO have sat when thrown overheard Ii was
side, near tho bulkhcad. About ten feet away
IN the OF the deck lamp Is always
kept burning at night so that the Waterman can sec
Is there. Tue decks ard the railing were recently
painted light color, aud the railing Is a trail netting
WORK. Had nero been sucn struggle as Burk de-
scriDes or even an ordinary tussle, evidence Of The
would be plainly visible on IT, but u, nc could be
found by either Detective Hey Burk or myself. The
pant on the deck would also have exhibited marks,
but there AT ten minutes 10 Que O'Clock,
about the time when he claims 10 nave been thrown
overheard visited that art of the deck some
haf-dozcn men sitting around talking and smoking l
visited there al hall but found nobody ON
deck although Just inside Tho cabin. about eight feet
away, noticed family that apparently had been un
able obtain 1t consisted OF gentleman and
two ladies', and Two or three children TINS iam,ly
would have heard the NOISE OF struggle had any
taken place. Another thing that makes his story i'm
probable the that the railing and guards OF the
lower deck project nearly three ieet from the outside
railing Of the upper deck making 1t almost physically
impossible Tor Two men 10 throw a person oil Burks
ply sque and weight into The water clear oil the lower
deck.
Burk claims that he scratched the face OF OF his
assaiants, but am positive that no man with a
scratched face passed on shore IN the morning. neither
was any such person seen by the Waterman through
the night. Another very suspicious circumstance
In Burk story Is that no has already made three
four contradictory statements. He stated to that
he did not Know whet,c or he had passed Blackwels
Island before the occurrcncc yet he told HERALD re-
IN tho river had been pointed out to
him by stranger on board. lie made
another statement about tue same matter Ia HIS
version to Tho police. My theory OF the entire matter
Is that II Burk board the Continental he jumped
overheard either In TT OF temporary insanity or
while under the influence OF liquor am ccra n that
lie thrown overheard during my long service
as a captain the sound never knew OF person
meeting with foul play or losing property on any OF
lines, for carefully exclude from our boats all
dsrcputablc characters There have becn one or two
OF suicide clearly proven, but nothing more
shall however, not rest until get at the bottom OF the
affair
The above statement OF Captain Peck does not en-
tircy agree with his statement to HERALD reporter
who visited the Continental In company with Detective
Hey and BurK. c then said that on the night III qucs
ton he renamed IN the plot house I'll haiti astweve
when, customary with him. he made n tour OF tho
vessel 10 that the lamps all secure At that
lime lie saw about half dozen men on
the promenade deck. He camc there again about a
quirtcr-past threc o'clock and there was no one
around. Captain Peek accompanied Burk and the de-
tcclive to the spot where Burk says he was sitting
when attacked and cross.qucstioDed MN al length
about how occurred He also questioned the colored
boy In charge Of the siaerooms about how many times
he was on the promenade deck during the night Tho
boy made contradictory replies.
lf l,urk was board the Continental which tho
Captain admits rs possible, and Tell or jumped over
board, they would, no doubt have found the vslise
winch Burk says he had with HIM. That he had not
paid his fare is evidence that he the
steamer II Is common Occurrence for passengers to
Till retiring before buying their tickets. AZ to
his contradictory statements ABOUT Blackwcls Island
that the man was telling him about that place.
and when speaking OF the struggle did not say no
scratched his assaants lncc, but that he graspcd his
whiskers and thought he miaht have scratched HIN
supcrni cndcnt Wsling stated TO a reporter vcstcr
day that new dcveiopmcpts had occurred in the
mystery. He inclined bcevc. however, that
~ out.r r.l.f nd .y Iturt IVA fahr .cut,