The New York herald., 1878-12-20
ALLEGED COWARDICE
A Keeper Away While Sea-
men Were Drowning.
HELP DELAYED FOR HOURS.
Rules of the Government
Not Obeyed.
rBY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD

The further examination or witnesses ia the Life
Saving Station investigation was continued this
morning. Park Hall being densely crowded with wit
nesses and spectators
The first witness called stephen D. Woolley
druggist, Asbury Park. In regard to the wreck of
the brig Eta NJ Tucker January 81. 1873 lie testified
that the brig aground of Asbury Park; at
seven A. NJ. that day was on the
baach: saw. shortly after, Vannote, slocum and
Others OF the Life Saving Service there with boat
they launched their boat soon as it possible;
Captain Slocum went in the boat Varnote did not
go saw Russell White there coming with mis- boat;
it was run down close to the surf; remained there
until all tine crew saved; Whites boat did not
80 to the wreck; John Socum had the steering of
the government boat: signed petition i'll favor of
Russell White for appointment under a representa-
ton that he WAS the only man asking for it, heard
afterward that yannote had been already recon-
nended and appointed, and then signed petition in
favor of yannote.
BY Mr.. Hazletine-What political party have you
acted with? A. With the republican
Counsel for yannote-I hoped that politics won ID
not be brought into this case / don't know
where it will end.
Committee-We don't want politics to enter the
case if we keep them out.
Ralph Bridge, OF Asbury Park. sworn:-Saw the
wreck of the Eta u. Tucker; the first
there sent my boy for Russell White. and he came;
the fe-savng boat about three-qrarters of an
hour after just before White got his boat there.
about five minutes apart; Vannote was standing up
to his waist in water, showing of the government
boat: he helped to catch it when it came back two
government crews there. one from No. 6 and
the other from No Z; John Sloculn took stern of No.
&; it half mile from station No. q; White did
not get his boat off because stopped him
and said give the government boat chance; yannote
was keeper of No. s; he did not go out in the boat
that brought the crew ashore there heavy gale
and surf rain, snow and flying sand Mr.. Hazetine
asked White to stop and give the government boat
chance
BY the Communicable you know whether Russell
White or vannote liquor? A. do not.
Communicative ask that question because we will
not allow man to be employed if he drinks liquor
to excess.
A PECULIAR HISTORY.
Samuel s. White, of Asbury Park, was sworn The
wreck of the Eta NJ Tucker half mile south of
the Philadelphia House; Russell White sent for me
to go with him in boat; got the boat
to the surf, just a. the station boat got
there; the government boat did not 60 off for
nearly fifteen minutes; yannote on the beach;
he did not go in the government boat; there
bad storrn-Yery heavy surf-as heavy l ever
it; FIVE men went in No. boat; the full crew
seven men; No. boat could carry six men as its
crew; have known Vannote ten years; have been
discharged for misconduct several times; think No.
& boat Is built for five oars, and could take six
oars; I would not trust my life in a heavy
surf with Nannote at the steering oar would with
Russell White or John Slocum; the habits OF Nannote
and Russell White are good; think there was delay
III getting the boat of; people were talking 10 Van
note about going in the boat it is not necessary
70 have skiliui surfnan on the beach to catch the
boat when il lands.
William c. White recalled: Was at the wreck of
the Eta NJ. Tucker; yannote on the beach he
did not 90 oil in the government boat; heard Allan
R. Say
go of; Russell Whites boat In order. ready TO go
off ana was ready To go off in IL: should have gone
of il had not been asked to give the government
boat chance; II that had not gone OF Russell Whites
boat would have gone of; there was no need OF two
boats going because we could see how few men there
vASSorr's coSpucr cnr11c. I'D.
Drummond White, 0f Asbary Park. fisherman, has
followed the surf seventeen years; has seen twenty
wrecks the coast; the wreck Of the Eta NJ
Tucker; arrived at the beach about haltpast seven
A. "; Russell White proposed to a boat to
the crew; got Garret White boat. five Of
going her; got horse and dragged the boat TO the
thore: got all ready; when Mr.. Hazletine the
government boat coming he requested us TO wait;
Vannote on the shore; he dia not go in the gov
rrnment boat; have known Nannote since childhood;
Two three of the crew OF station No. refused to
70 in the government boat on the Rjukan wreck and
witness took the place OF one and went on In the
boat; the wreck OF the Ejukan Nannote refused
70 off in the boat; witness asked him
10 go. because he Wannotel was under
pay. aud told him people would talk about
III there great danger III going to her, because
she was breaking up; spars and wreck stuff were
floating about: an hour alter the last taken
on il was impossible TO go to her. am brother Of
sKussel White; was in the life saving service years;
there three brothers in the station and
when new rules were made that only one Of
family could be at station wit
ness and another brother had to leave;
at the Bjukan wreck two private boats went 10 the
wreck besides tho government boat: the latter saved
fourteen lives; made three trips in the gov
ernment boat all the crew Of No. there; No.
and life ear; only two Of No. Gs went in the
government boat No. when it up: would not
trust my life through heavy surf with Vannote at
9hT Egp
purY ~ ruE LIFE SAVING pArnoLafrx.
Men get tiuiid after working IN the SURF some
years; have heard John SlocJm refuse to go OH at
time when life at stake have followed fishing
for a living: frequently lf9ye Ashed with Vaunote
during fifteen Or sixteen years. Witness here iden-
tined affidavit ~ HIM stating that the erew OF No
were not asked ~ 81 on IN the fishing boat.l
.iu not ththk the men Of either No. .
or No. Z would have refused, aud that the govern
ment boat could have rescued all Of the on the
fJjukan; the station men did their full duty. Wit
mess resumed There delay of about an hour
III getting volunteers that could trust TO pun
le exhausted BY running after teams TO
got the boat down. Bussel White and iona
1han Goodman, OF crew No. g, went in the
government boat; there two three of No.
rrew and the volunteers yannotc did not go In any
Of the boats. although we insisted his going every
time; at the last examination Nannote was a member
uf No. crew; no specific charges were made against
Nannote: that examination about the conduct OF
the OF station No. Z.
The COMMUNICATIONS is boundary TO- any sta
tion. the required o. 20 tho wreck Of any
vessel. and there il jurisdiction or line of
boundary whore they shall not 20; but the patrol
must meet half way between stations, exchange Ian
terms or % show tliat they doing duty.
Adjourned until one J.. NJ.
aF3cufsa THE CREW or THE nIuKAY.
The investigating committee resumed the session
mt one o'clock The only important points Of testi-
nlony elected during.tho next Ave hours from
Theodore S. wooley, Of AHbury Park. carpenter who
faid that he at the wreck of the bark Riukan;
when he got there employees III the life
saving service were tie ground; the
crew Of No. up with cart load
of lines and apparatus the FIRST boat OF hshing
boat; that boat made one trip; another fishing boat
also went OF; after that the government boat from
station No. went of, do not think all of
the crew Of No. won't of. because some
OF them were exhausted with the labor Of
g-tting their boat and apparatus from the
station 10 tho scens. witness said that Allan r.
cook, agent of the Board of Underwriters aud Coast
Wr,.sfn4 fotnuarv was sick and " men ha alarm OF