The New York herald., 1878-12-18
CHARGED WITH CowARDICE.

AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE WORKING OF LIFE
SAVING STATION NUMBER sIx UNDER CAP
TAIN vANNoTE.
BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD
AsBURY PARK. N. j., Dec. IT, 1873.
The committee charged with the investigation OF
the charges Of cowardce and incompetency against
tho keeper Of Life Saving station No. g. at Deal Beach.
arrived this evening. The Committee is Charles
r. Shoemaker. lieutenant United States Revenue
Marine. and Assistant Inspector Of the Life Saving
srvice. and w. H. Barton. Of tho Solicitors office,
Dertment OF Justice. the latter appointed at the
quest of the Secretary Of the Treasury and the Super
inteneg1t OF the Life Saving Service. The session
was otpve commenced It the Lake View House this
morning, but the committee delayed
in New York taking the testimony Of d. B.
Sherman president of the Mechanics National Bank
Of New Morf1; A. B. Mcdonald, president Of tho
Orient Mutual Lifo Insurance Company, Of New
York. and G.. W. speir. Jr., of New York, The
charges are made in connection with the
application Of Russell White 70 be appointed
keeper Of said station In place Of vannote.
White and vAnnoAo ore well known surfmen
this coast. and werSwaiting at the hotel and depot
leaving for home only when darkness set in and the
lato arrival Of the conittec made 1t impossible 70
a ten and VIII
tnue until six O'Clock caah day until tho case Is COM
pleted.
ORIGIN TSnc cHARGKs.
The resident surfmen saad politicians are deeply ex
cited and threaten to tell cious stories about the
case. appears that when the<former keeper. Abner
Allen. resigned about . year-ngo, Russell White and
Cornelius Vsnnote were In Me crew Of Life Saving
Station No. O. There ned been great RI
yary among the crow for the position. and
when yannote selected and appointed a.
keeper, . new crew was ,Ghoeen, and White
White and vAnnote were sent tn Washington. and
charRes made that vannots has vhOwn cowardice
several occasions Of shipwreck by re-
fusing to go through the vurf in the
boat sent to the rescue Md Shat he
neglected his duty In other ways. few months ago
many prominent men IN banking and Insurance cir.
clos in New York interested themselves In favor OF
White and the charges against vannote we're repeated
and petition signed by then, forwarded to Washing
ton, asking for the roappointment o. White ag
captain keeper of the station He had neser occu
pied that position.
In the testimony taken in New York Mr.. Sherman
deposed that he only knew about the truth " tho
charges agsinst Vannotc by heArsay; that he knew
White by reputation but had never seen him 60
through the surf In boat. Mr.. Mcdonald testified
the In which tho signatures to the petioiN
obtained, saying that he obtained Mr. Sherman's
aud Mr. Ogden and the latter got the other sigma
Company. gave White high reputation witness did
not know anything agAinat vannote except hearsay.
Mr. Bpoir Jr testified he had known White for years;
that q Q surfman no has few equals and no
superior. That White had gone In fishing boat
through the surf after vsnnote refused 20. This
closed tho case In New York.
The investigation Will be public, vRnnote being
represented by Robert Alien, Jr., OF He'd Bank, and
Russell White by M. B. Hszctina, Of Aahbury Park
yannote Ii o republican; White IL . democrHt.