The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-22

We're lying in the water. and there was dan
ger that the small fishing boat that White used
would be crushed against the wreck; witness would
rather not have gone of in her. the great danger at
the Rjukan was not in getting to her, but in lay
ing alongside of herr the government boat had three
tiinbers crushed at the wreck; hve or six hours
elapsed between the time the Riukan struck and the
time she broke up about an hour or 30 after the last
man landed the vessel split in two.
At this stage of the investigation Keeper ysnnote
arrived in the hall Despite the storm raging
without the floor and gallery OF the hall
crowded almost to sufocation by surfmen and their
friends.
Oliver H. Brown Of Asbury Park was then sworn.
He signed the second petition referred to- had signed
Whites under the impression that Abner Allen had
resigned in Whites favor; learned afterward that
Vannote had previously sent petition and had
been appointed; that account he regretted sign
ing the first; knew Vannote ~ surfman from see
ing him at Station No. Z; the only misrepresentation
made to witness was that White was the only appli-
cant.
TELLING THE WHOLE TRUTH.
Drummond White WAS then recalled. Heard that
John Socum refused to go i'll the fishing boat to the
Rjukan III regard to the investigation held after that
wreck ut station No. T. by Captain Merryman, Russell
White to me and said that superintendent
Ravens sent word to me to make the ching easy, or
perhaps the Life Saving Service might be transferred
into the navy; that was two years ago.
Q. Did you understand that you were to state only
facts and that you were not to volunteer anything
or were you to suppress facts A. Understood that
was to answer only the questions asked and not TO
volunteer any information; did not volunteer any;
did understand the affidavit signed then in the
sense understand it now (Sensation.)
Uriah White next sworn. He had lived in
Rjukan; saw the fishing boat go of; while it was on
the way to the wreck heard Abner Allen say he
surprised that Cornell Vannote refused to go; think
Allen said, II wosld not want to 30 either" knew
that Allen then keeper of No. O.
RUSSELL WHITE STAND.
Russell White then sworn. He said he
surfman in station No. 8; called for volunteers the
Rjukan wreck; asked Vannote to go three times and
he said he would not go in the fishing boat; the surf
was dangerous the tide rising, l think, be-
cause the wreck went to pieces that
tide; have had charge Of gang of
surf fishermen; do not consider Vannote
good surfman to take charge of boat; Abner Allen
was present when yannote refused left two men on
the stepadder of the ship for fear they would swamp
the boat; witness boat saved all but eight men
from the Husband; l saw her light before
she struck: went up on the cars that even
ing: the Rusand struck about halfpast ten
r. NJ; got in the house twenty minutes earlier than
my time, because / her light; men hanging
back at the wreck Of the Rjukan; two of No. 8
men We're not in the lee OF the ship when
my boat put out; Mr.. Allen had told me
dozen times that when he did resign
that if either was made captain the other should
taken into the crew. the crew of station No. saved
the Of the Eta M. Tucker without delay; the
Of No. station at the wreck Of the Rjukan did
their duty after they got there.
RJUKAN WRECK
When I arrived ut the wreck OF the Rjukan the sea
made clean breach her and thought immediate
aid was required; the ship commenced breaking at
about two r NJ; No. could not put their boat in
the water front of their house, they got there with
their boat as possible the Of No. 7, with
mortar and lines, were on the scene when got there
the sea was increasing when got there; never re-
fused to go through the in government boat
Witness here identified his signature to an affidavit
in regard to the wreck of the Rukan. detailing the
above circumstances, and reafirmed it, No. station
was about threc-quarters of mile from the wreck
witness not employed in station No. 7; the gov
eminent boat did not come up for two or three
for another when they sang out the government
boat coming; the crow Of the Rjukan were
shouting and waving their hats asked Vannote to go
with him in the boat told him the ship would go to
pieces and the would drown if something was
not done; he did not reply; heard Abner Allen ask
wanted me to 60, and he said yes; would not have
gone except to save life; 1t was dangerous work;
made four or five trips in the government boat.
DUTY At OTHER WRECKS.
At the wreck Of the schooner Forshay witness was
at station No s. saw the squa strike her and take
sink; the crew of station NO. was not under pay
then; asked Vannote 70 90 in the fishing boat with
witness to the rescue; vannote did not GO; brought
off '- one man; the crew Of the Forshay
wanted to stay by them; did 40 twenty
minutes; would not stay longer; they would not
leave the sloop ut the wreck of tho schooner E. H. At
wood he ssw her come ashore; Samuel White and he
burst open the door Of No. station; got out the
schooner's boat; their boat partly capsised and
threw them out; dragged the men from
the water; then sent telegraphic despatch
detailing the facts to superintendent Ravens;
next day superintendent Ravens there; my
brother, James White. told Superintendent Ha-
world when he reported to washington; never re. re-
fused to go of in boat when ordered to do
was tried for any offence; got paid for services
rendered the occasion of the wreck OF the Atwood
do not think the telegram WAS ever paid.
Lieutenant Shoemaker was recognized in the
report OF that vessel by the present keeper OF
that station--both yours and your brothers.
FAITH.
Witness resumed--Never made any other applica-
ton for appointment keeper to the Coast Supern
tendent. because he made promise to me
that he did not keep and had no con-
fdence in him; that promise was that
/ should be made a keeper for what / did
at the Riukan wreck. IAN affidavit OF witness to the
same effect dated December 4, 1878, produced
and shown him. That made ut the request of
Captain Merrynan. who wanted to get 1T the facts
when Captain Merryman requested me to swear TO
these facts il they true was at Walter Green 5
house.
The Communicative arc here to and out the facts
in this case We don't care who il hurts
Witness resulned-The conversation with Mr..
Ravens before the investigation at No. q; Mr..
Havens was not present at that examination Cap
tain Merry man is chief inspector of the coast; saw
no one present at that examination except the wit
ncsses called: l answered all questions put to me
truthfuliy; gave other information than on the
questions asked me.
The chairman here stated that Captain Merry
cally, and aftcrward made another examination to
get the facts about station No s. that brought out
the last affidavit"
Wtness-Captain Merryman did not show any
desire to suppress any information in regard to No.
Il think he tried to do his duty fully in regard to
getting all the facts he took afidavits from every
one of the witnesses present
Adjourned till Monday