The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-11-28
AT LAST.
The Coroner's Jury and the
Gilchrist Case.
A Verdict Rendered this
Afternoon.

This morning the coroners jury, lnvesti-
eating the causes of the dreadful accident
to the steamer Jennie Gilchrist on the 9th
of last October, was re-convened and few
expert witnesses placed on the stand.
During the morning the members of the
| Jury visited the hull of the sunken steamer
| at the boat yards below the city. The hull
was found to be in good condition, but
the machinery was badly broken up. The
chief object OF the examination was 10 iii-
spect the machinery and to fully under
stand the nature of the accident to the
cam rod from which the loss of life and the
collision took place. This was found to
be impossible, as the chains used in raising
the hull had twisted the machinery and
broken it to such an extent that it was out
of the question to form any idea OF the
original accident to the cam-rod. After re-
turning from the boat yards, the jury held
a session at Justice Halves office where the
remaining witnesses were examined.
CAPT. W. H. PEARCE,
of the Viola, was the first witness. His
testimony was as follow: "My license as
| Master and Pilot extends from Lyons to
Mnscatine, rapids included, and have
over thirty years experience on the river in
different capacities On Thursday October
9th, was at Rock Island with the Viola
and left at 4 o'clock p. M, and saw the
Jennie Gilchrist. The weather was rough
and the current very strong.
On my return trip in the morning saw
lot of empty barrels floating in the river
| and along shore, and as approached Rock
Island saw the Gilchrist lying on the sand
bar opposite the Peoria round house
was engaged by Messrs. Nevans s. Lowery
| from the barge and from the river banks.
1 brought up the body of VIM. Wendt on
! the Goth of October. I do not think
| Thursday night the 9th of October was
any more dangerous to navigate, especially
| to vessel used to navigating the rapids
| Had the cam rod broken mile above the
bridge, no one would ever have heard of
| it, as they would have had plenty of time
to have run the vessel on shore.
| Do not think there was time enough to
have disconnected the starboard engine or
to have done anything with the port en-
| CINE. Don't think the changes needed to
have saved the boat could have been made
| in less than ten minutes.
| I think the engineer did his full duty, and
| that he could not have done any more than
he did.
My custom has been to have an anchor
ready at all times when navigating the
rapids. Don't think 200 pound anchor
would have held the Gilchrist unless it &C
| cidentally dropped into a hole and held,
and the hauser properly handled then it
might and might not held; can not tell.
Think from what I have seen of Mr..
Names (the engineer) that he is a sober
and competen. engineer. Don't know
much about either Capt. Dorrence or Mr..
Hyer. Think it would have been difficult
to have saved the vessel under the circum-
stances, even in day light. The captain
could have called some one to the pilot
house by blowing four short whistles;
CAPTAIN SAM VAN SAINT
was next called. He stated that his occu-
patton was that of steamboat builder,
and had also been master on the river,
having had nine years experience on the
river. He thought the trip through the
bridge on the night of the 27th of October
was safe, as one barge was to have been
left above Davenport, and he thought the
boat could have passed safely through the
Moline chain with one barge. He thought
the current was running over or miles
on the night of the accident. He regarded
liver as sober man. The vessel was
built at LIE Claire in 1877, by firm of
which witness was partner. He had
seen her since that time, and regarded her
as one of the best little steamers on the
rapids. The captain could have asked one
of the passengers from the pilot house to
have warned the passengers.
EVIDENCE ALL IN
At the conclusion of Capt Van SAINTS
testimony, discussion took place as to
the propriety of having more testimony
The coroner was of the opinion that the
only witness not yet examined who could
throw any light upon the subject were the
guards at the bridge on the night OF the
accident. After an informal conversation,
it was finally decided that such testimony
would not be necessary, and it was agreed
that all the evidence essential to the case
was already submitted.
The jury then adjourned until this after
noon.
The following.
VERDICT.
was rendered this afternoon at $50 o'clock,
after two hours elaboration:
In the matter of the inquisition on the
body of W Wendt, deceased, held at the
city of Rock Island;
We, the undersigned Jurors on oath do