The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-11-09
THE WRECK.
Investigation of the Jennie
Gilchrist Affair.
An Effort made to Raise the
Sunken Hull.

OHCHflSt on TIC HlSHI OI the SItu OF last
October has not yet been fully completed,
although the most important testimony has
already been adduced. The coroner's jury
at Davenport who attempted to investigate
the cause of Mrs Camps death, finished up
their work in short order and gave such a
verdict as partial examination of the facts
would warrant.
The coroner's jury of this city under the
supervision of Coroner Morris are making
careful and exhaustive examination of the
whole affair. and it is generally expected
that their verdict will not be such as the
officers of the steamer can feel proud of.
In fact, it is conceded that it is among the
possibilities TO anticipate that some one of
the officers of the Gilchrist win be severely
censured for cowardiee in deserving the
lady passengers and allowing them to be
drowned while strong men were in hearing
distance of their cries for help.
THE coRoNERs JURY
adjourned last evening on account of the
illness OF John Alters father. The son
has been serving as a member of the in
questing board, but was notified yesterday
of his fathers illness and owing to his
unavoidable absence, the jury adjourned
subject to call 1t is understood that the
testimony Is about all in with the excep,
ton of some experts evidence touching the
duties of officers in case of an accident and
other matters pertinent thereto. 1t is
thought that one day more will finish up
this part of the investigation when ver
diet will be rendered. Tt is worthy Of
note that each witness who has appeared
before the jury is placed on his personal
recognizance at the conclusion of his tes-
timony to appear in court if it is found
necessary to bring this matter before the
judiciary. The sum of the personal bail
is placed at 500, and shows that no detail
is neglected to make the investigation and
its possible results legal and truthful
account of the disaster, and thus facillia-
ting its investigation by the grand jury, if
such is thought best.
THE GOVERNMENT INSPECTORS.
Captains Girdon and Scott, as govern
ment inspectors of steamboats, for this dis
trict, have also concluded their eXamina-
ton of the accident, but the testimony will
be revised and perfected before a decision
is rendered This will probably not be
made known until next week, as a second
disaster of small tow boat will engage
their attention for the next few DAYS.
During the investigation the officers of the
Gilchrist are not allowed to engage in the
work for which they were licensed, as
their licenses are in measure revoked
until after the investigation is concluded
when the decision either revokes the
the licenses. or else permits the men to
such positions on other boats.
The decision of the inspectors can not
be secured for several days although many
conjectures are given as to the probable
effect
RAISING THE HULL.
During the morning preparations were
made to visit the hull of the sunken steam
er which lies in about feet of water at
the lower end of this city. The apparatus
uScu ny Tic ulNCI, Sapesiu w aii, w aS paw
ed on the barge, and the diver and a few
of the crew of the Jennie Gilchrist were
conveyed down the river to where the hull
is located, when the barges were anchored
This afternoon the work of raising the hull
was commenced, and by the aid of the
diver, it is expected that chains can be
placed under the hull and attached to the
braces in such manner as to render the
evolution of that portion of the wreck
above the water surface comparatively
easy.
1t is not expected that the bodies OF any
of the nine victims of the disaster will be |
found in the hull, although their discovery
in that locality would not give general sur
prise.
As soon as the hull is raised, efforts viii |
be made to secure the boilers of the boat
which passed off into the river near the
bridge at the time of the dreadful accident