The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-07-16
Stories . to the Cause o. tho
Wreck Of the Sea
Wing.
A Drunken Captain and Grew
are Alleged and Also
Denied.
A Day OF Funerals and, Of Meurninr-.
Looking for the Bodies Of
Mtssing.

AAAAA OAA4 NAy 4O-O0Qto " WQBQ&x%0s
who has not been seen here since yesterday
noon, told citizen Of Red Wing that the
number on board at the time of the dis-
aster would mot exceed 40. A Red Wing
man denied the captains figures a. over
thirty below the truth, and accused both
the captain and crew Of being drunk and
unit to have charge Of the boat at such
time. There i no proof Of such state 81
affairs. There were those ON the barge
among the passengers who had been drink
ing and whose Sctions drove the women
and children to the cabin. This fact NAV
be the ground for the rumor. Another
rumor that caused great indignation, 10
cused the captain of ordering the cabin
door looked and keeping people inside.
Miss Aggie Bartron, Of Lake City.
ono Of those rescued from tie
barge, says that all the women and chill
dren were ordered into the cabin from the
barge. II should be natural fer the captain
to do this, AZ 1t was intensely dark and the
rain and hail made it extremely Disagree
able to remain ON the barge. On the othaR
hand, the engineer says that the captiau
thought the barge safer than the steamer,
and sent an order down to the cabin for the
women and children to 90 ON the barge.
Instead of carrying out the order correctly
the man told them to stay in the cabin and
lock the door. which they did. Previous to
that most of the women had left the barge
for the steamer, telling the engineer that Z
party of men on the barge were drunk, and
had been acting in an Questionable manner.
these be facts or not it is certain that tho
doors were shut il not locked whom the
rescuers reached the steamer, and every
thing indicated that they had been closed
throughout the gale.
Judge Boyrell, Of Argyle, who was In the
charge of Drunkenness. He says the cap
tain was not only sober, bat was fully con-
scious of the presence of the storm, although
not fully apprehending it's gravity. The
captain walked through the cabin quietly,
trying to calm the excited passengers, tell
danger, but il amy wished to do 60 they
could put on life preservers and. prepare
for the worst possibility. A few minutes
later he once more made the same sufd0es-
tion. The charge against the Grew probably
originated in the behavior Of some at tho
sna he s. ssy.y e ss On the bs bs.
tain wished those Who were out on tie
barge at the mercy of ths wind, rain aud
hail to seek refuge in the cabin, but later
he considered the barge tho safer place,
and ordered the women and children re-
luOVoO tuoI0s 1u0 OxU0T m10C01floOS ~
least such seems to have been the case.
Lawyer Greer, Of Salt Lake, believed that
il the people had known that part Of the
lake many could have escaped, and cites
the experience Of Harry Mabey. Young
Mabey was on board the Sea Wing
when she drifted around below tho
point. She grounded for q short
time on q bar. Knowing that the water
there was shallow, he jumped overheard
and reached land easily. From that bar the
steamer drifted along the shore. keeping
about forty or fifty yards out. All along
the bottom slopes very gradually down, 90
that nearly all could have escaped to the
shore had they known the fact.
This evening the coroner's jury assem-
bled and were about to begin an inquest
whom County Attorney Wilson said the
statutes provide that the coroner shall hold
an inquest only where there are marks Of
violence on the body. As there were mono
such in the present case no inquest could be
held. He said further that he believed
that taking into consideration the frame
of mind the community is in
1t Is advisable not to hold an inquest now,
even II it could be held. He assured the
turymen as citizens that the matter would
be laid before the grand jury at once and a;
rigid investigation be had. The Jury acted
on his opinion, and the coroner dismissed
them. This evening one more body was
found-that Of Rita Veiths, aged IA.