Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-27
LOSS OF THE NIC0L
Investigating the Tragedy on the
New Jersey Coast.
SURVIVORS STORY OF THE DISASTER
The Captain Gives His Account Of
the Wreck.
SLIGHT CONTRADICTION

NEW YORK, June ga dispatch re-
ceived from Sandy Hook this morning says
that. as far as can be learned from the life
saving stations. no bodies from the wrecked
tug James ID. Nicol have been washed upon
the beach since that Of VIM weisler, on
Monday
An investigation before the United States
inspector of steam vessels to inquire INTO
the cause Of the disaster began this morn
ing In room l56. post Office building.
Inc hrst witness called was the pilot OF
the Inflated tug. John Hyde. He lid not
know how many persons were cn the tug.
ne said that there were about ten kegs o.
beer ON the tug besides other liquor
don't know who had charge of these
things. he continued. Il was up in the
pilot house until the boat anchored on sea-
bright"
He had no permit to carry messengers ana
oid not know that such a permit was necos-
sary. He thought that the tug was entirely
seaworthy and said IL was regarded as \
stauneh craft. He said that with the heayy
sea the water poured into the fire ensins
rooms.
Were the bunker plates closedy'
Ihey were closed The vessel old not
careen because OF the number OF passeneers
aboard. but because of the heavy sea
unimportant
The next witness was Charles Richard
son OF philadelphia He was on the steamer
Algonquin. which was coming into p,ort
when the Nicol capsized
was in Boston," said Mr. Richardson.
when read that the captain and crew Of
the tug were being held rcspon Sible for the
disaster Having seen the catastrophe /
thought IL my duty to come here and tcs-
ify. i had been watching The Nicol and
several other tugs for a half hour before the
disaster. The weather was simply too
rough for that kind of craft
rwice while watching the Nicol i saw q
great sea tumbling over her bow. The man
at the wheel seemed 10 maze every effort
TO keep her nose before the sea Had he sue
ceeded in doing 50 all would have been
well. The seas ran SO high that even the
Algonquin felt the force greatly"
Witness could not see that anybody on
board the Nicol was the worse for drink.
VIM. Reeves manager Of the tug COM
pany. was the next called. His testimony
failed TO throw any new light on the dis
sster.
Charles Kiershner. a member OF the Her.
ring Clubs committee which chartered the
tug, was the next witness. He was cer-
tain that the Nicol had been chartered
with the understanding that IL was licensed
TO carry sixty-five passengers. He had col
lected sixty-three tickets In the boat, In
addition 10 which there were seven men,
bers Of the club on board. the friends Of
the captain and engineer and six crew.
About a dozen kegs Of beer We're taken
aboard and quart bottle OF whisky. Ac-
cording TO kiershner only two kegs Of beer
had been emptied. and he saw none Of the
PASSENGERS intoxicated.
Was any liquor taken into the pilct
house," -
Il am not certain as to that but / think
l saw boy taking some beer up the stairs
leading TO the pilot house"
Witness went on TO say that when the
sea began TO rise he had asked Capt HYDE
TO weigh anchor and steam TO a safer place.
1T took US more than twenty :ainutes TO
do it,. added kiershner.
John Farrell. the engineer of the tug tes-
tilted that the tug was in good condition
supplied with sufficient life preservers and
life raft.
roborated Capt. Hyde's testimony.
The last witness was Herman Hammar.
deck hand On the NicoL His testimony
corroborated the others. except that he was
positive that Capt. Hyde had given orders
10 cut away the life raft The captains
testimony was TO the contrary.
The investigation adjourned until Monday
n orning next. when the captain and the
tug owners VIII produce as witnesses pilots
OF the several vessels which We're in the
vicinity when the accident occurred
kiershner when seen after the examination
said; Il don't just know how many persous
We're on board the tug when she went down
am sure the total number was betyeee
eighty-nve and eighty-seven"