The evening world., 1894-06-27
HIS TUG WAS
OVERLOADED.
Capt Hyde, Of the Inflated
Nicol, Admits This to
the Inspectors
THERE MAY Be INDICTMENTS
So Says Assistant q. s. District
Attorney Mott at the
Official Inquiry.
NEARLY NINETY ON BOARD.
Gross II Not Criminal Carelessness
Apparent from the Testimony
Of Witnesses.
NEARLY NINETY ON BOARD.

An official investigation to ascertain
the causes which led to the laundering
OF the tug James D. Nicol near Scot
land Lightship, Sunday, was begun be-
fore United States Inspectors OF Steam
Vessels James Fairchild and Thomas
Barrett, in room LES OF the Federal
Building. at 1890 o'clock this morning.
Assistant District-Attorney John o.
Mott informed an Evening World" re-
porter shortly before the inquiry began,
that the owner and captain of the Nicol
were in delicate position. and might be
held liable for manslaushter II the In
vestigation established that the tug had
been overloaded In violation Of law.
How many men did the Nicol have
on board?" asked Mr.. Mott.
Between seventyfive and eighty, It is
believed
How many was she licensed to carry?"
Forty
"If that Is true I don't see why they
are not responsible and should not be
indicted. Their action. II complained Of
by the United States Inspector of Steam
Vessels or any other person, would prob
ably result in proceedings against them
by tho District-Attorney.
81 have not looked the matter up, and
don't know whether It is a case for the
State or Federal prosecuting officers.
While the accident occurred on the high
seas, which would make 1t a United
States offense. yet the overlooking took
place at the wharf. which might give
the State jurisdiction
The Federal authorities will probably
await the result of the inspectors in
Quiry before taking action.
The corridor leading to the Inspectors
Office was crowded at an early hour
with members OF the crew and their
friends and survivors Of the wreck and
the acquaintance OF the missing ex-
inquiry was held, however. WAS too small
to accommodate the crowd. and only
the witnesses under examination and
reporters were admitted.
Capt. HYde's story.
Capt. John Hyde. OF the James I.
Nicol, was the first witness sworn. He
testified that he had a license az pilot
Of sas nes p Sas E. s
Kelly. a deep sea pilot. was also on
board and in the. pilot house a part Of
the time on the day of the disaster.
played in ' a prominen a place on n board ara
where all persons could see It," said
Hyde. I'VE were authorized to carry
forty;.nvs passengers and our regular
ibid you count the people as they
II did not
Did you know your vessel was over
~ thought she was
Did you protest against It,"
Yes. ! did, A great many people came
on board and said they We're Just going
to cross over to a vessel lying outside
Of us, but a number stayed on board.
1 objected. but 1t did no good"
Did you have any liquor on boardT'
cases of beer were brought on board by
the excursionists."
WAS any one drunk on board"
yes; most OF the excursionists were
somewhat under the influence of liquor"
How about the crew.
I'm quite positive that none OF the
crew took drink. They are not drink
SDid Kelly. who assisted you at the
wheel. have license as a deep sea
pilot"'
II understand he has"
Don't you know"
II can't say. / never saw his license"
Doesn't Know His Duty.
isn't It your duty, before surrender
Ing the wheel ut sea to any one. to-
pilot"
pilot"
apt. Hyde also testified that he had
two friends in the pilot house with him
most of the time. When asked II he did
not know that IL was contrary to law
to have persons In the pilot-house while
at sea, he said he did not.
The tug was In good condition. he said,
when he left New York and perfectly
sea- worthy. He received no Instructions
as to the humber OF people he WAS 10
take on board. having been told merely
that he was TO take an excursion party
down the bay.
William Reeves, agent and manager
Of the Reeves Towing Company, testified
that the James ID. Sicol had been car
and on for the past eight or nine years.
and made between eight and ten such
trips q year.