The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1894-07-02
OTHER TUGS
IN NO DANGER,
Capt. Dick Thinks the James
D. NiCOl Was Not
Properly Loaded.
TUG PILOTS IS WITNESSES.
All Agree that the Weather,
All Agree that the Weather,
While Quite Rough, Was Not
Particularly Bad.
DRUNKENNESS, SAYS HYDE.
Nicors Captain Explains Why Pas.
sengers We're Drowned While
the Crew Escaped.

The investigation to ascertain the
causes leading to the wrecking of the
tug James ID. Nicol was continued be-
fore Capt. James Fairchild and Thomas
Barrett. Of the Bureau of Inspection of
Steam Vessels, at 1890 o'clock this morn
ing. In room 154 on the top floor Of the
Federal Building.
James c. Halpin. assistant superin-
tendent Of the Reeves Towing Company,
was the first witness examined.
Il made the arrangements with Mr..
kirschner. Of the Herring Fishing Club
for the use Of the tug" said he.
I did not tell Mr.. Kirschner that the
tug could be chartered to carry sixty
hve persons. My understanding is that
he told me that there would be from
forty to fifty people in the party"
The witness said that the only in
structions given to the captain Of the
Nicol were to go to East Fifth street
and take party on board and colleci
$40. No instructions were given to the
captain as to the number Of people hs
was to take On board.
Did any of the officers of the Nico
report to you at any time that she wa.
unseaworthy?
mo. SIR"
Capt. Joseph slattery. pilot Of the tug
Robert H. Sayre. which was near the
Nicol at the time OF the disaster, testI
ned as to the weather conditions.
THE squall raised a big sea and
made 1t pretty bad sailing at the time
'ThRrQ c.,
viyors Of the Eicol." '0' u the sur
"As a pilot Of experience, to what do
you think the accident to the Nicol
All Crowded to One Side.
well. the passengers were all crowd
ed to one side OF the tug, and when
s she s To qsst hsaYy sea- she was not
G. " xHb I'd did d. ,, the passengers on the
Admirably. They distributed them
do you think the Nicol would have
board"
she .! s can't say. I don't know how many
The witness said that the sayre was
and the Nicol was just ahead.
Capt Philip Dick. pilot Of the tug E.
IL al tSs buiu thdt hS NV Tue INlCOl
founder. The sea was rought at the
time. but he did not consider II in
any way dangerous He did not think
the h. sea -, was H,, high enough to have
been properly loaded. Had she shipped
an unusually heavy sea. Of course, she
would have been in more or less dam
ger.
The Evarts. which is $50 feet long. as
against rs feet for the Nicol. did not
ship any water. The Nicol was from
three to three and a half miles from
a Cart Th John nhe cu Wsnt a of the tug F.
Vosburgh, testified that he did not con-
slider the wind and sea high enough to
have caused tug to founder when the
Master and Pilot George r. Mitchell,
Of the tug r. J. Moran. said that he was
also outside the Hook on the day the
Nicol went down. He did not see the
NIGEL sink. but he knew The he. weather ,a1 e.
smaller than the Nicol. He did not con-
slider her In any danger.
1t Wasn't had Weather.
rough. but not what he would call bad.
He would not have hesitated to have
gone out with his tug to bring In ship
had II been necessary. He had always
the Nicol as perfectly sea-
worthy.
Capt. Robert Rogers. a licensed pilot
and shipping agent, Of 20 South street,
testified that he had repeatedly examined
the Nicol and found her seaworthy.
James Reeves. agent OF the Reeves
aawoT ,sA of the SleoI. lie said the
Nicol was owned by Lena Reeves and
Capt. John Morrow. OF the Robert
swore that he had known
Capt Hyde, OF the Nicol, for number
II years, He regarded him as capa-
BILE and competent pilot. He had never
known Capt Hyde TO take drink.
Capt. C. Little field also gave Capt
garded him as a competent pilot.
Capt John Hyde was recalled at his
own request to contradict some OF the
made by members OF the
Herring Fishing Club.
Capt. Hyde BIamcs the Drink.
The members Of the Club did not ask
ne to weigh anchor because the weather
vas threatening. One OF the Club Com
nittee came 10 me and wanted 10 know
Z wouldn't take them up nj the Horse
hoe, where the fishing was better
II talked the matter over with some
Il the Committee. Some wanted 10 81
, Long Branch, but | refused on ac-
cunt OF the wind. When the storm
II the neighborhooi to get under way.
five minutes before the Nicol went down
did not think we were In any danger"
How do you account for the fact that
al of the crew were saved and such a
arge proportion OF the passengers were
"Because the crew were sober and the
were drunk"