Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-09-26
Inquest Held Today Over the Body
of James Rodgers.
STORY OF THE SAILBOAT OCCUPANTS
The Tugboat Claimed to Be in
the Channel.
THE CAPTAIN TESTIFIES

.Twenty-four hours after the sad accident
on the river Monday afternoon the body of
the colored man. James Mel. Rodgers, was
recovered and taken from the river. AS
published in yesterdays Star, a number of
persons were out on the river searching for
the body Of the drowned man just below
the arsenal. and the crew of the police boat
also remained on duty. About $3.50 o'clock
two men, Sullivan and Webb, took charge
o. the drag of the police boat, and soon
caught the body not far from where the
boat was upset. Harbormaster Sutton
took charge Of the body and mad 1t taken
to the morgue In the patrol wagon. 1t was
thought that one Of the coal barges had SO
badly disabled the deceased that he could
not swim to a place of safety, but Coroner
Hammett failed to find any marks of vio-
lence on the body.
This morning an inquest was held at the
sixth precinct station, a number of the de-
ceased's friends being present to hear what
was said of the fatal accident. After the
coroner's jury had viewed the remains I'm
dertaker Speare removed them to his estab-
home Of the deceased. No. 993 Florida ave-
nue.. His funeral will take place from
Mount Carmel Baptist Church, corner of
4th and l. streets. tomorrow afternoon at
o'clock.
The first witness examined by the cor
oner was George Schwab. jr., who was in
the boat at the time of the accident. He
testified that Monday afternoon. about 8
O'Clock. the accident happened.
Where did 1t occur?' he was asked.
Near the arsenal. in the navy yard chan
mel. We were anchored In the grass, SO
our lines could be thrown In the channel"
Were you near the wharf?' a juror
asked
About the distance Of two squares from
the wharf"
Witness said that when the tugboat and
barges were coming up the river his father
Rodgers (the deceased) said: "Oh, no; they
here"
When the coal barges neared them wit
ness made an outcry, and the others did
did the tugboat whistler" asked the cor
oner.
mo. sir" answered witness; I'VE had
Witness said there were two barges
dashed together, and the tug was pushing
them. He said there was no lookout"
and he thought the men on the tug could
not see them. He started to lift the an
Choir, and had it half up when the barge
ran over them. Witness thought there was
a young man on one Of the barges. The
captain said he did not see them.
Several of the jurors questioned witness
the location Of the boat, and he
said the boat was anchored in the grass,
out of the channel. where he thought large
boats are not supposed to go. Rodgers. he
said, was the best swimmer in the party.
Witness saw him go down.
The Sons Account.
Allan Rodgers. son of the deceased. was
next examined, and he seemed greatly af-
fected over his fathers sad ending. He
said he went down the river about 1 o'clock
and met his father Mr.. Schwab and the
latter's son. They caught bait near the
shore and then went out on the fishing
grounds. Their boat, he said, was anchored
in the grass, inside the line Of the buoy.
The tug and barges came from the navy
yard, and he said that the tug was more
over in the grass than in the channel.
Witness told of the conversation between
his father and Mr.. Schwab, and said that he
(witness) made a leap for one of the coal
barges. He succeeded in catching hold
of one Of the bumpers and climbing to the
barge. From the top of the barge he saw
his father and the Schwabs in the water.
His father, he said, made an effort to swim
toward a small boat and when within a
few feet of the boat he went down. There
was life line thrown from the tug, but
his father was not near enough to 1t to
reach II.
The barges and tug were dashed together
and the tug was attached to the side Of
the barges.
John William Jones. colored. was seated
on tug near the arsenal Monday after
noon and he witnessed the fatal accident.
According to his idea of things the tug was
more on the grass than in the channel.
The fishing boat was anchored in the grass
so the men could fish in the channel
How do you know they were anchored
in the grass% he was asked.
Because I have fished there myself as
many times as I have fingers and toes,
and have anchored In the very same rlace."
Witness said he heard the men in the
boat make an outcry, and one of the called
to the tugboat: Get out in the river"
He said that the tugboat and not the
barge struck the fishing boat Witness
thought the fishing boat could have been
seen from the pilot house of the tugboat
When further questioned he said one of
the fishermen called to the tug, and man
on the tug shouted: Get out of the river"
A man in the pilot house of a tug tied to
the wharf said he thought the accident
could have been avoided.
MIR. Schwab's Testimony.
Conrad Schwab, baker at 1911 H street,
testified that he had known Rodgers, the
drowned man, for at least twenty-five
years. Monday morning about o'clock
he went fishing with Rodgers. About 2
o. clock bait gave out, and they went ashore
for mere.
THAT day." he said, I'VE lad what they
call bad luck and had only caught one
rockfish, catfish and an eel. The water
was muddy. and when We went back we
fished for catfish"
WitIess said when he saw the coal barges
coming he suggested to Rodgers that they
move in toward shore but Rodgers said
that there was no darger; that they were
not In the channel, and the barges would
have to move out. He told of the outcries
made, and said that one Of the barges and
not the tug struck them. He could not tell
whether the tug struck the small boat
afterward, for he (witness) went under one
Of the barges. When the accident happen
ed, he said, their boat was anchored in the
grass, and the barge that struck them was
not in the channel. He did not see the tug
Witt ess said there was nobody standing
on the front of the canal boats.
Did they throw out a line from the
tug?' witness was asked.
Yes, hut L was half drowned then, and
they came near drowning me afterward. 1
am good swimmer, and that's all that
saved me-"
Wit;'ess told of his bruises, and said that
his trousers and drawers were torn almost
from him.
What was said to you by the men on the
boat?'
Il don't know. When a mans been in
the water so long as L was, you see, 1 was