The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1894-07-02
TUG PILOTS As WITNESSES.
Wreckage Picked Up BY 1.-THE
Evening Wor DIS Tug Posi-
lively Identified.
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
tux James d. Nicol was continued be-
fore Capt James F'airchild and Thomas
Barrett. of the Bureau Of Inspection of
Steam Vessels, at TO- 80 o'clock this morn
ing. In room 154 o. the top floor of the
Federal Building.
James c. Ha,pn. assistant superln-
tendent of the Reeves Towing Company,
was the first witness examined
II made the arrangements with MIR.
Krschner. of the Herring Fishing Club,
for the USE of the tug" said he.
Il did not tell Mr.. kirschner that the
tug could be chartered TO carry sixty
five 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 collect
$40. No instructions were given to the
captain MS to the number OF people he
was TO take on board.
Did any of the officers OF the Nicol
unseawortny?"
mo, SIR"
Capt; Joseph slattery,, pilot of the tug
Robert Ii. Sayre. which was near the
nc Misol at the time Of the disaster, testi-
ned as TO the weather conditions.
made 1t pretty bad sailing at the time.
There were ninety people on the Sayre.
v WYE pe of the " t tartyfour of the sur
you think the accident to the Il Nlcol
All Crowded to One Side.
We'll, the passengers were all crowd
ed to one side, of the tug, and when
able i I to tight her si sea- she was not
s. Hoy S., did ,t the passengers on the
'Admirabiy. They distributed them
selves evenly over the tug"
DO you think the Nicol would have
S Sone J, better with fewer people on
II can't say. I don't know how many
The witness said that the sayre was
ana Ing f Nco ps wss tns asad
Capt. Philip Dick, pilot Of the tug E:
+. Eyarts. said that he saw the Nieol
time. bu. he did not consider e 1T in IN
any way dangerous. He did not think
the sea was high enough to have
been properly loaded. Had she shipped
an unusually heavy sea, Of course she
would have been In more or less dan
ger.
The Evarts, which is s6.s feet long, as
against IS feet for the Nicol. did not
ship any water The Nicol was from
TIRE, 'are ITO, to three rec and Anal hst miles from
Capt. John Cutler, of the tug f. NJ.
Nosburgh, testified that he did not con-
have caused tug to founder when the
Master and Pilot George R. Mitchell,
Of the tde the aook on day Ss
Nicoi sink. but ne knew the weather
man at N, th Sca time He d Hs nt tug cons
slider her In any danger
II 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 i been NECESSARY he sr 9ae 4'w ses
Capt. Robert Rogers, a licensed pilot
ad shipping agent, OF 20 ,s STuth s1Ieet
the Nicol and found her seaworthX
James Reeves. agent OF the Reeves
TSWng Gompany alsS Si testifd as sa 10 Inc
Nicol was owned BY Lena Reeves and
John and James Mccarthy.
Capt John Morr,GSw; Of the the Robert Robert
Of years. He regarded him as a capa-
Die and competent pilot. He had never
Capt. c. Littlefield also gave Capt.
Hyde a good character and said he re-
garded him as a competent pilot.
Capt. John Hyde was recalled at his
own request to contradict some OF the
statements made by members of the
Herring Fishing Club.
Capt. Hyde Blamcs the Drink.
1.-THE members OF the Cub did not ask
me to weigh anchor, because the weather
was threatening. One OF the Club Com
mitee came to me and wanted to know
u wouldn't take them up in the Horse
shoe. where the fishing was better,
Il talked the matter over with some
OF the Committee. Some wanted TO go
t q Long Branch. but ! refused on se-
sprang up, the Nicol was the first vessel
IN the neighbornood to get under way.
rive minutes before the Nlcol went down
aid not think we were In any danger"
How do you account for the fact that
All OF the crew were saved and such a
loGt?"
na "Bsca.se the crew were sober and the
How do YOU account for the fact that
small boats from the steamer Algonquin
and other vessels which picked up the
SURVIVORS were able to live in sea
Nicol?"
Well the sea wasn't so bad I've
Deen out many times In worse weather.
Inc tug was foundered simply because
me passengers crowded to one side OF
t,e vesse and caused her to list and
SAID lot of water"
Had you any instructions as to the
number number OF passengers you were to
why did you take on board more
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