New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-10-27
BODIES FOUND IN The RIIEES.

REPORTING THEIR RECOVERY Is COMPULSORY.
The duty imposed by an act OF the State Les.'-
lature on all citizens Immediately to report u
coroner or policeman the discovery by them OF heai
human bodies floating In the waters SURROUNDING
the metropolis is undoubtedly frequently evaded b.
steamboat captains and others, although the enac-
ment IL mandatory and the penalty for its Woe
ton severe 1t appears from the records of the
Rureau of Vital Statistics Of the Board or Heath
that POO deaths ascrbed last year 10 drowning
in the adjacent rivers and bays ana that iafge
percentage OF the bodies recovered were IN unrecog
niZable condition
The law provides that 1t shall! be the duty Of any
citizen who may become aware OF the death OF
nerson in any Suspicious unusual manner"
forthwith TO report such death to one OF the cor
oners or to any police officer and PROMPTS all per
sons from wilfully touching, removing or disturb
ing the body or clothing. Any person VINO violates
these provisions is guilty of misdemeanor pun
ishable by Imprisonment In the county prison TOT
term not exceeding one year. or by rne not ex-
ceeding $500 or by both fine and imprisonment.
AT the coroners Office in the Criminal Courts
Rui,dipg in Centre-st, Tribune reporter was told
nv Chief Clerk Reynolds that the law as construed
by the coroners applied as well to bodies FOUND IN
the water. OF persons whose cause OF death was
unknown. as to those whose death on shore was
o,sor,v known to have resulted from violencs.
whether by accident design. Mr.. Reynolds called
attention to the fact that while formerly reward
of IS was paid for the recovery or eacn pody iVIi
the water. there now no such reward lie sail
that bodies were nevertheless still frequently recov-
erel and reported by tugboatmen. Whitehall boat
men, junkmen and others.
one OF the oldest steamboatmen In this CITY,
sneakng on this subject. said The law is very
lust one and doubtless enacted in the interests
of humanity But | do not believe that the spirit
of the law intended it TO apply 10 the captains OF
large passenger steamers or ferryboats. or even %
t,fe aht hQr
Suppose for instance. that the captain OF large
Hudson River or Sound steamer. going at the rate
Of twenty miles or more. an hour. should espy
floating body and attempt TO recover IT. why MS
boat might run mile or more before she could %
brought to standst:l and before she or one OF her
ufeboats could reach the spot where the body was
seen IL would have drifted far away. Pilots OF
ferryboats could recover bodies easily but II
is doubtful In my mind II they would be justified
In sacrificing the time OF large number OF hurry
ing business and women for the sake OF recov-
erng a single unknown body. ferry plot ought.
of course 10 report the passing or a body as soon
he reaches his slip. but by that time, however,
far away that II would be almost useless TO seek
for t. Captains OF towbolts when engaged In tow.
tnsboats and passing rowboats and give notice OF
the discovery. and in such cases the bodies are
OF a body may involve considerable loss for dis
engaged tugboat which is speeding along IN com
Her captain might also be put to expense and loss
OF time through being summoned TO attend an In
quest. Similar arguments apply. though In less
degree to Whitehall boatmen. junkmen and others
who follow the water as means OF earning 'her
daily bread
I'm my opinion many steamboat and tugboat
captains seeing see not when passing noatins
bodies The captain OF a large passenger steamer
or employed tugbost. or the pilot OF a ferryooat
would be influenced by s. reward for the re-
coyery OF a body. but II seems as II many or the
Whitehall boatmen. junkmen and some tugboat
captains have adopted the inhumah motto NO more
S. no bodies. y