Evening journal., 1898-07-22
CHANOLBR'S CREW TESTIFY.
BRIGHTER OUTLOOK FOR THE
DELAWARE CAPTAIN.

MATTE BELTS Said THEY COULD
NOT HAVE DONE MORE TOWARD
RESCUE THAN THEY DID.
Philadelphia, July 22.-United States
Commissioner Craig resumed yester-
day the hearing in the case OF Captain
Ebe T. Chandler, OF Frankford, Del,
held under $1,000 bail last Friday, |
charged with manslaughter, in failing
to rescue three men on board the barge |
II. L. Routh, April 10. It was alleged
that, through overlooking, the Routh
sank in a heavy sea, with her crew.
Captain William c. Baker, james o.
Wlxon and +. G.. Parker were drown
ed, and Arthur T. Brown saved his life
by clinging to a spar. Brown was not
present yesterday, but is expected to
appear at the continued hearing to-
day, requisition papers having been
, sent to Rhode Island for him.
At yesterdays hearing the witnesses
; were mainly from Captain Chambers
: tug, the Sea King. Francis c. Adler
e appeared for the defence, and Assist
. ant United States Attorney Kane, who
e conducted the case. called William A.
r Walls, deck hand. Walls stated that
e at 800 a. m, on Friday morning, April
t Is, he came on deck, and heard some
= one say that the Routh was gone, but
- understood it to mean adrift. He heard
no whistles OF distress, but the Sea
I King went back as far as the barge
y Stetson, which was the second vessel
in tow, the Routh being last. lie did
l. not know until daylight, when Captain
Y Chandler told him, that the Routh had
y sunk, and then a sharp lookout wat
n kept for members Of her crew. He die
not consider the Routh overloaded, a
rs her bow was exceptionally high.
r Thomas w. Belts, mate Of the tug
said he was on watch at the time o
the accident. He heard the Routh'
whistle, and told the captain. The
the Stetson whistled. Captain Chan
80 dler ordered the Sea King swun
= around so as to get within hailing dif
lance OF the Stetson, and word cam
from that barge that the Routh ha
ne gone" After swinging around to II
= other side of the StetsOn, Belts r.
he ceived word that the rear barge ha
ny sunk. The tug then kept on In Il
OF wake OF the lost vessel in zigza
au course, footing the whistle occasiona
a 20 ly, in the hope Of picking up membe
of the crew, being guided by bits
sx- wreckage found. Belts stated that
on this time all the deck hands Of q
ne SEA King were on the lookout. "
.eu nv own brother had been over there
,rn said the witness, Il don't know tn
ing we could have done any more than
TO did"
Edwin R. Wixon. shipping ageI
IN M father Of one Of the lost shilors,
rre heated a conversation he had held wi
the Chandler on April IL, the day betc
ten sailing, in which. it was stated, cha
dler had admitted that the Routh "
.ss too heavily loaded. On the follow
her Saturday morning, the day after
accident, Wixon said he had ash
Chandler to tell his story Of the
Gle currence, and the captain said
had heard several whistles y
= thought they could stand IT," thou
- when the lights of the Routh dis
- peared he went back. Il Ssked hi
-. said Wixon, whether he couldn't n
- gone back to the Routh as we'll as
- the Stetson, and he hung his nc
Then Brown. the sole survivor ca
in. and said in Chambers prese
that they had been blowing Fhis
aars about all night"
1ToI- The witness repeated a story abo'
o,,oD hole having been stove in the Ro
,b,e on a previous voyage, which We
ana have rendered her unseaworthy;
"A when Attorney Adler asked him. po
edly why he allowed his son to
r Of under such conditions, he replied
Lom- he thought Captain Chandler W
idays have it repaired.
The case was continued until
Il. ho day, Chandler being held under
same bail.