The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1904-07-01
THE SLOCUM DISASTER
Misconduct and Negligence is Charged
Against Owners and Officers.
NATE IS BRANDED As A COWARD.
Bail Was Fixed for 5000 Each for President
Barnaby and Secretary Atkinson and
Bonds We're Furnished at Captain
Van Schaick Is Prisoner In the Lebanon
Hospital

OnerS jury IN the olOeuiH inquest
turned a verdict finding
That the immense loss of life on the
General Slocum was due to the mis-
conduct of the directors of the knick-
erbocker Steamboat Company.
That Captain Van Schaik is
criminally responsible.
That Captain Pease of the Grand
Republic, as captain of the steamboat
company's fleet, is criminally RESPONSE
BILE in that he failed to properly equip
the Slocum with fire apparatus.
That Mate Flanagan acted in a
"cowardly manner"
That the action of Inspector Lund-
berg should be brought to the atten-
ton of the federal authorities.
Coroner Berry has issued warrants
for the arrest of the directors and Off
cials of the Knickerbocker Steamboat
Company. Inspector Yundberg and
Mate Flanagan have been held in
$1,000 bail each.
The charge in each case was man
slaughter in the second degree. Bail
was fixed by the coroner in amounts
varying from $1,000 to $1,000,
The directors of the company are:
Frank A. Barnaby, president; Charles
E. Hill, vice-president; James K. At
kinson, secretary, and. c Delaney
Evans, Robert X. Story, Floyd S.
Corbin and Frank G. Dexter.
The mate, Edward Flanagan, who
was under detention as witness, was
the first arraigned. He pleaded not
guilty and his bail was fixed at $1,000.
No bondsman being on hand he was
committed to Jail.
Inspector Lundberg pleaded not
guilty and was released on $1,000
bonds.
Bail was fixed at $1,000 each for
President Barnaby and Secretary At
kinson, and bonds were furnished at
once.
Captain Van Schaik is prisoner in
the Lebanon Hospital Captain Pease
NAV not BE- arrested until tomorrow,
when it is expected that the directors
of the company will also be taken into
custody. At the assistant district
attorneys request the coroner COM
mitted the assistant engineer, Edwin
Brandow, and the deckhands Coakley
and Trembly as witnesses, sending
them to the house of detention.
Captain Van Setback Testified.
The jury was in session until AS
O'Clock in the afternoon. Captain Van
Setback, the commander of the Slo-
cum, was called as the first witness.
He was wheeled into court in an in
valid's chair. He and Captain Pease
looked after the equipment of the
Slocum each season. He said the
government Inspector had condemned
some of the life preservers since 1891,
and he, personally, had thrown out
about thirty.
In the course of the hearing Captain
Van Schaick was asked what he did
when informed the steamer was on
fire. He said he ordered full speed.
II ran to see what the fire was
like" he said. II ran back to the
pilot house and said to the pilot: Ed,
she's gone; beach her. He said:
'Where?' and ! pointed to North
Brother island. Shave that dock and
put her starboard side on the beach,
Then started to go aft, but the
flames were coming like volcano and
my hat caught FIRE. That's where
my face and hands got burned. There
was no chance to move"
Captain Van Schaick said that he
and his men looked over every life
preserver on the steamer this spring.
United States Inspector Lundberg al
so examined some of them, but he did
mot test any of them by putting them
in water, nor did he test the weight
carrying power of any of them in
water. Neither the witness nor In
spector Lundberg or the other in
spector who visited the General Slo-
cum ever test the hose at the forward
standpipe, which burned. No. test of
the lifeboats was made. He did
hold three FIRE drills prior to June IS
between decks, when the men were
shown how to use the hose.
Attorney Called to Order.
"A number of times during the ex-
animation of Captain Van Setback,
Counsel McManus, of the Knicker-
booker Steamboat Company, inter-
TupIc0 WIFI dQNlSC u tuc WitHSSo anu
protests to the court against the man.
ner in which the examination was be-
ing conducted. Finally the coroner
told Mr.. McManus that he would be
refused the courtesy of the court if
he did not desist.
After Captain Van Schaik had left
the stand several persons who were
on the steamer at the time of the fire
were examined.
Augustus Lutzen said he first saw
the fire when off Ninetieth street, and
| notified one of tbs crew.
Frank Prawdziki, the only survivor
lof family of six.' said he saw the
fire when off Eighty-sixth street, but
s.did not report to the captain until the
steamer had reached One Hundred
and Twenty ninth street. At that
time the captain told him to run away
and mind his own business.
Fire at League Island Yard.
Philadelphia, (SpeciaD.-Work on
4ba na.,, drv 5prk at the | eaQue L.