New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-06-17
Orders Rigid Inquiry Into the
SlOCUm Disaster.
rraou TIE TRIBUNE BUREAU. ;

Washington. June 1G.-PresideEt Roosevelt to-
day issued imperative orders to Secretary Cor
teIyou OF the Department of Commerce and
Labor TO investigate the SIocUm horror and TO
leave no stone unturned in the effort to fix the
responsibility for the disaster. If any one in
The service OF the government was negligent in
his duty ne Will receive no mercy at the hands
Of his superiors. Secretary Cortelyou left
washington for New-York this afternoon to take
personal charge Of the investigation at the out
set and tomorrow he will be joined by George
Uhler. supervising Inspector general of the
Steamboat Inspection Service. who will remain
there until the inquiry is finished Mr. Uhler
expects to be able to close the investigation by
Saturday evening, but if it requires a longer
time he will remain until it is finished.
Supervising Inspector General Uhler to-day
received from Robert S Rode. Inspector OF the
second District of New York. preliminary re-
mort ON the disaster. Inspector Rode, as soon
as he learned Of the fire, went 10 the scene in
the wrecking boat Chapman In his report he
says:
While viewing the wreck I noticed some clothing
r,,sr ~. forward side of the paddIeboN and called
Captain Turner'S attGn'@9m @ 70 on N close inspection il
vs fnIInd that three other bodies were inside the
the time we first Went alongside the wreck there
one in the immediate vGinlIy 49, ~ short
boat with man In it some distance on; - - 9r an
time after noticed that pollce ooal va. Mas ta ~
o RTUJSLi M taxing the bodies out which they did We
provided them with axes. and they CUT @ t~aS P PtLs
of the open WOODWORK III orue' u
bodies
After giving statistics OF the vessei anu crew
Inspector Rode says
The records of the office show that her r. 9e he GT Gr
erai SIocums) equipment consisted OF -9oc iilt pt
servers i'm sight within easy reach: SIX hIe9oasS. -
s'-g fae1 inches deep. all metal boats. and two
Barstow life RATS and two cylinder RATS All fag
with two hana donbje doT acftng steam fire pump,
acting and of plunger and IL inches stroke.
capacity COS cubic inches, located in the crankroo POM
on the main deck with 400 feet OF 2l9-lnch nose
and 40 feet Of iIa-inCh hose. all In good c1hulul,
with water pipes and hose councillors 70 the & IIpT
fre huckets three water barrels four water TANKS
and ten nre hook shows that the vessel had
General overhaulng since the iast 7 W -
0Ttbv 10 for her route Her permitted her 70
navigate the waters OF me pay e@ato an Long Isl
and Sound and coastwtse between RockaWay iIes ne
and Long b8 Bgsch that he vessel was Supplied
iron rods and wire rope on tne .Ea and ae
ETery DTacticabe to investigate OF this
unfortunate and dreadful accident
Realizing the Importance of having the great
os+ care In the management or STEAMBOATS,, eSpe-
o,ouv excursion boats. exercised. Secretary Cor
,e1vou ON May % of this year, issued circular
letter To inspectors of steam vessels warning
tbam to guard against just such a disaster as
that which occurred at New-York yesterday
some extracts from the letter follow;
Tho near aporoach of the summer season. wher
,or!a numbers OF passengers are carried on The
~ regular lines and on excursion steam
80 and the frequent complaints that many OF
t 80 yners carry passengers largely IN excess
Of The number allowed by their ceruIcateS or IN
e1acIfon or by their excursion permits, demand
sbo1 tbs government officers concerned shall take
sneciai rrecautious TO prevent the oVercrowdlns
CoiiactOrs and surveyors of customs are thereforC
ra,'5nsta5 10 instruct their subordnates TO make
careful examination OF such steamers anu 70 repor
oT rasas Of violation of the law. Extra efforts II
Ibis Jirection should be made on sundays. and par
tiruarIv on the Fourth Of July and other tmportan
.tfonal and state holidays.
,rrt-isiny inspectors will instruct the local In
snectors to detail one-half their force each Sunday
nI:rpose OF ascertanns, by actual count, If neces
sary whether more than the LAWFUL number O.
na ssengers are taken on board and on the Fourth
nf Juiv the whole force viii be so employed
TnsDectors of steam vessels will confer with th'
chief officers of customs Of their respective districts
as to the best methods OF carrying out this order
In all cases where il is found necessary TO prosecute
the officer prosecuting will report all the facts q
the denartment for its Information
An Jealous effort the part or the olcerS nance
herein in the performance Of the duties required
Continued fourth page.