The daily morning journal and courier., 1904-08-03
LIFE SAYING AND FIRE
 APPARATUS WORTHLESS
RESULT OF INSPECTION OF sLo-
 CUM,S SISTER SHIP.

Federal Commission Told by Inspector
 That Neither the Captain Nor Crew
 Knew What to Do When Fire Drill
 Was Ordered and That Some of the
 Fire Hose Burst When Subjected to
 Water Pressure Life Preseryers
 Made in 1877.
 New York. Aug. 2.-An inspector who yesterday made a partial examination of the excursion steamer Grand Repub- lie to-day told the federal commission, which is Investigating the General slo- cum disaster, that the life saving and fire fighting apparatus on the Grand Republic, is practically worthless.
 This steamer is a sister ship to the General slocun, which was burned in East river several weeks ago with loss of nearly a thousand lives. She is own ed by the Knickerbocker Steamship company, which also owned the Slocum. Several of the company's officers are now under indictment by the federal grand jury on a charge of manslaugh- ter and criminal negligence as result of alleged failure to provide adequate fire fighting and life saving apparatus for the burned steamer.
 The inspector who examined the Grand Republic told the commission lthat neither the captain nor crew knew what. to do when a fire drill was order led; that some of the fir chose burst when subjected to water pressure; that | a large percentage of the life savers lwere worthless; some of them having been manufactured as long ago as 1S77; | lthat the life boats were provided with broken oars, one was badly rotted and another had broken rudder: that one Iof the life rafts had no rowlocks and \ that on some of the rafts what appear ed to be rivets upon closer inspection proved to be only false heads, the parts being soldered.
 This story was told by Inspector James M Todd, who with Supervising Inspector Rodie and Chairman Murray lof the federal commission boarded the Grand Republic yesterday afternoon as Ishe was about to start on one of her regular trips to Coney Island with pass Iengers. The company had been notified lseveraI times to name a time and place for reinspection of the steamer but had mot complied.
 The master informed us that the Eboat would not lay up for inspection, land accordingly we went to work on the life preservers, said the witness. The Epreservers on the main deck were in load condition. You could break off the corners as you would a biscuit. Out of l 1oS2 were condemned S72. The mark Twas so old that we could not see 1t. l The manufacturers mark was 1877.
 we found 1s4 new preservers and tested fifteen of them at 24-pounds land they sank. After being in the wa 8lter five minutes they weighed nine pounds. They should have weighed only 1.-two and one-haIf pounds.
 "One of the life boats had three brok- len oars and another two; one of the boats was very much routed, and anoth- led had a broken rudder. One of the life Traits had no rowlocks, they had been broken off. On some of the life rafts, lthe inspector continued. apparent riv- lets on inspection were shown to be only false heads. the parts being sold tered.
 For ornaments?' inquired Chairman Murray.
 No sir enphatically answered the linspector flor fraud"
 The witness testified that he heard the order for the fire drill given by the su- Ipervising Inspector and he also heard the master say tha the did not know Ewhat orders to give for drill "He fin tally blew a general alarm on the whis- tie, and rang four or five times on the ships bell, before the crew answered, ? testified the witness.
 To-day's testimony completed the fed Ieral commissions work into the cause of the Slocum disaster in this city, (ano lthe commission adjourned to meet ir Washington next Monday The mass oi testimony and the exhibits of hose and life preserves will be sent to Washing lton.
 BISHOP POTTER OPENS SALOON