The Savannah morning news., 1904-06-24
SL0CUM'S HULL
HAS BEEN RAISED
NO BODIES WERE FOUND.
SEARCH IN THE HULK HAS No1
BEEN COMPLETED.


Were Practically UseIess-Mnny
Reported Missing Have Been Dis
cOvered-LOss of Life About 1,O0n.
New York June 23.--Much OF the tes-
timony given at the inquest to-day into
the General Slocum disaster went to
show that the life preservers on that
steamer were practically useless. At
least half a dozen witnesses described
how difficult these pFeservers were to
get at and how they fell to pieces at
critical times.
Capt. Van Schaick was brought into
the court room on stretcher. He ap-
parently was suffering greatly, but ex-
pressed a willingness to undergo an
examination by the coroner. He was
ordered back to the hospital, however.
and his examination postponed until
next week.
The hull of the wrecked Slocum was
raised to-day and a great deal of water
was pumped out of the hold. A search
was made for bodies, but none was re-
covered. At the next full tide the hulk
will be taken further in shore. A thor
ough exploration of the wreckage has
not been made, and it is possible that
tomorrow bodies will be found in the
ENHANCEMENT of tinnbers and machin
cry.
Supervising Inspector Rode of the
United States steamboat inspection
picked up a number of lie preservers
on the main deck of the Slocum and
tagged them for use in the government
investigation. These preservers were
badly torn and more than half-f1lled
with powdered cork.
TVventy-FOur More Bodies.
Twenty-four additional bodies were
recovered to-day bringing the total
number of known dead up to 901.
One hundred policemen who have
been making a. canvass of all districts
where persons we're reported to be
missing completed their work tonight.
Inspector Schmittberger, who was in
charge of the canvass, estimated the
total number of dead, including the
missing, at about 1000. He said that
the police in many instances found at
their homes persons who have been
officially missing since the day the
steamer was burned. In one case,
man, his wife and two children. whose
names had appeared in2lall the pub
1ished lists of missing, were found at
their home. They had not been on the
excursion at all, and the elders were
not even aware that they had been
reported missing. Others among the
missing" were found at hospitals and
at various other places.
Could Have Saved Time.
1t was decided not to call Capt. Van
Schaick to-day, and he was taken
back to the hospital,
The Slocum could have been beached
at the foot of One Hundred and Thirty
first street and from three to Ave
saved, according to the testi-
mony of John VanGilder, superin-
tendent of the New York. New Haven
and Hartford Railroad lighter service.
VanGilder said he went over the course
taken by the Slocum last Sunday, ac-
by the coroner and Assis-
tant Pilot Weaver, of the Slocum. lie
contended that One Hundred and Thir-
ty-first street could have been reached
by slightly changing the course. the
food tide would have helped and the
wind would have carried the flames
outward instead of inward.
The reputation of Capt. Van Schaick
as a commander was declared by the
witness to be first class He had
no doubt that the captain had done
what he thought best under the cir
Capt. Edward VanWart, senior pilot
of the Slocum, said $50 new life pre-
were purchased for the Slocum
in 1896. He was not sure whether
they were examined at the beginning
of the present season. He did not
examine the fire hose; but did examine
the life boats and found them in good
condition. He had not given the sig
nal for the fire drill this season.
Life Preservers Decayed.
Reuben H. Tudor, who assisted in the
work of rescue, said four or Ave of the
corpses he picked up had on life pre-
servers. One of the preservers, he said,
was full of powdered cork. and was so
rotten that he pulled it to pieces with
his finger nail.
Much of the testimony offered at the
afternoon session had to do with the
condition of the life preservers. AL
most without exception the stories of
the witnesses were to the effect that
they were of little value. Many in
stances were given where the straps at
tached to the life belts broke easily
when subjected to strain. and where
the canvas covering was torn and the
filling of granulated cork released. Nu-
merous witnesses testified that GUAM
titles of the granulated cork was seen
floating on the surface of the water in
the vicinity Of the burning steamer,
while the work of rescue was going on.
In asking an adjournment until Mon
day. Mr.. Garvan said he hoped to COM
plete his case during that day and may
do SO in time for the jury to take 1t
during the afternoon. Coroner Berry
granted the request and then adjourn
ed until Monday.
With the approval of the district at
torney, the members Of the crew who
were held at the House of Detention
were released from custody.
The bodies Of fifty-one unidentified
victims Of the General Slocum disaster
were buried to-day in the Lutheran
Cemetery. Long Island.
The bodies OF fifty identified victims
were also inferred.
Rescued by Policemen.
When the slocum inquest was re-
sumed to-day Policeman James Col
Inns said he was at College Point and
bath street when he saw the Slocurn
coming up the river, all afire forward
He notified the fire department and
with another policeman, Farrell, got a
yawl and rowed over 20 North Brother
Island. where the slocum was then
iJeached.
They made three trips and took nifty
burning women and children from the
paddle boxes and picked up sixteen
dead bodies. He saw many life pre-
errvaF0 noaffnn and a LOT Of coFk Noaf.