The Washington times., 1904-06-28
Are Threatened With Ex-
pulSion by Indignant
Coroner.
INSPECTION WAS LOOSE
Life Apparatus Not
Tested in the Water
Since 1889.

FREMONT, N Y. June 2S-When
Coroner Berry and the jury which is
( investigating the disaster to the excur-
I sion steamer General SluculA began to-
days inquiry, only one material witness
remained 10 be examined-Cuptain Van
Schaick. master Of the iIl-fatcd craft.
He was wheeled into the court room on
an invalid's chair under the care of two
surgeons from Lebanon Hospital
The aged officer looked nag3sard and
worn; his right leg was inclosed in Il
plaster cast ,and several wide strips OF
surgical plaster covered severe burns OF
his right cheek and both of his hands.
The captain stated that he was fifty
three years old and had been n steam
boat man for forty years. He has held
n masters license for upward CT thirty
years, and has commanded the Slocum
since she was paced in commission in
1891.
Captain Van Schaiek declared that he
had nothing to do with purchasing the
equipment Of the Slocum when she was
first placed into commission When
asked, however. If he had had charge Of
the equipment OF the SlOcum since 1891.
he at first declined to answer. Later.
however he stated that under the di-
rectiOn Of Captain Pease. traffic man
ager Of the Knickerbocker Steamboat
Company. he had had general supervi-
sion Of the Slocum. and of the placing
OF her IN commission each year
No New Preservers Since 1s9s.
He conaraed statements made by
other witnesses to the efTect that wftsi
the exception q $50 purchased in 1895. no
new life preservers had been purchased
for the Slocum.
The fact that witness persisted in an
swering questions as TO the equipment
or the Slocum angered President Barn
aby. Of the steamboat company, and At
torney McManus. and the latter demand
ed that witness decline to answer.
THAT viii do Mr.. McManus." fairly
shouted the coroner. This witness
wants TO tell the truth and you won't
let him. I hereby withdraw the cour-
tesy extended TO you. and if you inter-
rupt the witness again / will direct the
police 10 eject you"
Continuing, Captain Van Shaick stated
that the SlOCum carried a NAVIGATING
crew OF tWenty-three men Her fire fight
ing equipment consisted Of the two
slandplpes equipped with loo feet Of hose
each' supplied by Il donkey engine and
the usual number Of fire buckets There
was also one steam valve designed to
HOOD the fire room with steam in case
OF need.
Inspectors Withdrew Five or Six.
At the time Of the disaster to the Slo-
cum, Captain Van Schaick said. the
complete equipment of life prcservers
was in the vessels racks. From time
TO time, he declared he had rejected
some $50 to 200 life preservers, and pos
sibly five or six We're ordered withdrawn
by the Government inspectors. These
however. were surplus life belts. and
were slowed in the forward hold with
about $50 Others that had become soiled
and slowed there in case of need.
From time 10 time he said. life pre-
servers hdd been repaired by the sewing
on OF NV straps, but no new covers had
been placed on any of them since thcy
were originally purchased.
witness was then questioned as To the
interest taken by the officials of the
Knickcrbocker Steamboat t;0mnanv in
the equipment OF the boat CAPTAIN Van
Schalck stated positively that so far
as ne knew neither President Rarnabv
Secretary Atkinson. nor any director 0f
me company had ever inspected the
ilte-savinS or iire-fighting apparatus of
the Slocum, or made any attempt 10
see that things We're all right
K"ss5fGlhg S the inspection by tho
captain stated that but few life pre-
servers were taken from the racks.
Not Tested in Water.
Pressed to estimate how many life
preservers were personally inspected he
said:
''Oh. 1 don't know. Lundberg might
have looked at twenty-five; may be only
ten. ! did not count them"
Did he test any of them IN water?"
mo. sir"
the Slocum's life preservers would float
In water
II did not"
Have You ever seen any Government
they would hOat?"
"Oh. ! have; yes"
"On board of the General SIocum?"
No, sir II is fifteen years since |
have seen that done"
Passed Over Standpipes.
when Inspector Lundberg inspected
the Slocum this spring dld he test the
standpipes?'
He did not"
Were your life boats and life RATS
tested this year by the inspectors?"
They were not put into the water"
Have you held fire drills this year?"
Yes. sir"
How many2"
Maybe three or four"
Where was the boat when they were
held?"
AT her dock at Fiftieth Street"
Did you use your fire hoscg'
Yes, sir"
Did water run through the stand
pipes?''
Yes. sir"
This statement Of the captain caused
a sensation as all of the crew who have
previously testified have sworn no fire
drills have been held this year.
Under the strain of the examination
the captain was growing weak and ex-
CONTINUED on Second Page