New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-06-29

time a director OF the company. having been
replaced at the last meeting of the company's
stockholders in February. He said he formerly
had been assistant treasurer, but at this
time had no office, and did not a single
share of stock He much surprised when
told the nature of the verdict returned by the
coroners jury.
Charles E HILL one OF the directors of the
Knickerbocker Steamboat Company. expressed
surprise last night when informed OF the YER
dict Of the jury. He refused 10 make any state
nent in the way OF a comment. 1T would not
be becoming for one" he said, against whom
there is an order of arrest. to criticse the YER
dict. However I may say that 1 have fear
of the outcome"
LAWYER DISCIPLINED.
Brought into court in an Invalid's chair his
right foot bandaged and his face criss-crossed
with surgeons plaster, Captain Van Schaick. the
first witness yesterday morning. told about the
equipment of the Slocurl. He had hardly been
sworn when Terence ]. McAIanus, representing
the Knickerbocker Steamboat Company, began
tactics which resulted in the lawyer being ex-
cluded from the court until apology rein
stated him First he said that the Jurors had
no business with copies OF the United States
regulations governing the inspection OF steam
boats. The jurors should judge according TO
facts, not the law. he declared.
81 demand that you advise this man. who is
under arrest" he shouted, because Of the shape
this proceeding Is taking. that It is his prvi-
lege TO make statement or not, Just as he sees
Mt"
Captain Van Schaick IS not under arrest"
replied the coroner. He has been detained as
a witness. because he tried to leave the juris-
diction Of this court on the day Of the dis
aster."
But 1 hold that he needn't give a reason 70"
not testifying that he fears 10 incrlmInate him
self. and I ask your honor to rule"
We'll. I advise the captain that he has the
right 10 refuse to answer any question only on
the ground that it might incrminate or degrade
him." announced the coroner.
This did MOI satisfy the persistent Mr.. Nc
Manus. however, and finally his interference
with the examination caused the coroner to rule
him out OF the case.
Captain Van Schaick in spite OF his battered
appearance. did not seem exhausted. He de-
clared I'm full, firm tones that he sixty
three years old. had been pilot for forty years
and a master for thirty years. He and Captain
Pease, commodore of the feet" had charge Of
fitting out the Slocum last spring. The only
new life preservers bought since the boat
built in 1891 were 80. made necessary when
in 1885 the Socum obtained a special license
to increase her capacity from $500 to 2,150 pas
sengers. Since 1891 four five life preserv-
ers had been condemned by the inspectors he
declared, while he had thrown out fifteen
twenty.
Besides two lengths Of linen hose on the main
deck, each one hundred feet long. there was a
rubber hose on the promenade deck, and there
was another on the hurricane deck the captain
said. The covering the life preservera had
never been renewed. he said. This caused eX-
Judge Dittenhoefer to break in:
is 1t right to permit the District Attorney TO
ask these questions to try TO get information TO
against this witness? They intend to prose
cute this man as surely as we are in this room"
OFFICERS NOT CURIOUS.
New straps were sewed to about three hun
dred of the preservers, the captain declared. The
officers of the company never inquired as to
particulars OF the Slocum's equipment he said;
he would tell Mr.. Atkinson what was wanted.
and the secretary would say h4sy it. Barnaby
never came aboard the boat
Q.-Did Barnaby ever ask you about the condition
Of the life preseTvers? A.-No.
Did any of the other officers of this company
ask about the life preservers? A--,No.
ever ask about any Of the life preserving apparatus
on the slocum? A-An they could ask me was how
Odd you go over the life preservers this year?
Any men dlo. lney united them, uuSleu IAen on
and tied them up again
.Q.-tWhen the inspector, Lundberg. game were
the life preseTyers on the racks? A.-Some We're
but about four hundred were out on deck being
busted off.
Q.-Were those in the racks taken down BY the
Inspector when he examined them? A-some were
may be twenty-five-maY be only ten.
Odd he make any test by placing them in the
water? A.-No.
Odd you yourself make such test? A
l decline to answer that No-I will answer, any
how. I did not
Odd you anybody make such test7
Mo. sir.
Odd Lundberg reject any OF these life pre-
servers? A.-One; he said II looked pretty, dirty.
He didn't reject II because IL not good.
Q.-Where was the new hose put? Al think 1t
went the after standpipe
Q.-How long had the hose the forward
standpipe been there? A.-since she was built. The
rubber hose on the promenade deck and the hurri-
cane deck was put on when the Slocum built.
Odd Lundberg test this hose? A.-No.