Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-16
Investigation of the New York
Disaster Ordered.
R. S. RODIE'S REPORT
OFFICIAL RECORDS SHOW THAT
BOAT WAS WELL EQUIPPED.
Circular Letter Issued by Secretary
Cortelyou May 80, Urging In
spectors to Extra Vigilance.

A rigid investigation of the General Slo-
cum disaster has been ordered by Secre-
tary Cortelyou of the Department of Com
merce and Labor The investigation will
be conducted by the steamboat inspection
service under the direction Of George
uhler. supervising inspector general 1t
will be conducted by Gen. James A. Du-
mont and Thomas H. Barrett constituting
the local board of steamboat inspectors in
New York.
Supervising Inspector General Uhler to-
day received from Robert s. Rode inspect
or of the second district, at New York a
preliminary report of the accident. In
Spector Rode, soon as he learned of the
fire, went to the scene in the wrecking boat
Chapman. In his report to Gen. Uhler he
says:
While viewing the wreck / noticed some
clothes near the forward side of the paddle
box, and called Capt. Turner's attention
to it. 1t proved to be the body of a woma
and on close inspection it was found t..
three other bodies We're inside the padule
box. all of which proved to be women.
AT the time we first went alongside the
wreck there was no one in the immediate
vicinity, except a small boat with man in
1t some distance Off a short time after we
noticed that police boat was approaching
the wreck. We turned over to them the
work of taking the bodies out, which they
did. We provided them with axes, and they
cut away part of the open woodwork in
order to remove bodies
Equipment of the Vessel.
After giving statistics of the vessel and
crew Inspector Rode says:
THE records of the Office show that her
Cthe General Slocum's) equipment consisted
of 2, 500 life preservers in sight within easy
reach; six life boats. size % feet inches
long by 6 feet 1 inch wide, by 2 feet ;
inches deep, all metal boats. and two Bar
stow life RATS and two cylinder RATS All
the boats were swung under davits: She
was supplied with two hand fire pumps,
capacity 4xS, double acting, and a double
acting steam fire pump. inches diameter
of plunger and II inches stroke: capacity.
6O3 cubic inches. located in the crank room
on the main deck, with 400 feet of 21h-inch
hose and 20 feet of 1k-inch hose, all in
good condition, with water pipes and hose
connections to the upper deck. In addition
she was supplied with 30 fire buckets, 3
water barrels. water tanks and 10 fire
axes. The report in the back of the hull
inspectors book shows that the vessel had
a general ovefhauling since the last in
spectiOn tprevious to 1900, and was in good
condition and seaworthy for her route. Her
route permitted her to navigate the waters 8
of the bay and harbor of New York and
rivers tributary thereto, Long Island sound
and coastwise between Rockaway Inlet and
ment' the records show that the vessel was
supplied with iron rods and wire rope on
the wheel
Every effort will be made by the Office
and as soon practicable to investigate
the cause of this unfortunate and dreadful
accident
Secretary Cortelyou's Warning.
Realizing the Importance of having exer-
cised the greatest care in the management
af rfpn
Secretary Cortelyou on May % of this year
issued a circular letter to the inspectors of
steam vessels warning them to guard
against just such disaster as that which
occurred at New York yesterday. Some ex-
cerpts from the letter follow:
The near approach of the summer sea-
son, when large numbers of passengers are
carried on the steamers OF regular lines
and on excursion steamers, and the fire.
quent complaints that many of these
steamers carry passengers largely in eX
cess of the number allowed by their Ger
titicates of inspection, or by their eXcur-
sion permits, demand that the government
officers concerned shall take special pre-
cautions to prevent the overcrowdng of
steamers.
Collectors and surveyors of customs are
therefore requested to instruct their sub
Crdina ties to make careful eXamina ton of
such steamers, and to report all cases of
violation of the law. Extra efforts in this
direction should be made on Sundays and
particularly on the Fourth of July and
other important national or state holidays.
'Supervising inspectors will instruct the
local inspectors to detail one-half their
force each Sunday for duty in the vicinity
of their home ports for the purpose of
certaining, by actual count if necessary,
whether more than the lawful number of
passengers are taken on board and on the
Fourth of July the whole force will be so
employed.
inspectors of steam vessels will confer
with the chief officers of customs of their
respective districts to the best methods
of carrying out this order. In all cases
where it is found necessary to prosecute,
the officer prosecuting will report all the
facts to the department for it's informa-
ton.
"A Jealous effort on the part of the Off
GERS named herein in the performance 81
the duties required will. it is believed
effectively check the evil complained of"