The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-06-29

New York. June 2s.-The inquiry con-
Quoted by Coroner Berry and jury
into the General Slocum disaster. was
concluded to-day, and after nearly four
hours deliberation verdict was rem
dered in which the directors of the
Knickerbocker Steamboat Company,
the captain of the Slocum. Capt. Pease,
the commodore of the company's feet,
and others were held criminally re-
sponsible Warrants for their arrest
were issued.
The mate of the Slocum. according
to the jury, acted in a cowardly man.
ner, and the misconduct of Steamboat
Inspector Lundberg, it was recon-
mended should be brought to the at,
tention of the federal authorities.
The charge in each case was man.
slaughter in the second degree. Bail
was fixed by the coroner in amounts
varying from $1,000 to s5,OOO
The directors of tine company are
Frank A. Barnaby. president; Charles
E. Hill, vice president; James K. At
kinson, secretary; C. De Lacy Evans,
Robert K. Story. Floyd S. Corbin and
Frank G. Dexter.
When the assistant district attorney
moved that warrants be issued after
the verdict had been given, Mr.. Nc
Manus, counsel for the steamboat COM
pany protested that such procedure
was unnecessary, as all the men were
ready to appear and give bail when
called for. The protest was of no
avail.
The mate, Edward Flanagan, who
was under detention as witness. was
the first arraigned. He pleaded not
guilty and his bail was fixed at ST.
000 No bondsmen being on hand, he
was committed to Jail.
Inspector Lundberg plead not guilty,
and was released on $1,000 bond.
Bail was fixed at $4,000 each for
President Barnaby and Secretary At
kinson, and bonds were furnished at
once.
Capt VanSchaick is a prisoner in
the Lebanon Hospital, Capt Pease may
not be arrested until tomorrow, when
company will also be taken into GUS
tody.
At the assistant district attorneys
request, the coroner committed the as
sistant engineer, Edwin Br'andow and
the deckhands, Coakley and Trembly
as witnesses, sending them to the
house of detention.
Story of the Captain.
Capt, VanSchaick, the commander
of the Slocum. was the principal wit
ness to-day. He said he had nothing
to. do with the general equipment or
that steamer in the first place, nor with
her life saving apparatus. He said
Capt. Pease looked after the equip
ment OF the Slocum each season. He
said the government inspector had
condemned some of the life preservers
since 1891. and he. personally, hao
thrown out about thirty.
In the course of the hearing capt.
VanSchaick was asked what he did
when informed the steamer was on
fire.
lie said he ordered full speed. ut
was food tide and the boat was going
fifteen or sixteen miles an hour" said
the captain THE smoke came back
to the pilot house. We were then
about four lengths beyond the Sunken
Meadows. The pilot said to me, 'WhAt
shall do?' 1 said: Let her go;' then
] ran to see what the fire was ike.
At the head of the stairs / found a
woman on her knees. l lifted her up
and looked down the hatchway. II was
all flame. l ran back to the pilot house
and said to the pilot: Ed. she's gone,
beach her He said, 'Where% and |
pointed TO North Brother Island ana
said, Shave that dock ana put her
starboard side on the beach
Then i started TO go aft, but the
flames were coming like a volcano,
and my hat caught fire. That's where
my face and hands got burned. There
was no chance ~ move. II was COM
ing like a locomotive headlight"
The witness said II was Impossible
70 beach the boat anywhere else win
as good a chance 20 save life, ne qe-
nied that he received Information OF
IRE before the alarm he acted upon
reached him, and branded a. absurd
the report that q boy told him AZ
eipstieth street that the boat was on
nrs.