The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1904-07-08
OFFICERS ARE HELD.
Officials of the Ill Fated Slocum Are
CriminalIy Responsible, Says
Coroner's Jury

New York, June 30.--The inquiry con-
Quoted by Coroner Berry and a Jury
into the General Slocum disaster was
concluded last night, and after nearly
four hours elaboration IL verdict was
rendered in which the directors of the
knickerDocller Steamboat company;
the captain of the Slocum: Captain
Peasc, the commodore of the company's
fleet, and others We're held criminally
responsible. Warrants for their arrest
were issued. The mate Of the Slocum
according to the jury, acted In a cow
ardly manner. and the misconduct of
Steamboat Inspector Lundberg, it was
recommended. should be brought to the
attention 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 S. 900
The directors Of the company are:
Frank A. B;trraby, president: Charles
f. Hill, vice president: James X. At
kinSon secretary, and c. DE Lacey
Evans, Robert *. Story, Floyd S. Cor
bin and Frank G. Dexter.
When the assistant district attorney
moved that warrants be issued after
the verdict had been given, MIR. Nc
Manus, counsel for The steamboat com
pany, protested that such procedure
was unnecessary, as all the men were
ready I" appear and give bail when
called for The protest was of no
avail.
The mate. Edward Flanagan, who
was under detention as Il witness. was
the first arragned. He pleaded not
guilty, and his bail was fixed at ST ,OOG.
No DondSmen being on hand, he was
committed TO jail
Inspector Lundberg pleaded not
suli,y and was released on $1,000
Bail was fixed at $4,000 each for
PRESIDENT BanHby and Secretary At
kinson. and bonds were furnished at
once
Capt. Van Schaick is a prisoner in
the Lebanon hospital.
capt. P"ase may not be arrested un-
I'll tomorrow, when it is expected that
the directors Of The company will also
be taken into custody
Al me district attorneys request the
cofon2rS inquest committed the as
sistant engineer, Edwin Brandow, and
the deck hands Coakley and Trembly,
as Witnesses, sending them to the
house Of detention
alter pointing out the duty of the
Inherent officers and persons named
and their failure to perform their duty
the jury finds:
That the president. Frank A. Barna
by; the secretary. James x Atkin-
Soit' gu ti!c DoiTu Oh directors OF the
hnlckerbocker Steamboat company,
namely. Frank A. Barnaby. Charles r..
Hi. James K. Atkinson, c. De Lacey
Evans, Robert X. Story, Floyd S. Cor
bin and Frank G.. Dexter, were guilty.
OF criminal negligence in the failure to
see 10 the proper equipment OF the
General Slocum in the matter of fire
fighting apparatus and life saving an
paratus on board said boat
mat The captain, VIM IT, Van
Schaicl. he held criminally RESPONSE
bic for The accident
lhat capt. John a. Pease. the ac-
Kho"ledged commodore Of the fleet
be held criminally responsible for his
lailure properly to equip the General
Slocum with fire fighting and life say
ing appliances.
Ihht Edward Flanagan, the mate.
acted in cowardly manner, and we
recommend that he be held criminally
responsible for failure to perform mis-
duty on the General Slocum on the
day Of the disaster
That. in the opinion OF this iurv. the
misconduct Of Henry Lundbere, the
government inspector in failing to re-
port To ms Superio"s the true facts
concerning the vessels fire extinguisb-
mig am life saving equipment should
De Drought to the notice of the United
States prosecuting officials. and we
further hold that said Henry I,undbcro
be held for criminal negligence by rea-
son OF his incompetence, careless and
Indifferent Inspection Of the General
Slocuin,s hull and life saving apparatus
on the 9Th day of May 1904
The jury is also of the opinion that
me system of inspection which pre-
walls in the harbor of New Yorl, is
very inefficient, and does not properly
determine whether the life saving an
paratus and fire appliances on the
vessels in this harbor are in proper
and suitable condition TO prevent the
loss OF life, and we recommend to the
secretary or commerce and labor that
ne issue such instructions to the super
vising and local force of inspectors as
VIII cause them to efficiently and hon
estly examine the steamboats, plying in
and about this harbor.