The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-06-24

New York, June 20.-The list of
those who persisted on the General
Slocum is growing at an alarming
rate. Bodies came to the surface to-
day off the shores of North Brother
Island singly and in groups of twos
ana threes. until at dusk ninety-three
additional had been recovered. Every
passing steamer seemed to churn up
the water to such a degree that in
its wash one or more bodies would be
swept in to the beach. Between the
hours of three and six in the after
noon. forty-five bodies, some Of them
badly mutila'ed. were taken ashore
by the s~earcn..s parties.
This brings the total number or
bodies recovered up to 725. and set
there are something like three hun
dred unaccounted for A number of
these are among the unidentified at
! the morgue and over on North Brother
Island. and the 'unrecognized" that
W. been buried in the Lutheran GEM
etery on Long Island.
The c%oroner's inquiry into the dis
IooNCI was Al quay ~
| persons gathered in and around the
armory, in the borough of the Bronx.
where the inquest was held. Among
those examined were Frank A. Barna-
by, president of the Knickerbocker
| Steamboat Company; James II. At
kins, secretary Of the company; Mate
Flanagan, of the Slocum, ana several
members Of the crew.
New York, June 2O.-Arl along the
East river, from North Brother Is
land down to what are known as the
Sunken Meadows, search was made
today for bodies of unfortunate who
lost their lives in the disaster to the
excursion steamer Genera Slocum last
Wednesday,. Although more than $50
bodies had been recovered last night,
reportS from the first few minutes OF
work today added five more to the to-
tai. These were found at widely sep
arated points. and the searchers were
Of the opinion that before the day
ended the list of missing would be
considerably decreased. They believe
that the big steamers and other craft
will so stir UP the water as TO cause
bodies lying along the bed Of the river
to rise to the surface.
Wreckers at work on the wreck of
the Slocum today encountered new
difficulties. They were at work about
the hull of the INK steamer, when
they found that instead of the null
resting in mud, as the ythought, it
re1sing in mud, as they thought, it
known to exiSt. This, they say, will
delay the work somewhat.
Several more bodies were recovered
during the forenoon, some Of them in
the vicinity Of the wreck or the Slo-
cum.
Four divers were at WORK near
Il North Rrnfhor leland tDIor roIfo-
for bodies. A diver reports that at
a depth of 95 feet he has discovered
a large hollow in which HI says there
are a great many bodies.
More than 200 witnesses had been
summoned to appear at the inquest,
which was scheduled to begin before
Coroner Berry today. 1t also was
United States district attorney and a
stenographer. with Instructions from
the department of justice to take
down all the testimony offered. As
fast as the notes are transcribed. the
evidence will be examined by United
States District ATTORNEY Burnett. who
i will in turn forwar the evidence, to-
department.
IF the evidence warrants It." said
General Burnett today. st shall not
walt until h end Of the inquest be-
fore moving in the matter. II the
evidence is strong enough, the Federal
grand jury will be considering GER
tain phases of the case long before the
inquest has closed"
In addition to the interest which
the department of justice has taking
in the inquest, II. K. Smith, the legal
representative of Secretary Cortelyou.
or the department OF and
labor, was under instructions to keep
II IN af dana - y, 90
the inquest progresses.
1t was expected that striking facts
would be adduced at the Inquest, for,
in addition to the proof that the life
preservers were rotten, that the fire
hose burst, that the life boat davits
would not work and that the life RATS
were so fastened to the decks that
they could not be moved. Coroner
Berry was said to have evidence that
many of the ring preservers were 30
heavy hat they sank like lead.
i. Two bodies were found on the bot
tom of the river with these ring pre-
servers around them. Another charge
which h coroner was to Investigate
was one to the effect that a portion
Of the guard rail, to which FOUR bodies
were found clinging when II was RATS
ed from the bottom OF the river yes
terday. was rotten and worm-eaten.
A resident Of Jersey City named
Workman. who lost two daughters and
a son in the disaster. returned home
last night. after having visited the
scene OF the wreck and after attending
memorial services during the day.
blew his brains out with a revolver.
The coroners jury was quickly Sc
cured President Barnaoy, OF the
Knickerbocker Steamboat Company
owner OF the Genera Siocum. was
the first witness. and from him IL wal
learned that the actual operation OF
the steamer was under Captain Van