The San Francisco call., 1904-06-18
MUDDLE AT THE MoRGUE.

tunate Survivors.
MIDDLE AT THE MORGUE.
Identified Bodies Cannot Be Found
When Called For by Friends.
NEW YORK, June 17.-Forty- eight
hours after the burning of the steamer
General Slocum the exact number OF
victims is still unknown. Up to the
present time the total number of
bodies recovered is $50, and Of these
521 have been identified. With no more
arrivals at the Morgue for several
hours, hope began to be felt that, the
awful total had been completed, but 1T
was soon shattered by a report that
divers at work on the hulk of the Slo-
cum had discovered a mass of bodies
wedged in one of the paddle boxes.
How many corpses there will prove to
be in this place will not be known for
some hours, as they will not be dis
turbed until the Coroner is on the
scene. One hopeful phase of the Sit
uation is the steady decrease in the
number of missing, though it is still
appallingly large, the number being
somewhere between 400 and 500. The
various officials whose positions brings
them into touch with the disaster still
adhere to the belief that when all is
told it will be found that between 900
and 1000 persons perished.
The sad task of burying the dead
began to-day. meeting of the Ger
man Lutheran ministers of the city
was held and a programme of services
arranged. While in many instances a
joint service will be held over several
bodies, nevertheless the clergymen of
this denomination have a herculean
task before them in administering the
last rites over the dead of their faith.
BLOW is CONCENTRATED.
The distressing concentration of the
blow of the disaster is shown by the
fact that in one apartment house on
Eighth street there are thirty-five
dead while in Rivington-street house
sixteen bodies await burial.
Preliminary steps have been taken
for three distinct Investigations of the
disaster. These are being undertaken
by the Federal authorities through the
Department of Commerce, by the Coro-
ner's office and by the District Attor-
ney. The Coroner's inquest will begin
Oh Monday next and Captain Van
Schaick- of the Slocum and six of his
crew lie in a hospital with a police
man at the bedside of each. They are
at present detained as witnesses. The
authorities are rapidly gathering such
evidence as will be needed in ascertain
ing whether or not there was neglect
or carelessness in the safety appli-
ances of the vessel. First officer Ed
ward Flanagan of the Slocum is quoted
in an interview as saying that the
steamers fire hose was rotten and use
less and that it burst in a dozen places
when he and his men tried to use it.
The charge is also made that the life
preservers on the vessel were old and
rotten and in most instances proved in
adequate when used. Several papers
to-day print pictures of preservers
taken from the Slocum which bear in
black letters this inscription:
Passed by United States Steamboat
Inspector, June Is, 1891"
BOATS FASTENED BY WIRES.
William Thembly, a deckhand, cor
IoboTates Flanagan's statement regard
ing the defective fire hose and it is re-
ported that evidence has been secured
showing that some of the life boats
were made fast by wires, making ii
impossible for them to be cast loose
and lowered. All the men who have
made these statements will be called
as witnesses by the Coroner
Police boats and other harbor craft
still maintain their patrol of the waters
of the East River in the vicinity of the
accident in the hope of recovering
bodies.
Secretary Cortelyou, who had long
conference with Robert S. Rode, in
spector of the Second District of
New York, after his arrival here, said
to-day that he would give his per-
sonal attention to the Federal investi-
cation of the Slocum disaster. Mr..
Cortelyou said:
Il wish to say that most thorough
investigation will be made into the
most awful tragedy and that no stone
will be left unturned to lay bare the
whole truth with regard to it.
''As Secretary of the Department of
Commerce and Labor, am the head
of the Federal inquiry into this af-
fair and 1 propose to give it my per-
sonal and in so far as possible my un-
divided attention until the matter is
finally settled. AS soon as practicable
the Board of Inspectors will get to-
gether and take testimony. This in
quiry will be separate and distinct
from any proceedings brought by CITY,
State or county officials.
CORTELYOU TO INVESTIGATE.
Il want to correct an impression
that seems to have gone abroad that
this investigation will be left to sub
ordinates in the department. This is
absolutely untrue. I will hold the in
quiry myself and will have ample as
sistance from the most prominent and
efficient men in the department
Every one who can throw the least
light upon the matter will be brought
before the board and the taking of
testimony will continue so long as any
one can be found who can aid us in
arriving at a correct estimate of the
facts. The sittings of the board will
continue until the whole truth is
known"
While the divers and others were
h1Icu looking for hOdfaz fodox