The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-06-28

NcW 1OTk, June OF the teS-
timony given at the inquest today into
the General S,ocum disaster went TO
show that the life preservers on the
teamer were practically useless. At
least half a dozen witnesses described
how difficult these life preseryers
pieces at critical times
Captain V~anSchaik was brought into
the our room on u stretcher. He ap-
parently was suffering greatly, but ex-
pressed a willingness to undergo an
examination by the coroner. He was
ordered back to the hospital, however.
and his examination postponed until
next week.
The hull of the wrecktd Slocum was
raised today n a great deal of water
was pumped out of the hold. A search
was made for bodies but hone was re-
covered. At the next full tide the hulk
will be taken further in shore. A
thorough exploration of the wreckage
has not yet been made and it is posi-
BILE that tomorrow bodies will be found
in the ENHANCEMENT Of timbetrs and
machinery.
Supervising Inspector Rode Of the
United States Steamboat Inspection
picked up a number of life pIeseryers
on he main deck of the Slocum and
tagged them for use in the government
investigation. These p~reservers were
badly torn and more than half filled
with powdered cork.
Twenty-four additional bodies were
recovered today, bringing the total
numbtr of known dead up to 9O7.
One hundred policemen who have been
a canvass of all districts where
persons were reported missing COM
pleted their work tonight. Inspector
Schmitberger, who was in charge of
the canvass estimated the total dead
thousand. He said tha he police
IN many instances found at their
homes persons who AVE been officially
missing since the day the steamer was
burned. In n case, a man, his wife,
n two children, whose names had ap-
peared in all the published lists OF
missing, were DUN at their home.
They had not been on the excursion
at all, and the elders were not even
aware that they had been reported
missing. Others among the missing
were found at hospitals and at various
other places.
When the Slocum inquest was re-
sumed today Policeman James Collins
said he was at College point and One
Hundred and Thirty-Fourth street,
when he saw the Slocum coming up
the river all afire forward. He notified
the fire department and with another
policeman, he got a yawI and rowed
over to North Brother Island. where
the Slocum was hen beached. They
made three trips n took fifty burn
ing women and children from the pad
die boxes and picked up 16 dead bod
les. He saw many life p~reservers float
ing and a lot of cork floating, but
none Of the Persons picked up wore life
preservers. AS Herbtrt c. FerralI,
the policeman whom was with Collins,
took the stand to ~corroborate Collins
story. Captain Van Schaick was
brought in on q strete.ier. It was de-
| cided. however, not to call Captain Van
Schaick today and he was taken back
to the hospital.
at the foot of 131st street n from
| three to five minut saved. according
| to the testimony Of John VanGiider, SUI
| perintendent OF the New York, New
| Haven and Hartford Railroad Com
! pany. He contended that 131st street
could have been reached by slightly
| changing the course, the flood tide
Il WYNN AAov o410 lac AAo VSeAe
have carried the flames outward, in
stead of inward. The reputation of
| Captain VanSchaik as a commander
was declared by the witnesses to be
first class. He had no doubt h cap
tain had done what he thought best
under these circumstances.
Captain Edward VanWart, senior
pilot of the Slocum. said two hundred
and fifty new life preservers were pur-
chased for the Slocum in 1895. He was
not sure whether they were examined
at the beginning of the present 9
He did not examine the fire hose. but
did examine the life boats and found
them in good condition. He bad not
given the signal for h fire drill this
season.
Reuben H. Tudor. who assisted in
the work of rescue, said four or five
of the corpses he picked up had on life
p~reservers- One Of the preservers. he
said, was full Of powdered cork and
was SO rotten that he pulled 1t to pieces
with his finger nail.
Much Of the testimony offered at the
afternoon session had to do with the
condition of the life preservers- Almosl
without exception the stories Of the
witnesses were to the effect that they
were Of little value.
Many instances were given where the
strapSsattached to the life belts broke
easily when subjected TO strain. am
where the canva covering was tori
and b filing of the graduated cori
released Numerous witnesses testified
hat quantities of the graduated cor
was seen boating o nthe surface OF tn'
water in the vicinity Of the burning
steamer while the work OF rescue wa
Il asking an adjournment until Mon
, day, Mr.. Garvan said he hoped to com