The Pickens sentinel-journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1903-1906, 1904-07-06
bLAME ON OFFICERS
ury in SIocum Disaster Rem
derS Its Verdict,
WARRANTS ARE ISSUED
IVan Schaick is Held Criminaly Re
sponsible and Captain Peace
Failed to Equip Vessel With
Proper Fire Apparatus.

The coroner's jury at New York in
tho Slocum inquest has returned a
verdict, finding:
That the immense loss OF life on the
IGeneral Slocum was due to the mis-
conduct of tho directors of the Knicl.
/ erbockor Steamboat Company
That Captain Van Schairll is crmi
! nally responsible
That Captain Peasc, Of the Grand
Republic, as captain Of the steam
boat company's feet, is criminally re.
SponStble in that he failed 10 proper
equip the Slocum with fire ap..a.
ratus.
That Matc Flanagan actcd in
'cOwarlly manner"
That the action of Inspector Lunl-
berg should be brought to the alton
ion OF the federal authorities
Coroner Berry has issued warrants
Tor the arrest of the directors and o.fi-
ciais OF the Knickerbocllcr Stca..Doat
Company. Inspector Iundbrrg and
$1,000 bail each
Captain Van Schaick's Testimony
When tho corOncr's jury. which has
been investigating the disaster to tho
excursion steamer General Slocum, re.
sumcd its hearing Tuesday CaptaIn
van Shaick, the commander OF the
Slocum. was called as the first wit
ness.
Van Schaick, who was wheeled into
court in an invalid's chair. said he has
held masters license about thirteen
yearS
He says he was on the General Slo.
cum since She first went into com
mission, but he had nothing to 90
with the general equipment of that
steamer in the first place, nor with
her life saving apparatus. He said
Captain Pcasc looked aftcr tho cuulp,
ment of the Slocum each season. He
said the government Inspector had
condemned some Of the life Er6 scrv.
er5 since 1891 and he personally had
thrown out about thirty. Tho captain
described the fire lighting and life saw
ing apparatus on board.
In the course Of the hearing Can.
tain Van Schaick was asked what
lie dd when informed the steamer
was on fire. He said he ordered fun
speed.
1T was food tide and the boat was
going Is or 1G miles an hour" said
the captain. The smoke came back
~ nj
about four lengths beyond the Sunkcn
Meadows. Tho pilot said to me:
What shall | dC?"
Let her go, and then ran to SEQ
what the fire was like. At the head of
the stairs | found a woman on her
knees. I lifted her UP ana looked
down the hatchway 1t was all anamc
ran back to tho pilot house and said
10 tho pilot:
Dd, she's gone; beach her
He said: Where? ana pointed to
North Brother island. shave that
lock and put her starbcard side on
'ho beach. Then | started TO go aft.
but the flames were coming like
volcano ana my hat caught fire. That's
where my face ana hands got burned.
There was no chance to move. II was
coming like a locomotive headlight.
Captain Van Schaick said he was
not absent from tho pilot house moro
than half a minute from tho limo Tho
alarm was given until the Slocum was
bcachcd which was not more than
two and one half minutes.
The witness said it was impossible
to beach the boat anywhere clsc with
as good chance to save life. lie de-
MED that he received information OF
fire before the alarm he acicl upon
reached him, and branded as absurd
he report that a boy toll him at Nine.
o9nth street that the beat was on firo