The Savannah morning news., 1904-06-21

States district attorney and stenogra-
pher with instructions from the De-
partment 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 will
forward the evidence, together with
his opinion thereon, to the department.
Won't Wait for the End.
"If the evidence warrants it, said
Gen. Burnett to-day, Il shall not wait
until the end of the inquest before
moving in the matter. If the evidence
is strong enough the federal grand jury
will be considering certain phases of
the case long before the inquest has
closed"
In addition to the interest which the
Department of Justice was taking in
the inquest, H. K. Smith, the legal rep
resentative of Secretary Cortelyou of
the Department of Commerce and La
bor, was under instructions to keep that
department thoroughly advised as the
inquest progresses.
1t, was expected that striking facts
would be adduced at the inquest. fer,
in addition to the proof that the life
preservers were rotten. that the fire
hose burst. that the lifeboat davits
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 so heavy that
they sank like lead. Two bodies were
found on the bottom of the river with
these ring preservers around them.
Another charge which the coroner
was to investigate was one, to the eff
feet that a portion of the guard rail
to which four bodies were found cling
ing when it was raised from the bottom
of the river yesterday, was rotten and
worm-eaten.
Sorrow Caused Suicide.
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 me-
mortal services during the day,
blew his brains out with a revolver.
The coroner's jury was quickly Sc
cured. President Barnaby of the
Knickerboeker Steamboat Company,
owner of the General Slocum, was the
first witness and from ~him ii was
learned that the actual operation of
the steamer was under Capt Van
Schaick who received his instructions
from Capt. Pease. on application of
the latter, ne Sdiu, dll lIISpeSbtOH VI
the Slocum was made by the United
States authorities before she was put
in commission this year, adding, 1t
was reported to us that the Slocum
was in thoroughly good order and
working condition"
He had not personally inspected the
boat. but said he had examined the
reports of the company's inspection and
of that by the United States inspec-
tion officers.
The certificate of United States in
spection was placed in evidence. 1t
certified that on May T. 1904, the GEN
eral Slocum was in good condition to
carry $500 passengers, and that 1t had
aboard 1850 life preservers.
Condition of the Boat.
The bills for life preservers present
ed by Mr. Barnaby which were dated
in different months I'm 1902, 1903 and
1904 upon examination proved 70 have
originally borne the name Grand Re
public" This name had been scratch
ed out and the name General slo-
cum" substituted When this fact was
called 10 Mr. Barnaby's attention he
was unable 10 explain why anything
Of this kind should have been done.
The books Of the company, howeyer,
would show what supplies went 70 the
slocum and what 10 the Grand Re-
public.
Asked II the ledgsra would not show
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