The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-06-29
FIX BLAME FOR
SL0CUM HORROR
COrOner's Jury Does Not Spare
the Guilty.
OFFICERS WERE EDWARDS
PENALTIES RECOMMENDED FOR
DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

Anew YORK. June 2S-The inquiry
III conducted by Coroner Berry and q
jury into the General SIoeum dis
aster was concluded today and after
nearly four hours Geliber8tiJu q Eal-
dict was rendered I'm Waich the l.r5c-
tors OF the kniCkerbocker Steamboat
company Captain Van SCniaiE OF the
Slocum, Captain pease. the commodore
of the cOmpany.s fleet ana others were
held cTiminally responsible. Warrants
for their arrest were issued. The mate
of the Slocum. according to the jury
acted in q COWaTlly manner and the
misconduct of Steamboat Inspector
Lundberg, 1t was recommended. should
be brought 90 the attention OF tae
proper authorities.
The charge I'm each case was man
slaughter. Bail was fixed by the
coroner varying from $1,000 10 $4,000.
Board of Directors.
The directors of the company are
Frank A. Baruaby. president. Charles
=. Hill. vice president, James A.
Atkinson, secretary, and e.. DelayCy
Evans. Robert * Storey, Clogs S. Cor
bin. and Frank Dexter
When the assistant district attorney
said that warrants be issued after the
verdict had been given. AR. McIanun-
sci for the steamboat company. pro
tested that such procedure was uu-
necessary, as all the men were ready
90 appear and give bail when called
for The protest was of no avail
The mate, Edward Flanagan, who
was under detention as a witness, was
the first arraigued. He pleaded not
guilty and his bail was fixed at @LUuJ-
He was committed TO Jail.
Inspector LUndberg pleaded not
guilty and was released on $1,000 ball.
Bail was fixed at $1,000 each for Pres
ident BaTnaby and Secretary Atkinson,
and bonds were furnished at once.
Captain is a Prisoner.
Captain Van Schaik is a prisoner i'm
the Lebanon hospital. Captain Pease
may not be arrested until tomorrow
when it is expected that the directors
of the company viii also be taken into
custody. At the assistant district at
torney's request the coroner commit
ted Assistant Engineer Edwin Bran
dow and Deckhands COakley and
Handley as witnesses. sending them 10
the house of detention.
After pointing out the duty of the
different officers and persons named
and their failure 10 perform their duty,
the jury finds.
Verdict of the Jury.
THAT the president Frank A. Bar
naby; the secretary, James X. AJkiu-
son. and the board of directors of the
Steamboat company.
namely, Frank A. BaTuaby, Charles j..
HILL James X Atkinson. c. Delacey
Evans Robert X story. Floyd S. Cor
bin and Frank O. Dexter. were guilty
Of criminal negligence in the failure To
see 60 the proper equipment of the
General SlOcum I'm the matter of the
81
uses On board said boat.
THAT the captain, William IT. Van
Schaik, be held cIimiuaIy responsible
for the accident.
THAT Captain John A. Pease. the ac-
knOWledged commodore of the fleet be
held CTiminaIy responsible for his fall
Jre 70 properly equip the General Slo-
cum with fire-hghJiug and lite-saViug
appliances.
THAT Edward F. Flanagan, the
mate. acted i'm q CJWaTIly manner and
we recommend that he be held Grim
lnauE responsible for failure to- per
form his duty ON the General SI0gum
Oh the day of the disaster.
Inspector is Scored.
THAT JIM the opinion of this jury the
misconduct of Henry Luudb-rE the
government inspector. I'm failing TO re-
port TO his superiorz the true facts
the vessels fTe-eXLuguish-
ing and life-Saviug equipment. should
be brought TO the notice OF the United
states prosecuting officials. and we
further recommend that said Henry
Luudberg be held for criminal uegLi-
gence by reason OF his incompetence.
careless ana Indifferent inspection of
the General Sl0CUm's hull and Iife-sav-
ing appliances on the 5Jh day of May.
1904
THE jury are also of the opinion
that the system of inspection which
prevails in the harbOr of New York is
very inefficient and does not properly
demonstrate whether the life-saviug
apparatus and fire appliances ON the
vessels in this haTbor are I'm proper and
suitable condition TO prevent the loss
Of life, and we recommend to the secre-
-ary Of commerce and labor that he
issue such Instructions TO the super
yising and local force of inspectors as
viii cause them TO efficiently and hon
7Stly examine the steamboats, plying I'm
and about this harbor"