New-York tribune., 1904-10-17

- - - a. on nre. and asked for water on the
n - 80, ~ Ith Two oE three of the deckhauds
Ftaaagan took down the linen fire hose Da1iaI
= NeiII, oeekhand opened the valve of the
-. - a.rWard and turned the water into
me nose. The hose. having fallen on the deck
N q coz, was twisted and kinked and as soon
aS y "1s SUBJECTED 10 water pressure il burst
~ - 81 .ilree places. and simultaneously the
hose iIser was blown or from its own c0uplina,
We !. was connected with the standpipe and
80 80 81 toL-eu ouI OF the standpipe upon
, 49, s ~s.--sssea IN that vicinity. Preponder-
ance OF evidence shows that no water came from
the nozzle Of the hose. = 0'--
Efforts were made 10 attach y71br,Ar bosa - tho
suahdpiTe. nut they failed. Upon the failure
20 couple the rubber hose 10 the forward stand
g-PS, ne crew gave Up all further attempts to
LsIlI TIE nre and went aft, some Of them over
board. There is some evidence that one or two
OF the crew took down a few life preservers for
THIS nature was rendered
The report pays a tribute to Assistant Engi-
neer brandoW' and also to Chief Engineer Conk-
IN Nlo remained at their posts The report
says: Evidently Brandow did his full duty eff
clentiy and courageousy. He was his post
until the vessel was beached for the engines
were kept in motion until a few seconds before
striking North Brother Island"
The evidence Of the pilots was that Captain
an Schaick received the first notice Of the fire
when the vessel was about four lengths TO the
eastward OF Sunken Meadows. He ordered full
Kept on her course SubseqV emily he directed
the pilot. Van Wart, to BEECH the vessel on
North Brother Island.
OFFICERS FAILED IN DUTY.
The evidence before the commission estab-
lishes the fact that the master made no attempt
whatsoever to fight the fire to examine its con-
ditior or 10 control, assure direct or aid the
passengers in any way whatever. It is alleged
that he was unable 10 reach the place where the
passengers were by reason OF the fire but this
is Contradicred by the evidence OF many wit
nesses. and is obviously not true"
An essential fact OF negligence is the utter
failure OF the master 10 fight the fire aid the
passengers In 4 less degree the pilots in the
same manner. after beachng the boat. and while
there were stun many passengers on board.
failed in their duty 10 assist and rescue the said
passengers Very little assistance was given or
control exercised by any OF the officers or crew
on behalf OF the passengers"
Discussing the place where the fire was dis
covered first the commission says that the evi-
dence OF people on the main deck is 10 the effect
that they knew Of the fire at the entrance to
Hell Gate In general, the evidence Of people on
tEe UoPer decks IS tnar the first notice OF fire
on Jnose cecHs was before the vessel had passed
the middle OF Wards Island One witness test
ned that he knew ot-the fire al a point opposite
a marble yard at Astoria. This marble ward Is
a conspicuous object near the entrance 20 Hell
Gate
Reviewing the whole testimony theregora
the commission believes that the first discovery
Of the fire on the main deck was before reaching
Warc's Island that the mate. Flanagan. knew
Of Negro Point Bluff. on Wards Island: and
that ne AZ once gave notice 70 the pilot house
oI 1he existence or he fire" The evidence OF
me captain and pilots radically disagrees with
the statements OF other witnesses but the com
mission says that il IS forced by the weight OF
the entire evidence 70 the belief that the state
Uents Of the men IN the pilot house as TO the
time when they first knew oH the fire are IN
correct The reasons for this belief are so
strong that the opinion OF the commission IS
that the evidence Of the master and OF the
pilots as TO the position Of the vessel IN the
must BE disregarded"
After a careful consideration Of the entire
testimony - 70 the time OF the discovery Of the
1-e, the commission IS % the opinion that the
rnen in the piothouse had knowledge OF the fire
before the steamer passed the eastern end OF
Wards Island. The commission thereFore be-
Heves that the master knew Of the fire in time
10 have heached the vessel either in Little He'll
Cate 70 the westward OF the Sunkeu Meadows.
or in the Bronx Kills 70 the eastward OF the
Sunken Meadows, ara 70 have thereby gained
the great and essential advantage Of placing the
vessel with her stern 20 the wind that the
naTnes would be driven forward and away from
the passengers, instead OF taking q course that
inevitably drove the flames rapidly AFT toward
the passengers. ana delayed the beachng OF the
vessel for several minutes longer than was
necessary"
BAD JUDGMENT IN Bleaching VESSEL
The commission declares that Pilot Van Wart
showed bad Judgment and lack Of skill in beach
ing the vessel at a considerable angle with the
shore line, thus leaving in deep water all but the
bow Of the ship, which was in flames. and afford
ing the passengers who could not swim little op-
portuniry 70 save their lives. The commission
believes that the vessel might have been beached
so as 10 enable passengers 10 leap overheard
and wade ashore
The commission sharply criticizes the condi-
tiCn of the fire lighting apparatus on the vessel
saying that the whole FIRE hose equipment was
bad. except possibly one hundred feet OF new
hose which not used at sill The evidence
shows that water had ever been put through
the fire hose on the Slocum- There IS strong
pro5a bility that the fire would have been con-
trolled had the IRE hose been OF the required
statutory strength" No fire drills boat drills
had beer held on the vessel this year. Her life
boats and nferafLs were apparently IN talrIy
good condition. Many OF the life prsserFers
however. were in bad condition, and The evi-
GeuCe indicates that only small percentage Of
the passengers used the preservers at all
While IL IS probably true that many II these
defective life preservers would have neverthe-
less supported passengers in the water, the
average passenger, seeing one torn. refused to
use Il to try others and the result was as dis
astrous as If the life preservers had been wholly
unservtceabl ble.'
The commission says that the mate. Flanagan.
in distinct violation OF the law and contrary 10
the requirements Of the vessels certificate, was
not q licensed officer. The inefhciency and poor
quality OF the deck crew OF this vessel doubtless
typical OF the majority of the crews OF excur-
sion steamers, is one OF the essential facts that
caused the loss OF many lives
The report shows that the total loss OF life
by the Slocum disaster was 300 persons and the
number injured lao, out OF a total Ist OF 1ooo
This great loss Of life, percentage Of death
OF TO32-over seven-tenths-is obviously abnor-
nal and extraordinary. The abnormal per-
centaee is due primarily 20 the composition Of
the excureion party, about nine-tenths being
women and children Other factors are the
tide the extreme rapidity and progress Of the
fire the small amount OF assistance rendered
the passengers by the officers and crew or the
vessel. and the collapse OF the starboard side OF
the hurricane deck aft"
After considering the composition OF the ex-
cursion party, the commission says "a very
important conclusion from this set Of facts IS
that the law and regulations must recognize the
fact that an excursion party must be taken care
Of and cannot take care or itself
OWNERS CENsURABLE IN HIGH DECREE