Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-10-17


some unknown person.
The report shows that this cabin was
filed with infammable material,
large amount of oil being among it's
contents. 1t was lighted by electricity.
but lamps We're filled and burned there
and the crew frequently nShted
matches in the compartment On ne
morning of the disaster, Walter Payne'
the cOlored porter. filled the lamps III
the cabin. AS there was not suIIlcienl
light in the cabin, he lighted a lamp
using a match; blew the notch out and
threw it on the bench. Later, an
oiler from the engine room entered the
cabin, using as light an open torch
The commission says on thls point.
The condition of this cabin, with the
purpose for which it was used, consul
tuteS one of the essential facts OF neg
ligence contributing to the disaster.
The apparatus of the vessel for tight
ing fire is described at length. The
forward valve of the standplpe. which
was nearest to the place of the origin
of the fire was about 80 feet from the
entrance to the forward cabin. This
forward valve and standpipc were sup
piled with a 1OO-foot length of cheap
unincd, linen hose. costing probably
less than 20 cents a foot. age unknown,
but probably several years old. The
rest of the fire apparatus on the main
deck consisted of the after valve OF the
said standpipe. two hand-hre pumps,
located respectively i'll the bow and in
the stern, and some 20 fire buckets in
the forward gangway. None of this re-
manning apparatus was used and the
fire buckets were empty
Upon the discovery of the fire by the
crew, the so-called mate, Edward
Flanagan notified the captain and
the two pilots, who were in the pilot
house, through the main deck speaking
tube. He then informed the engineer
that the boat was on fire and asked
for water on the fire line. With two or
three of the deck hands, Flanagan
took down the linen fire hose. Daniel
O'Neill, deck hand opened the valve of
the standpipe forward and turned the
water into the hose THE hose having
fallen on the deck in coil, was twist
cd and kinked, and us soon as it was
subjected to water pressure it burst i'll
two or three places and simultaneously
the hose itself was blown off from its
own couplings where it was connected
With the standpipe and the water
poured out of the standpipe upon sew
eral witnesses in that vicinity. Pre-
ponderence of evidence shows that no
water came from the nozzle of the
hose
Efforts We're made to attach rubber
ohse to the standpipe, but they failed.
Upon the failure to couple the rubber
hose to the forward Standpipe. the
crew gave up all further attempts to
tigh the fire and went aft, some of
.nem overheard. There is some evil
dence that one or two of the crew took
Down few life preservers for the pas
srngers. but very little assistance of
this nature was rendered.
The report pays a tribute to Assist
ant Engineer BRANDON and also the
chief engineer, Conklin, who remained
at their posts. The report says: "Evi-
IDENTIFY BRANDON did his full duty eff
GENTLY and courageously. He was at
his post until the vessel was beached,
for the engines were kept in motion
until few seconds before striking
North Brother Island
The evidence Of the pilots was that
Captain Van Schaick received the first
notice of the fire when the vessel was
about four lengths to the eastward Of
Sunker Meadows. He ordered full
speed ahead and directed that the YES
sci be kept on her cours9 Subsequent
ly he DIRECTED the pilNI, Van Wart, to
beanh.thl \Sel on North Brother Is
before the commission
ed ~ fact that the master
me tempt whatsoever to fight
the II examine its condition, or to
contf assure, direct. Or aid the pas
sengeX in any way whatever. 1t is al
legged that he was unable to reach the
place where the passengers We're by
reason of the fire, but this is contra
dicted by the evidence of many wit
Inesses and is obviously not true"
IAN essential fact of negligence is
the utter failure of the master to fight
the fire or aid the passengers. In a less
degree the pilots. in the same manner,
after Bleaching the boat, and while
there were still many passengers on
board failed in their duty to assist and
rescue the said passengers. Very lit
tie assistance was given or central eX-
erciscd by any of the officers or crew
on behalf of the passengers
Discussing the place where the fire
was discovered, first, the commission
says that the evidence of people on the
main deck is to the effect that they
knew of the fire at the entrance to He'll
gate. In general the evidence Of peo-
pie on the upper decks is that the first
notice of fire on these decks was be-
fore the vessel had passed the middle
of Wards Island. One witness testified
that he knew of the fire at point OPP
posite Il marble yard at Astoria. This
marble yard is a conspicuous object
near the entrance to He'll gate.
"Reviewing the whole testimony,
therefore, the commission believes that
the Tirst discovery of the fire on the
main deck was before reaching Wards
Island: that Mate Flanagan knew of
it at about that time, and to the west
ward of Negro Point bluff on Wards
Island: and that he at once gave no.
tee to the pilot house of the existence
OF the fire" The evidence of the cap
tain and pilots radically disagree with
the Statements of other witnesses. but
the commission