The daily morning journal and courier., 1904-12-23
INQUIRY INTO BURNING
 OF THE STARIN LINER
CAPTAIN MACALLISTER 1ESTI- FEES BEFORE SPECIAL BOARD.

Declares He Made Thorough Inspec-
 tion of the Glen Island Within a
 Month or six Weeks Before the Dis-
 aster-Everything Then in Good and
 Proper condition--F. B. Street of
 This City, Praises the Cuptain and
 Crew-Mate on the stand.
 New York. Dec. 22.-The story of the burning of the starin line steamer Glen Island in Long Island sound last Satur- day with the loss of nine lives was re- told to-day when an investigation into the causes of the disaster was begun before a special board representing the local board of steamboat inspectors. Captain Charles E. McAllister, who was in command of the boat at the time, was the first witness. He was examined at great length as to the condition of the steamer the facilities for the pro- lection of lie in case of fire and the course pursued by himself and his crew when 1t was learned that fire had started in the steamer.
 Captain McAllister said that he had made q thorough inspection of the Glen Island within a month or six weeks of the accident and that he was certain that everything was in good and prop CT condition. He declarel that every thing possible to save life. was done af- ter the fire started and that all the passengers who escaped the flames were put in the boats ahead of the members of the crew. He. himself. he said, was the last person to leave the burning vessel. When he slid down the rope to the waiting boat the flames were roar ing less than ten feet away.
 Frederick B. Street of New Haven, who, with his wife and two daughters were on the Glen Island, said that he thought the crew was we'll disciplined and he did not see how the captain and crew could have done differently T think the captain kept a level head. he said.
 Captain David Marcus could not tell the cause os the fire.
 Thomas McMuliin, first pilot, was also unable to say how the fire started. He was sure the chief engineer was on duty at the time.
 Vernon NJ Iiayman, chief engineer, said fire drills were held every Satur- day. The cause of the fire was unknown to him.
 Engineer Layn,an said that at the time the vessel was inspected in May there were 2iO2S life preservers on the boat, of there 300 had been removed from outside since that Inspection,
 Thomas O'Brien, quartermaster, who was steering at the time of the disaster, said that his attention was first called to the fire by the smell Of smoke while he was at the wheel. He could give no opinion as to what caused the fire.
 Ivon Larsen, the mate, admitted that he had no license. Part of his duty, he said, was to inspect the fire hose and fire equipment.
 He did not know what caused the fire as he was in bed when it started. After admitting that there were a few. barrels of oil on board the Glen Is- land, the witness admitted that, as mate, he had charge of the cargo, but when questioned as to what cargoes passenger craft are allowed to carry, he could not specify prohibited articles un- der the law. He was sure that there were no automobiles aboard. He said that the vessel carried sixty-five buck cts, four of which were in the saloon while sixty-one that were on the upper deck were either frozen or empty on the night of the fire.
 The hearing was continued until to- morrow at 10 o'clock