New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-19
A GLEN ISLAND INQUIRY.
HARRIS WILL MAKE 1T.
Search for Bodies TO Begin To-day
-CrofcGS See Wreck.

Although no Investigation Of the Glen Island
fire Will be made by the Nassau County officials
unless bodies are recovered when divers acting
for the Starin company inspect the wreck this
morning, Captain Ira Harris, United States
supervising inspector for this district will begin
an investigation FOR the federal authorities at
once He said last night that he had received
orders from Inspector General Uhler to hold an
inquiry He has not at present Information
definite enough 10 know just whom he will sum-
r7lon but II IS likely that the captain OF the Glen
Island and the survivors Of the accident viii be
called TO tell what they know about the boat
and the fire. Captain Harris has not viewed the
wreck yet bu; he or one OF his assistants will
make an examination of the hull.
Divers Of the Merritt Chapman company
hired by the Starin company. will try this morn
ing to get out any bodies which may be in the
hull Those who saw the fire, however. and
those who have seen the wreck feel sure that
everything within the steamer was burned, even
The machinery being fused into mass Of junk
The only possibility by which the bodies might
have been preserved was that the men took
refuge far below the water line. where the fire
could not get at them, dying from suffocation,
but this is hardly probable. nothing but the
ver.es1 shell was left of the hull
II the divers find any bodies, James H. Cocks.
Justice Of the peace, win hold an inquest as
there IS no coroner in Nassau County. Other
wise. no action viii be taken by the county
officials
Tho submerged wreck Of the steamer, hiding
.,a secret of the fate Of its nine victims, was
,-o,r6ed lust off the shore of Hampstead Har-
~ near Glen Cove, yesterday 1t proved
.---aorion which drew hundreds OF sightseers
70 the out Of the way spot All day they came.
=, vehicles OF every sort to see a battered
s-,oses+ack and bits Of twisted ironwork washed
bv me waves. Many boats put out from shore
and rowed around the wreck. their Passengers
leaking with the peculiar curiosity which any
hing connected with such . horror seems to
inspire at the sunken hulk
MUCH WRECKAGE AFLOAT.
The bsyrnen turned beachconbers, and for
miles reaped rich harvest from the shores.
Wreokage was floating all over the bay, while
large riaces Of partly burned timbers were scat
tered as far as RosIyn. At low tide the bow and
Stern. badly burned, with warped writing
pieces Of irouwork. are visible. At high tide
nothing can be seen. save the tip OF the smoke
stack
George A. Parker, manager Of the Starin COM
pany. said yesterday that wreckin6 tugs had
been hired. with divers, who would begin work
today.
The boat will be searched from stem to stern,
IN the hope that the bodies Of those missing will
be found" said ne. The Starin Line VIII spare
10 effort to ind those bodies"
Cornelius A Smith inspector Of hulls, exam
ired the hull OF the Glen Island in May. AT
his home in Livingston, Staten Island, last
night, he said that at that time everything was
s. first class shape. The boat was the best OF
the Starin feet, and her hull and fire lighting
appliances were good.
Inspector Smith said he had been a shipmate
Of CAPTAIN MacAIIster, and knew him to be
brave. Trustworthy man The captain did the
only thing possible for him TO DO. 1t was use
less to Try to fight the fire. When a wooden
boat takes fire and tugs or boats able to throw
water are not close by, the only thing TO do is
to try 20 save life
Mrs William L. Hendrickson wife Of the
missing engineer Of the Glen Island, is pros
srated a. her home, No. % Blackborne-ave
fort Richmond The news that her husband
was probably dead was carried 10 her Saturday
night by q relative, who went TO the mouse
without knowing that Mrs Hendrickson was
unaware of her husbands fate.