The Van Buren press., 1904-07-02
|SLOCUM OFFICIALS
| HELD RESPONSIBLE.
Warrants Issued for Arrest Of
Directors and Officials.
WAS DUE TO MISCONDUCT
The Coroner Blames KnirkerbockeF
Boat tompHny's Representatives
for Terrible Disaster on
the steamer.

the steamer.
New York, June 29.-The inquiry con-
Quoted by Coroner Berry and a jury
into the Gen Slocum disaster was con-
cluded Tuesday, and after nearly four
hours deliberation a verdict was rem
dered in which the directors of the
KnickerJoCker Steamboat Co., the cap
tain of the Slocum, Capt. Pease; the
commodore OF the c0mpany's fleet,
and others, were held criminally re-
sponsible Warrants for their arrest
were issued. The mate Of the Slocum,
according to the jury, acted in cow
ardly manner, and the misconduct of
Steamboat Inspector Lundberg, it was
recommended should be brought to the
attention of the federal authorities.
The charge in each case was man
slaughter in the second degree. Bail
vas fixed by the coroner in amounts
varying from $1,000 10 81 1000. The di-
rectors of the company are Frank A
Barnaby president; Charles E. Hill,
vice-president; James T. Atkinson, sec
tary, and c. Delacy Evans, Robert X.
Story, Floyd S. Corbin and Frank G.
Dexter.
When the assistant district attorney
moved that warrants be issued after
the verdict had been given, Mr. Nc
Manus, counsel for the steamboat COM
pany, protested that such procedure
was unnecessary, as all the men were
ready to 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 arraigned. He pleaded nCI
su'ty, and his bail was fixed ar $1,000.
No bondsmen being on hand, he was
committed to jail.
Bail was fixed at $1,000 each
fer president Barnaby and Secre-
tary Atkinson, and bonds were fur
nished at once. Capt Van SChaick
is a prisoner in the Lebanon hospital,
Capt Pease may not be arrested until
Wednesday, when il is expected that
the directors Of the company will also
be taken into custody. At the as
sistant district attorneys request the
coroner's jury committed the assistant
engineer, Edwin Brandow and the
derkhards, Coakley and Trembly, as
witnesses, sending them to the house
of detention.
After pointing out the duty Of the
different officers and persons named
and their failure to perform their duty
the jury finds:
THAT the president, Frank A. Bar
naby; the secretary, James X. Atkin-
son, and the board Of directors Of the
Knickerbocker Steamboat Co., namely
Frank A. Barnaby, Charles f, Hill
James X. Atkinson, C. Delacy Evans
Robert j. Story, Floyd S. CorbIn and
Frank G Dexter were guilty of Grim
inal negligence in the failure 10 see to
the proper eQu,Sment Of the Gen, Slo-
cum. In the matter Of the fire fighting
and life-saviug appliances on board
said boat
THAT the captain, William II. Van
Schaick be held crminaIly responsible
for the accident
THAT the captain. John Pease, the
acknowledged commodore Of the fleet,
be held crimnally responsible for his
failure to properly equip the Gen, Slo-
cum with fire fighting and life saving
appliances
THAT Edward Flanagan. the mate,
acted In a cowardly manner, and we
recommend that he be held crlmlnally
responsible for failure 10 perform hts
duty on the Gen, Slocum on the day
Of the disaster
THAT in the opinion Of this jury, the
misconduct of Henry Lundberg, ,he
government inspector, In failing to re-
port TO his supcrors the true facts
concerning the vessels fire eXtin-
gushing and life-sayng equipment
| should be brought 10 the notice Of the
United States prosecuting officials, and
we further hold that said Henry Lund-
berg be held for criminal negligence
by reason Of his Incompetence, care
less aud Indifferent inspection OF the
Gen Slocums hull and lIfc-saying APP
pisnces on the 9Th " May, 1904
"The Jury Gre also Of the opinion
that the system Of inspection which
prevails IN the horbor Of New York
is very inefficient, and does not prop
erly determine whether the lite.sayIng
apparatus and hre appliances on the
vessels in this har6or are In proper
and suitable condition TO prevent the
loss of life, and we recommend to the
secretary Of commerce and labor that
he issue such instructions to the SUE
pcryhitg and local force Of inspectors
rs viii cause them TO efficiently and
honestly examine the steamboats, ply
Ing in and about Tits harbor,'
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