New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-06-16
STEAM ON ALL THE TIME.
Directors Statement after Talk
7cith Captain Van Setback.

Charles E. Hill a director Of the Knicker-
booker Steamboat Company. visited the Leba-
Hospital late yesterday afternoon. TO see
Captain Van Schaick the commander OF the
General Slocum. who had been taken there
earlier in the day. under arrest. After a talk
with him Mr.. Hill said that the captain did
not know the OF the fire.
THE cause Of the IRE is not known" said he.
81 say that. because no investigation has been
begun The government Will undoubtedly begin
investigation The captain IS under arrest,
ana It would be inadvisabe for him to make
any statement at present but he told me that
he and the first ard second pilots. Edward Van
Wart and E NJ. Weaver. were in the pilot
house until the Slocum was beached. Then
they jumped directly from the pilot house into
the water The captain hurt his leg, and may
require an operation. The two pilots were prac-
ticaly uninjured and assisted III saving life.
They were all in the wheelhouse until the last"
Was the boat under steam all the timer
Mr.. Hill was asked. 1T has been said that the
pilot house was deserted. and the boat drtfted
with the tide until she ran aground
The steam was Oh until the boat struck The
engineer. Frank Conkin. told me at my office
No. 149 Broadway. where he reported that he
in the engine room until the boat struck.
The current was GA the food, and could not
have been possible TO have beached the boat
earlier, for there is no shallow water nearer
than North Brother Island II the boat had
been run alongside the piers pushed the
rocks or the mainland she might have sunk, as
the water IS deep along there. and more lives
would have been lost. The captain said that
the first he knew Of the fire when he was
told Of il through the tube by some one below.
The Slocum then on the Sunken Meadow.
He took the boat 10 the nearest place where
she could be beached"
The mate had charge OF the fire fighting, and
don't know where he is. The pumps were
going, and there fire fighting"
Was there a panic among the crew.
Il have heard Of no panic. There were in the
neighborhood Of three thousand live pTeservers
on board
1t is awful he added, This is the first time
IN The fifteen years history Of the Kncker-
booker company that life has been lost"
Nj. Hiu said he did not care 10 estimate the
value Of the boat. i was insured, but he did
not know FOR exactly how much.
Frank A Barnaby. president OF the Knicker-
booker Steamboat Company. made the following
statement yesterday afternoon:
The steamer General Slocum left East Third-st
East River at $40 a IA, having been ordered there
~ the committee IN charge OF the eNcurSoH OF st
Being on,a-tbird Of her licensed capacitv 80 '''
The fire apparatus 1T work within minute
after the discovery OF the fire. but the people be
came panicstricken and rushed 10 the rear OF the
boat many of them jumping overheard.
The boat was thoroughly equipped with fire ap-
paratus and life pTeserYers. and passed inspection
As nearly as we can ascertain after careful in
vestigadon. about siXty-hye people were drowned;
none were burned.
The boat was beached under her own steam. and
am informed some OF the passengers were able to
walk ashore.
After the statement was given out yesterday
afternoon, and IL found that the estimate OF
the dead clearly wrong an effort was made TO
see Mr.. Barnaby. but he could not be found