New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-20

OF the special order.
An investigation Of the Glen Island disaster
will be begun to-day before captain Seeey and
Theodore T Mersereau. the local board OF in
spact!on Everybody corrected in any way
with the affair who IS nov alive will be exam
ined The inspectors already have the report
made BY Captain MacAlhsteT 10 the Starin
company. and expect 70 have an Official report
from The company. The crew and passengers
will be interrogated il an effort to fix the blame
for the fire. IS wei as 10 ascertain its cause.
Crptain Harris VIII also make a special investi-
ration Of his own in accordance with orders
rom the department. When the hull is raised
he viii examine il and make a report 10 Wash
irgton
A DIVER FINDS 40 BODIES
No contract has been let by the starfn COM
pany yet for raising the hull. The tug Allison
Briggs and the derrick lighter ". II Moore
were at the wreck YESTERDAY in command OF
Captain J. NJ. Tooker. Alfred Blomberg. a
diver went through the hull. Last night he
reported 10 the Starin officials that. after a
thorough search. he had been unable to find any
bodies IT was thought that the contents of the
hull were so badly burned that bodies could not
be distinguished from wreckage.
There was much discussion yesterday as TO
where lay the blame for having missed the
three Starin boats in the general reinspection.
Captain Ira Harris. The supervising inspector,
said that the Starin Lire had twelve passen-
ger carrying vessels. seven Of which We're turned
IN sor Teinspection. while two others rad been
Inspected SO soon before the special order that
their certificates were issued after the rein
spection was begun. When the Starin list was
turned in some time around the beginning Of
July the Glen Island. the Sam Sloan and the
Esstus Corning were specifically declared ont
r. commission. Yet the Glen Island was run
through Juis and August on Sundays and holt
Days according To two employees of the Starin
rornpauy. whose declarations We're confirmed by
George A Parker. manager for the company.
The Corning has been running for several weeks.
Yesterday the Starin company refused abso-
iutey 10 say word about this anything else
bearing on the Glen Island accident Mr Parker,
when asked about Captain Harris's statements
regarding the Corning. turned away with Not
g word 10 say"
r 5. Rode. then supervising inspector, had full
power, under various sections OF the inspection
regulations, 70 compel these vessels 10 submit
10 reinspection or 20 make the company de-
clare whether they were out of commission tenn
porarily or permanently. In fact, the formal
prder for reinspeCtion. coming from Inspector
General Uhler. contained the following instruc-
lions.
Mould suggest that full report be made
q any refusal OH the part Of the owner, agent
or official OF any steamer to comply fully with
your orders III reference 10 such reinspeCtion.
and that such refusal be made a matter OF
Official record in your Office. so that the public
ts vel as the department may be advised or
te disposition of those who responsible for
re maintenance and efficient lie saving equip
nsnt on board steamers coming under the juris
Ld,on OF this department.
20 record was made by Mr. Rode or his as
of Of 10
three vessels. nor did he try to have them re-
Inspected They we're put 'in commission" or
'out Of commission" according to the wishes Of
me company, and Nr Rode did not compel
fe-islecoon, OF record any facts about these
changes II the use Of the boats. Some five hun
CRED passenger carrying vessels, all in this har-
bor but not by any means all IN this district,
were inspected 10y Mr.. Rodie's specially detailed
inspectors On September Il he sent a pre-
Hinlnary report 10 Washington, telling what
work had been done soon after that the in
PectioHs we're discontinued. the last of the out
e-town men leaving this city on October 10
INSPECTION OF THE GLEN ISLAND.
The Glen Island, the records showed yesterday,
vas inspected on May 81, but because Of de-
fects in equipment certificate was not granted
Until June q on the first inspection some
PAIRS were necessary and $50 feet OF two-and-a-
aHdavit made or John Z. Van Wye,
superintendent Of the Etarin compzlly's yards,
ma the repairs had bean made and 1 quantity
q fire hose and deer nose placed 4. board.
Neorge :. TuthiH made another exa45t.atiOE,
ana the certificate was granted.
captain Harris feels that there Is U,Ee,t ~, "a
.oT electrical iIspsctorc. ana a. the meetr.. OF
Ae BosEd q Supervisor" ilsyea tors "a Ia.l-
~ = in ~ Washington tbs question viii ,. de-
Ny regular inspectors cannot be expected TO
laks up tasz branch" said he, although tbey
LsFe the pc1s-. OF course They know nothing
gent electricity, in the dlst plae- a.d thef
ave tVJ much WORK TO do nov. ] haze m &C
tptts.1iol for an increase OF 81 per cent IA the
Nek.Lg force for this district which G., tends
nel Cap Charles 70 Eastp0st, Asa with nine
,oea bgsT6s IN its jurisdiction. There should
y altaIhal to this district al leaI two expert
eechcsaaa. capable OF detecting anything
NfCEg IN wiring Cr tha electrical machinery o.
1tsseE. ! wo- i have this inspection not q
sett Of tie Teg +2r once Il year e-lInlnatlOu.
ell s5e-t1i ii--res too. % be hs!5 y Irregular
intervals. bl, - I-a.- once month
captain Eerr.s s4.a that I would H. a good
.-ing Il The aeya -ne-t void mslnuin a de-
tectye service 10 oJts.u eitdeuce against
hleamboat c.g-rers aui caD-a!ns WI after
their vessels hal passed insUaecions. W'uld re-
move saf..y devices. one company Of Vgiich ne
SleE had tsiE-l large lie raft from team
81 hohifg severe u1us without IT, This com
ba1y was detected and fineG.
ne Board OF SGDs~g sing Inspectors VI, also
axe Up plans for Gi,- i.-e 1:0cdns Of stealAves-
He's Inspector Gener3i UhIec is tire headDf n
committee which Is collecting information nc
suggestions regarding the feasibility OF fnafng