Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-29
BLAME FIXED BY JURY
OUTCOME OF INVESTIGATION
INTO sLOCUM DISASTER.
Warrants Issued for Arrest Of Officers
of the Steamship Company
Captain Censured.

saws: The inquiry conducted by Coroner
Berry and a Jury into the General Slocum
| disaster was concluded today, and after
| nearly four hours elaboration verdict
| was rendered in which the directors OF the
| Knickerbocker Steamboat Company, the
| captain of the Slocum, Capt. Pease, the
| commodore of the company's fleet, and
| others were held criminally responsible.
Warrants for their arrest were issued. The
| mate of the Slocum, according to the jury,
| acted in a cowardly manner, and the mis-
| conduct OF Steamboat Inspector Lundberg,
| 1t was recommended. should be brought to
| the attention of the federal authorities.
The charge in each case was granddaughter
| in the second degree. Bail was fixed by the
coroner In amounts varying from $1,000 to
| 5000.
The directors Of the company are: Frank
A. Barnaby, president; Charles E. Hill, vice
president; James K. Atkinson. secretary:
c. De Lacey Evans, Robert K. Story. Floyd
| s. Corbn and Frank G. Dexter.
When the assistant district attorney
moved that warrants be Issued after the
verdict had been given, Mr.. McManus,
| counsel for the steamboat company. pro-
| sary, as all the men were ready to appear
| and give bail when called for. The protest
was OF no avail.
Mate Held as Witness.
The mate, Edward Flanagan. who was
under detention as a witness. was the first
arraigned. He pleaded not guilty, and his
bail was fixed at 81 600. No bondsman be-
ing on hand, he was committed to Jail.
Inspector Lundberg pleaded not guilty,
and was released on 81 900 bonds.
Bail was fixed al IS 600 each for President
Barnaby and Secretary Atkinson. and bonds
were furnished at once
Capt. Van Schaik is q prisoner in the
Lebanon Hospital. Capt. Pease may not be
arrested until tomorrow, when 1t is ex-
pected that the directors of the company
will also be taken into custody. At the as
sistant district attorneys request the cOro-
ner committed the assistant engineer. Ed
win Brandow, and the deck hands Coakley
and Trembly. as witnesses, sending them to
the house of detention.
Verdict Of the Jury.
After pointing out the duty of the Off
ferent officers and persons named and their
failure to perform their duty, the jury finds
That the president, Frank A. Barnaby;
the secretary, James X. Atkinson, and the
board of directors Of the Knickerbocker
Steamboat Company, namely, Frank A.
Barnaby, Charles e. Hill, James K. Atkin-
son, C. De Lacey Evans. Robt. K Story
Floyd 8. Corbin and Frank q. Dexter. were
guilty of criminal negligence in the failure
to see to the proper equipment of the Gem
erll Slocum in the matter of the freight
ing and life-saving appliances on board said
boat.
That the captain, William H. Van
Schaick. be held criminally responsible for
the accident.
That the captain, John A. Pease. the
acknowledged commodore of the fleet, be
held oriminally responsible for his failure
to properly equip the General Slocum with
fire-fghting and life-saving appliances.
That Edward Flanagan, the mate, acted
in a cowardly manner, and we recommend
that he be held criminally responsible for
failure to perform his duty on the General
Slocum on the day of the disaster.
That in the opinion Of this jury the mis-
conduct Of Henry Lundberg. the govern
ment inspector, in failing to report to his
superiors the true facts concerning the ves-
sells notwithstanding and ihe-saving
equipment, should be brought to the no.
tice of the United States prosecuting Of
ficials, and we further hold that said Henry
by reason of his incompetence. careless and
Indifferent inspection Of the General Slo-
Gums hull and Nfe-saving appliances on
the 9Th day of May. 1904.
The jury Is also of the opinion that tho
system Of inspection which prevails In the
and does not properly determine whether
the life-saving apparatus and fire appIi-
ances on the vessels in this harbor 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 supervising
and local force of inspectors as will cause
them to efficiently and honestly examine
the steamboats, plying in and about this
harbor.