Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-06-18

and identified the bodies Of his brother
in-law, William Richter and the wife
of the latter and they were removed
to the office of an undertaken. In the
afternoon the bodies of Catherine and
Lillian Richter, 3 and years respec-
lively, were also identified by him.
When he called attention to the morgue
today with an undertaken the bodies
could not be found the bodies were
numbered 173 and ITS respectively and
the authorities at the morgue have no
record of any such bodies having been
given to anyone though they had 4
record of the Identification made by
Mr.. Hill on yesterday. 1t Is thought
that some undertaken was given the
bodies in place of two others which he
should have taken through a confusion
in the numbers.
Secretary of Commerce and Labor
George r. Cortelyou who had a long
conference with Robert S. Rode, in
spector of steamboats, for the second
district of New York, after his arrival
here said that he would give his per-
sonal attention to the federal investi-
CATION of the SlOcum disaster Mr.
Cortelyou left, today, for Westficld
Mass, where he will deliver two adj
dresses. He will return to New York
tonight. and begin at once upon the
preparations for the investigation. Be
fore leaving for Westfield the secre-
tary said:
Il wish to say that a most thor
cugh investigation will be made into
this awful tragedy and no stone will
be left unturned to lay bare the whole
truth with regard to this awful calami-
ty.
"As secretary of the department of
commerce and labor, I am the head of
the federal inquiry into this affair and
1 propose to give it my personal and
| insofar as possible my undivided at
tention until the matter is finally set
tied. AS soon as practical the board
of inspectors will &c. together and take
testimony. This inquiry will be sep
alate and distinct from any proceed
| ings brought by the city, state of
county officials. I want to correct an
| impression that seems to have gone
| abroad that this investigation will be
left to subordinates in the department.
Every one who can throw the least
| light upon the matter will be brought
before the board and taking of testi-
| mony will continue so long as any one
can be found who can aid us in arriv-
| ing at correct estimate of the facts.
The sittings will continue until the
| whole truth is known"
Mr.. Cortelyou said that if it was
| found to be true that employees of the
~, rr1i
gent in their inspection in new York
| harbor the public can rest assured that
no one will be shielded, but the blame
| will be placed where it properly be-
lcngs.
Il want IT. thoroughly understood -
continued Mr.. CorteIyou, that the fed
| eral authorities will protect no one, but
| until it is demonstrated that some one
has been lax in his duty or worse,
| stand back of every one in the ser
vice.
Until we have an opportunity of max
| ing the investigation 1 ask that the public
will suspend judgment. T promise to do
all that can privately and officially"
| While the divers and others We're busy
| looking for bodies the steamer Grand Re
public, the sister ship of the Gen. Slo-
| cum. passed up the river with a party of
| excursionists on board. Every deck was
crowded. AS the vessel neared the point
| where the divers were working on the
wrecked vessel the police boat Patrol
whistled for the Grand Republic to slow
down so as not to disturb the divers; but,
| according to the police. no attention was
paid to the warning signals. 1t was only
when the Grand Republic was almost
upon the divers float and the waves made
| by the vessel began to make the float
rock and sway that the pilot seemed to
| realize that he should obey the signals
and slowed down slightly. By the time
| the Grand Republic was abreast of the
| wreck, however, all steam was put on
again and the boat proceeded up the
sound.
The superintendent of the Lutheran
cemetery said. today, that about 100 APP
plications had been made for the burial
of victims of the disaster and that fresh
applications were being constantly receiv-
ed More than so of the Slocum'S victims
were laid at rest in the burial ground,
today, and a far larger number will be
buried there, tomorrow morning, when it
1
! into the hundreds. For several days Il
| succession of burials of the victims is
looked for at the cemetery.
a pathetic story was contained in
the report made to the st. Marks
| Church Identification Bureau by Miss
Helen Goldstrum, u teacher in Il pub
| lie school in the heart of the stricken
district. Miss Goldstrum learned that
20 of her class of % were dead or miss
ing. The bodies of II girls have been
recovered and five boys We're saved.
| Plans for the relief of the survivors
| and burial of the dead were carried
along rapidly. n relief committee ap-
pointed by Mayor Mcclellan organized
with the choice of Heran Ridder as
chairman and Jacob Schiff, treasurer,
decided to make general appeal for
funds, through the newspapers. Eight
thousand dollars, which already has
come to the mayor was turned over to
| the treasurer.
At a largely attended meeting of
clergymen including ministers Of other
denominations than Lutherans. ar
rangements for the hundreds of fun
erals were made. All the unidentified