New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-07-26

AdUised By Counsel Not to Testify
Before Federal Commission.

Henry Lundberg who was assistant huh IN
spector os steamboats, and examined the nun
and equipment of the General Slocum. and VINO
now is held under bail by the coroner. has oeen
dropped from the government service He mas
been asked to testify at the inquiry now being
conducted by the federal commission, but ne
/ will not appear the commission has no power
{ 10 compel his attendance.
1t came out at the hearing yesterday tnat
Lundberg's probation period had expired about
July Il, and as he not recommended for
permanent appointment by Robert S. Rndie
supervising inspector. and the local Board or
Steamboat Inspectors to the Department OF
Commerce and Labor he has been dropped from
the roll of inspectors II. K. Smith OF the com
mission. received letter at noon from Mayer q
Gilbert of counsel for Lundberg. saying they
had advised their client not to appear before
the commission The letter states that the law
yers mean no disrespect to the commission. but
they advised Lundberg not to appear SOLELY to
protect his rights
Mrs. Media White, Of No. OF East Twenty
frst-st., witness yesterday before the COM
mission said she was that the fire began
below East Ninety-second-st adding: When
the Ninety second-st- ferry passed us the boat
filled with smoke. If he had stopped there
would all have been saved. because the river
full of boats"
What did you first hear?'
Il heard one of the crew say. The boats on
fire: get the hose and some one said. Coup
lings of order and the hose is all tam
ged up"
Mrs. Witte testified that she and her nurse
tried to move the lifeboat on the port side. They
could not move 1t. But II would have been
use" continued the witness. because we looked
into the nfeboat and of the boards was
completely out of the bottom of the boat
Did you get a life preserver?"
Yes. We tried. but they were all rotten and
came apart I'm our hands"
life preserver was shown to the witness,
who felt of it. and exclaimed: "Oh. that is not
one of them. because the ones the boat felt
like cheesecloth. My fingers went right through
ii. and the cork came out"
Thomas F. Freel, former fire marshal. testi-
fed that he examined the crew for the District
Attorney, and he had come 10 the conclusion
that the fire was caused by partially burned
match having been thrown into one of the half
filled barrels in which hay stored. 1t smol-
dered for some time. and finally burst out
"One of the crew, Coakley,' continued the
witness. testified before the coroner that he
saw the fire and tried TO find something 20
smother il with. He picked up bag of char
COAL and threw 1t at the barrel knocking 1t
over and so spreading the fire. lie then
TO get the fire hose. leaving the door to the
stairway open. That all the fire wanted. "A
little air. and il spread II the man had not lost
HIS head he could have picked up the barrel and
thrown IL overheard. and the disaster would not
have happened"
James X. Atkinson secretary of the Knicker-
booker Steamboat Company testified that the
captain furnished the supplies for the boat He
said he had been employed as secretary for six
years and had received $50 a month and 10 per
cent of all charters. The company paid no divi-
dends in six years.
The hearing is to he continued to-day.