The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-06-24

Schaick. who received his instructions
from Captain Pease. On application
OF the latter. he said. an inspection
OF the Slocum was made by the United
States authorities before she Was put
in commission this year. addin~. "ik
was reported to US that the SIocum
was In thorough good order and work
ing condition"
He had not personally Inspected the
boat. but said he had examined the
reports OF the company's inspection
and signed officially by the tinted
States inspection officers.
The certificate of United States In
spection was placed IN evidence. It
certified that on May It'll. 1904. the
General Slocum Sas in good condf-
ton to carry $50 passengers. and
that IL had aboard $50 life preserv-
ers.
The bills for life preservers. pre-
sented by Mr.. Barnaby. which were
dated in different months in 1909. 1908
and 1904. upon examination proved
to have originally borne the name
Grand Republic This name had
been scratched out and the name
General Slocur2" substituted.
When this fact was called 10 Mr..
Barnaby's attention. he was unable 20
explain why anything OF this kind had
been done. The books OF the compa-
ny. however, would show what sup
plies went 20 the Slocum n 20
the Grand Republic.
Asker IL the iadgers would not show
how many life p~reservers were brought
for the Slocum since she vas built.
in 1891. Mr.. Barnaby said he was not
sure hat all the ledgers could be
found. Mr.. Barnaby said that he had
instructed Captain Pease at the open
ing Of the season to put the Slocum
lin first-ciass condition and TO spare
no expense. We spent $4,000 on n
repairs suggested"
He said the COMPANY estimated the
boat as worth $%1s5.00o and carried
$4,000 insurance on her. Asked II
the boat was considered a good risk.
he replied We paid the fowest pos
sible premium"
According to the testimony Of John
J.. Coakley, one of the Slocum's deck
hands, at the coroner's inquest. he
neve had been instructed In fire drills
since he became an employe OF the
Knickerbocker Company. at the be-
ginning of last season. Coakley said
he first earned that the steamer was
On fire when a small boy called his
attention TO smoke rolling down from
h bow. Coakley said he ran up to-
wari the bow OF h steame and
found a blaze In the locker. where the
oil lamps were kept. He dumped
charcoal on ii, hoping to smother the
flames. then he let own the hose and
called for assistance. The fire was 50
hot that he and those who came TO
help him were driven put Of the
locker. but they got the hose in posi-
ton and a but directed a stream on
the fire When the hose burst
1t was impossible to reach any OF
the life RATS. because o. the panic.
but one of the life boats were lowered.
The thu boats were so surrounded by
CT rrt UrlfrnO naronro thnf tho nsI
not get at them. The boat which they
succeeded In clearing and which was
filled with ONE and children. cap
sized while 1t was being lowered from
the davits.
Several of the men c~orroborated
Coakley's story in most of the details.
but none of them knew of a life boat
being lowered.
One of the men, James CcTcorar,
describei the sorded rubber washer
attached to the standpipe to prevent
water dripping into the hose and rot
ting it. To get this washer off. so the
hose could be used, 1t would have
been necessary to disconnect the hose
from the s~tandpipe. Corcoran did
not see this done.
diva Flanagan, the mate for the
last two seasons on the Slocum, who
hired the deck crew OF that boat, said
that the forward cabin. where the IRE
broke out. was used for storing old
ines and worn out awnings and
brooms. He had one barrel Of sperm
oil there. and there were some empty
barrels that had contained of.
Were there any arrangements to
turn steam into the lower deck?"
mot to my knowledge"
Flanagan denied any knowledge OF
the false washer" which blocked the
fire hose. He said he manned the
water pipes as o on as possible. but
when the water pressure came the
; hose burst. Flanagan gave testimony
: as to the visits of the inspectors. and
said they condemned some of the life
preservers.
The inquest was adjourned until to-
' morrow