The San Francisco call., 1905-06-09
Department to Make
Rigid hqnIry
Into Case.
INVESTIGATION
Z UNDER WAY
Board Is to Resume
Hearing at Sausa-
Tito To-Day.

CALL BUREAU. POST BUILDING.
WASHINGTON, June s-Acting Secre-
tary OF the Treasury Keep after confer
ence with Captain Ross. in charge OF the
revenue cutter service. to-day ordered a
rigid investigation OF the facts pertain
Ing 10 the mysterious death OF Lieutenant
Blasdel OF New Orleans at Sausalito
early on the morning Of June 8. The rev
enue cutter Rush had returned from
Seattle only the day previous and was
lying IN Richardson's Cove. when at 80
O'Clock In the morning Lieutenant Bias
del was reported missing It was sup
posed that he fell from the port gangway
OF the vessel and was drowned. his BODY
being carried away in the swift current
Because no one saw the ol7cer leave the
deck and because intimations that he
may have had an enemy on the vessel
as well as TO soothe an anxious mother
and brother, who are in WASHINGTON TO
learn the particulars OF the tragedy and
who suspect foul play. Secretary Keep
decided 10 appoint a board OF officers not
on duty on the Rush 70 ascertain the
facts The board consists OF Captain F.
NJ Munger OF the nfe-saviag station,
Captain H B Rogers and Surgeon Cum
Inings OF the marine hospital service. II
Captain Munger Is not in San Francisco
Lieutenant Carmine will act in his place.
These officers have been instructed 10
make a thorough investigation and wire
a summary, and later send a full report
by mail
REPORT FROM CAPTAIN.
When Mrs. Blasdel, the mother OF de-
ceased. accompanied by a younger son,
visited the Treasury Department to-day
Assistant Secretary Keep showed her the
following report from Captain Tuttle OF
the Rush. which was received yesterday:
-SAUSALITO. Cal. June Z. 1S05-Sec-
retary OF the Treasury, Washington. d
c.: At 1:30 a. n. June Blasdel said 70
Ridgely, the first lieutenant. I am going
on deck for a moment and shall then
turn In After some minutes. as he did
not return. Ridgely went up to see where
he was He was not found Inquiry from
the quartermaster on watch showed that
BIasdel had not been seen on deck The
only theory we have Is that he went 10
the port gangway and on the slippery
ing struck his head. making him uncon-
scio1s and unable 10 call for help When
missed every effort for several hours was
made TO find II he was floating in the
harbor. The search was unsuccessful
Report has been mailed 70 department.
FUTILE, Captain
Officials OF the revenue cutter service
are convinced that the drowning OF Lieu
tenant Blasdel was purely accidental. and
they scout the idea that the officer had a
single enemy aboard the vessel Not
long since a sailor fen overheard near
the same spot In daylight and was
drowned in the swift undertow before
help could be rendered There is much
doubt that Lieutenant BIasdeIs body can
be recovered
FULL INQUIRY PROMISED.
The fact that some OF the relatives OF
the deceased were notified OF the acci-
dent twenty-four hours ahead OF the
Treasury Department was explained as
follows:
The officers OF the service. in the event
OF an accident or death. out OF sympathy
for the family first send notice to the
wife, mother or other relative OF the de-
ceased, and later report to the depart
ment. We received a report on the morn
ing OF the 7th. though IL was really fled
on the evening OF the 6th. II there are
any suspicious circumstances attending
this accident, OF which we have been ad-
Tfsed and are unwilling to believe IN the
absence OF information. the board which
was designated to-day viii inquire fully
into them"
Mrs. Louisa Blasdsl and her son viii
remain IN Washington until a report has
been received By the Treasury Depart
ment. unless they should receive word IN.
the meantime that the body has been re-
covered.
Lieutenant BIasdeI certainly had no y
enemies aboard the Rush" said another
official. "anc his duties must have been
very pleasant. for only recently desire
was expressed that he should continue on
that vessel instead OF being given an
other assignment.