New-York tribune., 1905-07-14
BODIES STILL IN RIVER.
N0rmandie Victims UndiscOUered-
Coroner Makes Investigation.

Despite efforts of various sorts to bring to the
surface of the water of the bodies of those
lost in the sinking OF the launch Normande off
Dobbs Ferry Tuesday night, none recov-
cred up to late last night. Coroner Russell who Is
directing the search, wants one of the bodies.
Which does not matter. He is not searching
for the body of Miss Gladys Dodge. the young
woman drowned. any more than he is for that OF
Captain Storms Oracle, the engineer. Either
will furnish him with basis which TO make
investigation and order the arrest of the officers Of
the boat which is ALLEGED to have run down the Nor
mandie If the investigation warrants that step.
The bodies are not in the launch apparently. Pc
terson Anderson, the Merritt diver down twice
yesterday and made pretty thorough search of
the boat and then failing find and body he
ed to work adjusting the hawsers with which the
sunken boat to have been raised.
While the wreckers were at work pillow and
leg of pair of overals 1oated up. The overall
leg apparently belonged to the engineer.
Coroner Russell summoned Rudd and Hanigan TO
Dobbs Ferry from Yonkers. The men were taken
before Coroner Russell and made statements which
did not vary materially from those already pub
lished. Rudd placed the blame for the accident on
the pilot of the tramp steamer in running down the
launch. He said the men in the pilot house of the
steamer paid attention to the whistle of the
yacht and bore down upon them before they could
get out of the way, striking the Normandie in the
middle causing the boiler TO explode.
Coroner Russell queried both Rudd and Hanigan
to whether any effort made to assist Miss
Dodge. Rudd was able to throw much light on
this, and he said he so much excited he did
not know what happened after the explosion until
he picked up by a small boat from the steamer
He was not in a position to render assistance to
Miss Dodge, and the last he of her she was
seated on the afterdeck with Green, who was in his
shirtsleeves Just the crash came Rudd saw
Green and the young standing and then
came the explosion and all hands went overheard
Mr.. Green much distressed yesterday over
statements published in some newspapers, which,
he declared grossly misrepresented him. Through
his counsel, Battle & Marshall Mr.. Green issued a
written statement explaining his presence on the
i'll fated excursion and correcting some of the in
timatons contained in printed accounts OF the at
fair. Mr.. Green's statement follows
have been astonished at the extraordinary and
uncalled for statements and innuendoes contained
III ~ b the N 5sb 70 ~ & o is iis toTa %0Tn
OF the facts in this matter that hope will
at rest all of the &c eonjeGtaTes me and suggestions that
A little while ago, as expected to take my.
getting a boat that could charter for that month
TS with Mr Rudd % Who h@d cardrG
the NOrmandie for July, and Mr.. Rudd arranged to
sae sa t6 me boat trip on the NoFmande so that could
Before starting on this trip invited Mrs. Dodge
and Miss Dodge who relations OF mine to 20
with me. and Mrs. Dodge had expected to come,
ment she decided to stay at home. Miss Dodge ac-
companed me- and met the boat and started on
1t is absolutely untrue that or any of our party
so far as | know, were under the influence of
liquor. l wholly unfamiliar with navigation.
and have very clear understanding of how the
accident happened. l am very poor swimmer and
felt utterly shattered and nervous when 1 was
finally taken out of the water and ascertained that
Miss Dodge and two other members of our party
had been killed. 1t is quite true that did ask for
a glass OF brandy when / was taken the
steamer. The construction placed this request
by the captain of the steamer. according TO the
newspapers, is evidently measure of self-protec-
tion in view OF his expectation of lawsuits
l have known Miss Dodge and her family since
she a little child and IL had been her custom
for years to call me uncle which no doubt gave
rise to the mistake made by Mr.. Rudd who had
never met her before started the trip with
him. had only known Mr.. Rudd for q short period
OF time.
The intimations and suggestions of the news
papers are most distressing and uncalled for
aggraVaton of the grief of the unfortunate mother
OF Miss Dodge in this time of her dreadful trial /
would make no statement at all except that the
newspapers seem disposed to make a mystery OF
facts about which there IS no mystery, and / only
desire correct the false impression that Is now
being created.
John E Green is about sixty years old, although
he does not look more than fifty years. He is a
native of Kentucky and of the late Dr.
Norvin Green. former president of the Western
Union Telegraph Company