New-York tribune., 1907-10-06

Louis delegation aboard, had the position i'm
mediately following the Mississippi, with Presi-
dent Roosevelt board and the Hartweg
while endeavoring to wrest this position from
the Alton bumped into the Presidents boat
with great force causing it to veer and roughly
jar those aboard, the President being thrown
against the wall Of his stateroom with consid-
cradle force. Except for the action of the Mis-
sissippis pilot in endeavoring to get out of the
way of the Hartweg a serious accident might
have resulted.
Evidence was heard here to-day in the case.
Witnesses appeared before Captain H. c.
Waltse. inspector of huls, in his Office. at the
Federal Building. The hearing was behind
closed doors
George w. Tice vice-president of the Monon-
gahela Consolidated Coal and Coke Company,
which owns the Hartweg. made the following
statement regarding the reported collision ne-
tween that boat and the Presidents boat. the
Mississippi
The steamer Fred Hartweg. whose headauar1erss rs
are at Cairo Ill, was placed at the disposal or
the Pittsburg delegation of which Captain W. B;
about sixteen delegates. through the courtesy of
the company. The Hartweg joined the procession
So far the Pittsburg delegation knew or was
able to ascertain from officers of the Hartweg.
to the order in which the boats We're to proceed,
lion W wbov am GTqe re 35 9 eTgpy
appearance the boats in general did not recog-
nze any particular rule. running they did to
large extent at random.
There was some sparring, or. as river would
say Jockeying. between the several boats, among
the aggressors being the large side wheeler Alton,
OF Alton. ILL., the steamer Dick Fowler of Paducah,
ny, ana others. two OF which boats at different
times ran far in advance of the Presidents boat,
no regular orders TO be observed I myself was
passenger on the Hartweg, and at no time during
my observation did the Hartweg approach the Presi-
dents boat so close as TO make an accident or
collision even probable.
Captain Waltse announced tonight that he
had suspended the license of Captain Nicholas
for six months. The President had requested
that his license be suspended for three months,
but Captain Waltse. after hearing the evidence
decided to make the penalty six months.
Washington. Oct. 5.-Presdent Roosevet's ac-
ton IN directing the suspension of the license
of the captain of the Hartweg is novel in the
history Of the steamboat inspection service. No
information has been received here respecting
the order
Supervising Inspector General Uhler explained
to-day that each of the vessels accompanying
the President down the Mississippi had been as
signed to definite place in the procession. The
captains received instructions as to the position
their vessels should occupy in the line, The
Hartweg went down the Ohio from Pittsburg
and Joined the procession below st. Louis
The local inspectors have authority to deal
with such affairs. and their action in ordering
the suspension OF the captain for ninety days,
following the Presidents telegram, which was
in the nature OF formal charge. is final, unless
appeal is taken to the authorities here, Such
appeals are not considered seriously except in
unusual circumstances. as the inspectors are
supposed TO know what the facts are and what
penalty should be inflicted.