Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1910-08-25
FLAG OBSCURED
LAUNCH SIGNALS
witnesses Tell How Wilson
Line Boat Ran Down the
Launch Adele
TWO OF THE MISSING
MEN ARE RECOVERED

fatal grabbing party he conducted last
Sunday, ending in his brother and
bosom friend losing their lives when
the Wilson Line steamer Brandywine
ran down their launch, the Adele, in
the Delaware River last Sunday even
ing, Nicholas Hiltner broke down and
sobbed at the investigation of the ac-
cident held by the Board of Steamboat
Inspectors in Philadelphia yesterday.
The board stated that an examination
OF the wreck Of the Adele which they
made on August %, showed that she
did not carry the regulation lights,
and that the single light it did carry
was probably obscured by an Ameri-
can flag which hung above the Ian
tern and was wrapped about the light
when found.
1t was testia4' also thaUthere We're
| eight cases of beer on board the |
/ launch, and that each member of the /
Sunday outing party had about nine |
bottles of beer before the launch was |
run down.
The investigation ended Sith the
further testimony of Nicholas Hit |
ner and that Of Edward Byrne, John !
Kelly, Edward McConville and Daniel |
MeConyille.
Each of these men said that the
Adele carried a three-coloTed light on
the bow. The colors were white, red
and green. They also stated that John
Hiltner, who was drowned, was per-
fectly sober while steering the boat.
JOlIIficatiOn Aboard Boat
Kelly said that the party spent the
greater part of the return voyage
in singing. He said he heard the
Adele's whistle and bell ring a short
| ~, "a ndN-
wine. The watch of the Brandywine,
in their testimony, said they heard no
signal from the Adele.
Captain R. A. Sargent and Captain
ID. H. Howard local steamboat inspec-
tors, conducted~the investigation.
The bodies OF John Hiltner and Lew
is Henne, the drowned men, were re-
covered By the Police Boat King at
noon Yesterday. Hiltner's body was
/ found near the lower end of Tinicum
island, and that of Henne was brought
.. up about hundred yards further
down the river.
The survivors of the accident who
were injured and taken to the Physi-
= clans and Surgeons Hospital have left
that institution and are almost en-
tirely recovered from their injuries.
4 Mrs. John Hiltner, however, is in
q serious condition from the shock OF
the news of her husbands death. She
was In a delicate condition previous to
}; the accident and she is now confined
to her bed.
AT the time of the collision, George
i W. Ward, first officer and pilot, was
= on the hurricane deck collecting tick
= cts, it was testified. Captain Richard
Blockson was at the wheel as the
~ Brandywine passed Washington Park
:. In the pilot house with him was Asa
6 Van Solver, the second officer.
The lookout did not see the Adele
S before she was directly across the
steamboats, bow, and It was said
!. that her light, which seemed to be
dim red, did not appear until the mo-
n torboat swung around. Captain
& Blocksom said he saw the launch
n when it was about twenty feet away
and gave the signal 70 the engineer
h to reverse and stop. He said that
d the orders were promptly carried out
= in the engine room.
Captain Ward, first officer of the
Brandywine, was the first witness
e. called. He said the steamer left
!. Chestnut street pier at the usual time
n on Sunday evening, and that the night
a was slightly cloudy.
He was collecting tickets when the
engines stopped. Thinking that some
- thing was wrong in the engine room
he started to go there when he heard
1 the crash of the collision. Without
n waiting to go to the pilot house he
OF called the crew and got the life boat
g off the davits.
q Sought Missing Man.
He sent Captain Blocksom with the
Of rescue party which returned in eight
IS al Ave saved
m and two missing. The steamer backed
up the river and waited for about
twenty minutes to find the missing
y men: No signs of them was seer
and the boat continued on her trip
- Captain Ward said that he and the
~ crew had done all possible for the
q. rescued men. They were taken &
IS the engine room and dried on anc
81 given the best medical assistance they
~ had. When they arrived at Whining
w ton he sent the men to hospital fol
treatment
. The next witness called was Cap
tain Blocksom, who said previous L
- the accident he saw white ligh
~ ahead which appeared to be LEADING
Is. the Brandywine. He blew the sigma
IS whistle, and received an answer iron
nd the Adelaide, passing steamer.
les linen the Mullt AbnA hAooRF'oA y
ty. II is thought that this light was OF
the Adele. He did not change tn
. course of the steamer, as he though
is, the light ahead, had passed out OF tn
~. channel. When the Brandywine ant
81 Adele came together he left the whee
with Captain Van Sewer and ran 4
= the lifeboat where he was sent GU
- with it by Ward.
- The lookout, Charles Ward, wa
then called in. He was questione
en- about being color blind. He said h
AIT did not know whether he was colo
I'm blind OF not. His sight had neye
~ been tested. He did not remembe
,et the number of the house in which h
Ter. lived, but said It was in Whining
ot ton.
.E Captain Sargent asked him II b
"a had lived there very long. He sal
. five months, but he had never notice
-. the number He did not mention tn
Ed name of the street.
The engineer was the next WI
ness. He confirmed Captain Blocl
nt. SONS statement about the signal
and the response to them.
Launch Owner TestifieS.
w. All of the witnesses were membel
of the Brandywine's staff. The FIR
IN. witness for the motor boat side W;
=. Nicholas Hiltner. He and Lou