New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-19
Lads Parents Write Cor
oner Feinberg - He
Will Investigate.
FOUR WERE LOST
IN EAST RIVER
Ferryboat Captain Blamed
for Refusing to Aid
Them in Leaky Boat.

Coroner Feinberg will begin an In
vestigation to-day into the death Of
FOUR boys who were drowned almost
under the Brooklyn Bridge on Septem-
Der 4. His action follows the receipt
Of letter from the fathers Of three Of
the four and two other men whose sons
escaped drowning. In the letter a pier
Waterman is accused Of refusing 70 let
the boys land and sending them back
10 their leaky skiff and a ferryboat
captain OF refusing to go 10 their aid
when they were struggling in the East
River.
Charles J. Phillips, Of 67i5 Fourth
Place, Brooklyn; Albert Siostrom. Of
65 Fourth Place; Michael Riele, Of 81
Fourth Place; Andreas Jacobson, OF -
Fourth Place, and Edward Wallace. OF
51l Clinton Street, Brooklyn, signed
the letter. The drowned boys were Al
bert Sjostrom, thirteen years old; An
drew Campbell, fourteen; Edward
Riele, thirteen, and Anton Jacobson,
fifteen. Charles Phillips, thirteen, and
Raymond Wallace, eleven. escaped.
Parents Blame Wstchman.
According 70 the letter, man who
said he was a Waterman met them pc
fore they had gone far and, despite
their protests and the condition of the
boat, ordered them back into IT, Two
piers to the north the boat drifted
into a railroad float and capslzed.
The letter says:
"The boys loosened the line OF a
painters scow at the foot Of Columbia
Street, Brooklyn, and, getting into the
boat, rowed out Of the gap into the
East River. At the change Of the tide
they were near Governors Island ana
became frightened because they were
unable 70 manage the boat. Iney were
afraid to land at Governors Island be-
cause of the sign which said no land
ing
However, they drifted with the wind
and tide and managed 70 make Per Il:
East River. The boat was half fun OF
water and they tied it 70 the side OF
the pier and all scrambled out, intend
ing to walk home.
Waterman Meets Boys.
Before they got very far watch
man met them. and although they tod
him they wanted 20 90 home, he
ordered them back 20 this leaky boat,
and though they we're frightened and
trembled perceptibly he insisted that
they leave the dock in the boat, and ne
waited until they had loosened the
line and were out In the river.
1.-The Waterman could readily have
seen that the boat was half full OF
water. He could see the condition Of
the boys, and must have known that
il was dangerous 70 drive them out
into the river.
when they got into the river they
drifted toward Pier 33, at the end Of
which four railroad barges were
moored. The wind and current drove
the boat against these barges and IT
upset, throwing the boys into the river.
Drivers See Boys in Boat.
AT about this time a ferryboat was
passing-I think Roosevelt Street
ferry-and several drivers who were
on the ferry saw the boys and sig
nailed the captain Of the ferrybOat,
20 that an attempt could be made 20
rescue the boys. But the captain re
fused to DO so, and the ferry continued
on its way, leaving the poor, helpless
children 70 their fate
Coroner Feinberg said he had com
nunicated with the Police Department
and had a detective put on the case.
His investigation. he added, would be
thorough.
III the Waterman did wilfully drive
the boys back into a leaky boat. al
though they pleaded with him not 20
90 back. he certainly is guilty Of man
Slaughter" he explained.
III the captain Of the ferryboat saw
the boys struggling in the water and
deliberately refused TO help them, he,
too, shall be arrested on a charge Of
manslaughter."