Evening star., 1926-05-18
PASSENGERS TELL
|. OF DRINKING CREW
ON LEAKING LINER
Donned Life Preserved
Ahead of Them, Say II
Rescued From Seneca.
WOMEN IN SMALL BOATS;
| MEN PUT ON LARGE TUG
Statement Declares Boys and Girls
Were Intoxicated-Impossible
to Stop, Say Officials.
By the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, May 18.-Seventeen
of the passengers of the Clyde liner
Seneca, who were among those taken
from the steamer when ii went
aground at Miami, Fla. last Sunday
morning, upon their arrival here to-
day, signed a statement charging
that some of the crew were under
the influence of liquor.
The signed statement also charged
that members of the crew dOnned
life preservers ahead of the paSsen
gers, thereby causing much concern
to the women on board. Although
the statement criticized members of
the crew, the Seneca's commander.
Capt. B. W. Leek, was highly
praised.
A special train of Pullman cars
brought 1913 of the Seneca's passen-
gers to the Pennsylvania terminal.
Statement Given the Press.
F. A. Edwards of Brookline. Mass.
gave newspaper men the statement,
which read, in part:
I'VE, the undersigned, being pas
sengers aboard the S. S. Seneca.
bound from Miami 10 New York,
leaving May Is, at pm, hereby GER
tify that the following statements
are true in the affair of the Seneca
being in a sinking condition the night
of May 15 and 16 and passengers be-
ing removed in lifeboats, to wit:
"No. l. Liquor sold openly on the
Seneca.
mo. .. A portion of the ships
crew under influence of liquor.
NO. 8. Men were taken ashore on
large tug while many ladies were
forced to use small nfeboats.
mo. 4. Many members of crew In
life preservers ahead of passengers.
causing much concern to ladies'"
Boys and Girls Drunk.
After reading the statement, Mr..
Edwards was asked:
What do you mean when you say
portion of ships crew under infiu-
ence Of 1iquor'?"
Waters and bellhops," he replied.
He also said group of boys and
girls boarded the liner intoxicated.
Elbert B. Kip, travelling passenger
agent of the Clyde Line, who returned
with the party, when informed of the
charges, said it was impossible to stop
drinking among the passengers.
He said that the Seneca never was
in danger: that she went aground in
only feet of water and that there
we're any number of passengers he
had spoken to who had praised the
captain and crew of the liner.
Some Take Exceptions.
While Mr.. Edwards was voicing his
and other passengers complaints, 9th
ers on the train took exception, but
| when asked for their names declined
to reveal their identities.
Those who signed the statement
| were:
F. A. Edwards, temporary address.
Hotel Commodore, New York; w. II.
Orme, Atlantic City, n. j.; Mrs. w. II.
| Orme, Atlantic City, n. j.; c. E.
Gregory, New Bedford, Mass; Laura
NJ. Newell, Lyndonville. VT; Edwin
G. Reynolds. New Brunswick, n. j.;
| Mrs. B. s. Watson, Somerville, Mass;
Vera Belts, 1457 East Sixty-seventh
street, Chicago; Mrs. O'Connor, New
York City; John Allan. Troy, N. Y;
| E. F. Doble, South Portland, Me-; J.
A. Lawrence, Colts Neck, n. j.; Thel-
ma Arter, Lisbon. Ohio: E. Schauble.
Paterson, N. j.; Gladys NJ. Ward, 302
| Garfield avenue, Salem. Ohio; Voncent
Van Duyer, Warwick, n. Y; Mrs. f.
Doran, Tompkinsville, N. Y.
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