The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-11-20
HULL EXAMINER
SHOUTS DENIAL
OF INEBRIATI0N
Inspector Charged With Pass
ing Vestris as Seaworthy
While Drunk
NEVER TOUCHED A DROP
Says He Found Coal Ports, Life
Boats, Provisions All in
Good Condition

New York, NOV. SU.-(HD-Cap-
tain Edward keane, department of
commerce inspector of hulls, shouted
q denial today that he had been in
toxicated when he passed as sea-
worthy the steamer Vestris, which
sank a week ago yesterday with
loss of more than 100 lives.
Captain Keane was the first wit
ness today at the investigation of
the Vestris laundering being con-
Quoted by the United States steam
boat inspection service at the custom
house.
The presiding officer read letter
dated November Ia and signed "Sam-
uel Lawson" The letter was received
by the steamboat inspection service
in an envelope on the flap of which
was printed UNITED States Lines"
The letter contained charges that
the inspection of the Vestris by Cap
tain Keane and an inspector of boil
ers consisted of the inspectors enjoy
ing hearty breakfast on the ship
and "swilling whiskey and beer in
the ships bar"
"The inspectors left in the after
noon," the letter read, with a GER
tain weakness in their legs, and each
with package under his arm"
Called Murderers
The letter concluded with the re-
mark that this was "the kind of MUIR
derers" that comprise the personnel
Of the steamboat inspection service.
Captain Keane was asked how
much. if any, of this letter was true.
"The whole thing is the most out
rageous lie l ever heard" he said.
II am the fourth generation of my
family which has never touched. a
drop of any stimulant."
Captain Keane was then asked in
detail about each specific charge in
the letter. He said that neither he
nor the other inspector had breakfast
on the Vestris, that neither of them
had anything or was offered any
thing to drink on board, and that
they did not carry away with them
any packages.
Captain Keane told in detail Of his
inspection of the Vestris, an annual
inspection completed several days
before the steamer left on it's ILL
fated voyage in what some of the
survivors have called an unsea-
worthy condition.
Everything Shipshape
He said that he found everything
that was his responsibility to in
spect in good condition. He men,
toned particularly the coal ports
and the half doors in the sides of
the ship through which the crew en-
ters and leaves while the ship is
at it's pier.
Officers of the Vestris have testi-
fled at the federal hearing being
conducted by United States Attorney
Tuttle that water poured into the
ship through both the coal ports and
the half-doors. These officers, First
Officer johnson and Chief Engineer
Adams, said that efforts were made
to tighten these openings in the
hull, but it was found impossible to
stem the flow of water.
Of the 691 life preservers which
he said he examined, Captain Keane
said he had found 68 new ones de-
fective.
Captain Keane said food, water,
lanterns and flares in the lifeboats
conformed to regulations. Some wit
nesses at the inquiry before United
States Commissioner O'Neil testi-
fled that flares were defective and
that there was no oil in lanterns.
The lifeboats themselves, said the
captain. who is 62 years old. could
not have better sustained the bang
ing they were subjected to if they
had been made of rubber.