CATASTROPHE: Death of van Schaick

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That would have been the best day for Death to have waved a hand at William van Schaick. An investigation proved that despite a record of 40 years' service he had been guilty of criminal neglect in not having useful firehose, staunch lifeboats, life-preservers that would float; for allowing rubbish to collect in the store rooms; for having a crew made up, without apparent exception of yokels, cravens or imbeciles; for not giving this crew fire drills.

Many people also thought it strange and unfortunate that a Captain should survive so many of his passengers.

Before he went to prison Captain van Schaick, then 71, had persuaded a woman to marry him. When he arrived at Sing Sing he said: "Today, instead of being a criminal, I should be considered a hero. I hope for a pardon." This, when Mrs. van Schaick pleaded, U. S. President William Howard Taft despatched to Captain van Schaick.

After his release, which had cut six years from his ten-year term, the old man went back to his young wife. Soon they separated; Captain van Schaick, a thin, rickety man, his face always lighted with a tardy and now unnecessary diligence, went about from place to place.

He died, last week, in Utica.