The Cleveland leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1865-1865, 1865-09-18

HFOm the DECISION OF the o IN"
sPeetOrs to the Supervising Inspector
His License is Restored.
We learn from the Detroit Tribune, of
Saturday, that Capt. Mckay, of the Pewa-
bic, has made a successful appeal from the
decision of the Detroit Local Inspectors,
Captains Sanders and Ralph, who,-it will
be remembered, after a patient investigs-
ton into the cause of the d~eplorab1e collis-
ion between the Meteor and Pewsbic, de-
cided TO deprive Capt. Mckay Of his license,
Ito the Supervising Inspector, Nj. Alfred
Guthrie, who, as will be seen by the report
and accompanying decision below, has re-
stored Capt. Ms license, on the ground
that, under the circumstances in which he
was unfortunately placed, he did the best
he could, the mate being alone responsible.
The Inspector, in making up his decision,
has taken counsel of experienced men, in
GLIDING Cspts. spaulding and Nicholson,
whose opinions are certainly entitled to
great weight.
As this case has from the fret been Ct
great interest to many Of our readers,
and is bound to have a still deeper interest,
inasmuch as the officers of the steamer
Meteor are to be tried in civil court in this
city, we will give, notwithstanding its
length, the report of the Inspector. Itruns
as follows:
OFFICE OF eUPERvIsoRY 1SsPECToRST H DIST.
September 10th, 1865.
To Messrs. Sanders aud Ralph, Steamboat
Inspectors for the District of Detroit.
In the matter of appeal of Capt. George
P. Mckay from the decision of Messrs.
boat Inspectors for the district of Detroit,
in revoking the pilots license of the said
Mckay for mismsnagement in the collision
of the propellers Meteor and Pewabic, on
the evening of the 9th of August last,
I have carefully examined the evidence
given in the investigation before the In
spectors, and other testimony this day
given before me, in the appeal, and find the
main facts, SO far as relate 70 the cause in
issue, to be as follows:
That Capt. Geo. P. Mckay was Master of
the propeller Pewsbic that on the even
ing of the 9th of August last she collided
with the Propeller Meteor on lake Huron,
and sunk, carrying many passengers down
with her; that until within one or two min
utes of the collision, the Pewabic was in
charge of the first mate, Mr.. Geo. Cleve-
land, who was q regularly licensed pilot ;
hat Capt Mckay was regularly and prop
erly off duty but, at least one min ute be-
fore the collision, he had resumed his duties
as master and pilot; relieving Mr.. Cleve-
land from further charge /; at this instant,
tt ere was imminent danger of fearful col
lision st this critical moment, taking COM
mand, he ordered the wheel to be put "hard
sport" the result of which order. would be
IF anything at that time could be done) TO
swing the Pewsbic away from the impend-
ing blow and ease off by a glancing stroke
the shock which he saw was inevitable.
By the evidence before me, the whole time
In which he had to act after coming on
deck could not exceed one minute, that
them the collision was apparently newt
able, and prompt and decisive action was
required, and he thought the best he could
do was the order to port his wheel.
The question then arises, after fully estsb-
fishing the fact than Captain Mckay was
not on duty and properly and regularly out
Of charge until h moment of the collision
did Captain Mckay, On taking charge
and relieving the first mate, do Whist a pru-
dent, careful and discreet officer, with 30
much human HE in his care, would have
done2 This was the material Question be-
fore the Board of Inspectors, they thinking
that his first duty was to stop the engines
and reverse their action, and at least try
to get stern way on his boat, avoiding in
that way a collision; upon the broad and
safe ground that no boat is justifable in
ever coming near enough 10 endanRer a col
lision, and should never attempt 10 CROSS
another's bow when it is possible an ACCT
dent can come from it. Under this safest of
all rules, "Pon't go there" the Local Board
held that Captain Mckay was guilty of
mismanagement, and therefore revoked his
license.
Captain John S~paulding, ofthe propeller
Lac La Belle, and Captain John Nicholson,
Of the Prindivilie, in their evidence, after
hearing the testimony and considering the
subject, say they think Captain Mckay took
the best course under the circumstance
that could have been taken that in similar
circumstances they should have done the
same thing that q minute or q minute and
g half was not time enough to have stopped
the engines and reversed their action with
any hope of giving Sternway to his vessel,
and as the next best step they should try
to get of the bow as much as possible, in
the way it was done.
From other testimony it appears that Cap
tain Mckay Is an officer of long practical
experience upon the lakes, OF strictly tenn
perate habits, seldom, if ever, tasting liquor,
indulging in cards or other games in
the saloon, nor permitting them in any of
the officers or crew, but requiring of all under
his command Tigilant care and q faithful
discharge of their proper duties. This rep
utation has been sustained for years, and
it should certainly go to his credit.
From all the facts I have been able to
gather in this most sad and affecting acci-
dent, with the full determination from the
that the guilty parties should be, if
possible, found out and brought to Justice,
l am satisfied, first, that Capt. Mckay was
regularly and properly off duty until within
q very short period before the collision,
he very properly assumed the COM
mand of his vessel and relieved the first
mate from charge, that when he did take
command q collision was inevitable, the
vessels approaching in such position
and 80 close that the course he pursued of
the starboaFd engine, and swing
ing the vessel away with the port one, if
not positively the best course, was at least
me Of the only alternatives hc had, and
Toes not make, as 1 think, n case of mis-
management sufficient to warrant the re-
his license. The Local Board will,
therefore, issue to Capt. Geo. P. Mckay q
lew license. ALFRED GUTHRIE,
Supervising Inspector, Sth Dist,