New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-01-23
TIE Loss OF THE COMMODORE.
OFFICIAL REPORT OF THE GOVERNMENT INyEsGIGA-

OFFICIAL REPORT or TIE GOYbRNMENr NNEoIlGA-
ZION.
WASHINGTON Jan 22-The f;owing is the Off
cal report Of the investigation into ths loss OF the
steamer Commodore:
TREASURY DEPARTMENT, Jan. q, 1907.
SIP have the honor to state that IN accordance With
tc Instructions contained in your letter Of the third inst
ON examination into the OF the loss Of the steamer
Commodore, in Long Island Sound, Oh the 9th uhmo
has been made and the evidence being before me- am
enabled 10 give you what / believe to DO accurate
statement Of an tho facts the case. They were col
New ok city, an accomplished seaman ana Officer
Tue Stcar commodore was built IN 1913 ana was mere
Lore, rather more than ~ years old at the ne she was
lost She was built principally fOT navigating tie waters
OF NC sound, but for some years pas, Hhs peon
considered weak end ulsuited to winter huFl-
CATION. She was 215 feet in length, 81 ieet
six feet OF wafer whom light In October last by reason
OF her aSCCtiauCd unetaWObnCS-, the vessel was con
dcnnod by tine Supervising Inspector above named.
Much Of her imhcT-WOrk and planing found to be
rotten, which, added 10 her age rendered her at once u
SOUND ana unsafe, whereupon she was doeAet ana sun
$1,000 This, II WIS believed, rendered her suthclontV
was regarded by Capt Bradford poorly adapted
10 withstand the severe weatcr OF the winter
deemed III for service urOn the sound aud upon GER
tain conditions the local inspectors M New London seem
10 have determined 10 grant certificate o. soon as sho
properly equipped according to law. This duty how
ever tho owncfa failed 10 perform ana the necessary
certificate was therefore properly withheld and az the
time Of her last sailing she taken to sea iu volao
both OF law aud regulations IN an unsraworthy c9ndtlGn
Had sc received certificate OF seaworthiness from the
local inspectors, they would have committed very
grave error unless the vessel was In every respect
sound and m at any time for Sound naygatl0n'
for the law does not contemplate the issuing Of condi-
toua certificates Of seaworhne-s. It appears That she
cit the wharf at 4lO D. ~. Oh the 2ith OF DccehiDeF ana
proceeded her voyage that ut the time Of leaving
more waa lu, but previous 20 that u bad hfen blowing
heavily rom west 10 west norhWcst dflng Ihe culf9
day. attended with squalls The weather appeared
clearer al ne lime OF departure and ne captain wnon,
favorable weather to put AZ o'clock that even
Ing however The hroczc frCShchod from the northwest,
and soon Increased to y violent gaze WIN nehv{
osn and with iiuottidc making against the Minu
u became still rOughcr M 1850 the vessel he0dg east,
north me WIND nearly att ana SCORING Nlu 'ni9a'no4
p ANA was Immediately thrown upon her beam ends ana
n this condition se driven by the VIVA across INC
snow aud was brought 10 an anchor with two anchors
down, near Horizons Point, Long Island. when she
Ing bdly that IL was necessary TO slip her cables ana
beach her, IN order TO save inc ives o, heI
Titho1l casualty or the loss Of single life
The Of the leak seems TO have been the severe
when she preached to and while being drawn across tho
Sound on her beam ends and not as has been stcd ny
ArI anchor Der bolts and ea'. which had been sprung
being hu brought under water that the leak vas a.,
ommc lore was totally unfit for the service IN which she
wa aged az well by reason 81 her age 10y her light
dam Vi water. for this added to the effect Of her top
haunT may IN great measure ne nnuled 20 me TACT on
hcr S S mus, S Saya been M dcfaby
to bring me wind upon her sgh01ri quarter sufficiently
fn Ir. "a her TO- Her ght draugit was IN great degree
being thereby sufficiently muor.cd AZ beIg frequently
ont ~ hc wat - could no. perform ,Ufice, and the yc
sci WAS Therefore in measure ~ pcs unconrFoleabe
The crew seem 10 have pe,H HAuelM.e 70
tho emergency for some Of them were totally
uuacaunilt,d with the management Of boats. II 10
% wonder therefore that no lives were lost IN landing.
Not lr Of blanc porias 60 tn" captain OF the s'm,
cr for taking her tu sca Knowing the character OF BIS
vessel rs ho must have done, such day; and had be-
consulted and relied on h' barometer he certainly %oud
NOT have vcnturei have been at some pains To a.
ccau c state 81 the blromcters ~ different localities
at that time, and nom Oh tn' nioF,9Anyl 1n'e Sn
lalar they Indicated severe weather thcy DenB carrier
m tho day 10 an average Of ABOUT 2llV ana al hiEul
lu those ATTITUDES. Tho captain unfortunately, placed
uo reliance cu h.- barometer ON the sound ~ j. me
bcit ~ many en-. -'LL Stane!' "u'nnE Nng I ISy
wrecked and lives lost by dir.egIrd 81 .hc Plchoon'
gathered from the testimony " trustworthy wltnessc
There raa be- no doubt thar tAc Comm9Hv,e Tas Ost o ny
any severity IN tho waters which she was employed IN
ua'r'ing rising lti{ nom mr. isg n' ,e s ,d prt
~ ,-,t f irdiscrcon OF hor captain, fret n taxing rr
80, H., f-,tre lu oruiumcut- md. therefore, unsra-
vSfty ANA boing nav. ted without certificate, her
. Of tbi. ys:l affords auoticr commentary on the
uccc-siy for additional aud effective LEGISLATION. thc
n,A' OF , nn, ''y' Yin Ii,.r urir lives in their
'y' ~" me- no an, ."s.n, de,ir, il To- obey the
law u aI DO, pIu1 SION. ard prov dr their l ana
'I' t Wv, " o." ,r'rs it ,r t. tnlr hnud ti.tf,
faro who eau reached cd by tn most stringent
90, n, ,,, '. ,, h., he Srrtity 81 ,wft AID
m uir .nc penalty. aud such c4aotmD MS must he made
a- suOu lratrrfbr Htd such rigorous chi1rcthcnt
thereof pre-, M era rang ln thrr scope every obligation
which s. uwIDr owes ID" thc people "IoIn ne 1870
Including the equipment ~ vessels md the official Ger
u,t. ~ perfect .clwort iucss with punishment for
rcslcs oifrdrs ina".e' le 20 sh,t m"u.si, ~high
-nli be severe enough 4" deter them nom periAg III"
~ Very respectfully your obt; servant.
Hon Hugh aicCuloch. scc'y OF the Treasury.