The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1868-11-05
DECIsION

Rcaort OF United statec Local Inr
i Tors Ia the Case Of the COhiAlpnaD
the Tow-B oais Sum. PntkeT AID Chit
lie Bowen.
. The following is ihs.soPtn u She W.
cal Board Of United States lgspSrtofs
y Fin the case of the collision bstgeen the
tow -boaIs Sam, pVkerEod. Charlie Bpa,
/, co, nca, Dover ,Kebucfy on Ihs'7'h 81
August, 1868. It.settIps several WEed
T questions, ~
@oEricE or Local BoAnO % U 5. IssrEcfoRsl
"CWcSSArI o., October 20. ls6S
TO Geo. ". Neff, E.qp Sur, Of cus,,s
| "SI.-Horewith we present The e
sui! Of our investigation in the case s.
the collision between tho tow- bosts
Charlie Bowen aud sam Parker. Which
occurred on tho Ohio SRiver. opposiIh
the iowa of Dover, Kentucky, about
O'Clock p. NJ, on Friday, August y
1868, by which one barge loaded will
coal, and in tow Of the Bowen. Na
sunk, 81
"Ihe Bowen was bound from R0ii
Pleasant, West Virginia, to Cinvfp6st
Ohio, with tow oisesen bstges load
ed with coal. ~
"Thc Sam Parker was bound fen
I Cincunoli TO Pomeray, Ohio, wi!h y;
tow Of twelve empty batgys, NJ
1--WE have examined mulberry &iH
nesses in this case. some Of whom isSeI
residents near the scene. and who VI
messed the collision, and their eyi1e6d
establishes these facts;
The Bowen was descen ling lES lis
er. keeping the course usually taken.
bosts of her class at that place. bid
about one-third way out from the 0b
shore, while tho Parker was uscend;l
and keeping about u. similar coarse.
The signals for passing were exchange
at a proper distance. by the Parker "a
blowing one whistle for the right, which
was promptly answered by the Bowen.
AFTER answering the signal The Bow
eu's engines were stopped and backed
, They continued backing when tho col
lision occurred, and also aftsrwarj, :
Her machinery w1s in good condition
: and backed strong She had beer
J backing lof over une minute and hal
prior TO the collision She had rts,
Guenlly handlcl larger tows with per-
feet safety. Her rudders and liller
were in good condition, the middle on
;, being balance ruider, having bIod,
over fourteen Ieet IN length. She wa
/ at the lime of collision, holding straigh
down. the river.
"Ths pilot on duty on Board tire Sam
Parker. after having sisnaIed the Bower
: for sides, and being answered. EVIDENT.
neglected TO steer or hold his boat to.
q ward the right. or Kenlcky sids. IN dut
n time 10 AVOID collision with the Bowen
and By getting 100 close 10 4 10 forgast
. portion ef The Bowers tow. aud TIDE
d attempting to hold nearly square across
!. together with the fact Of not s,obpinI
H., The engines Of the Parker. until jus, be
, fore the eolisiod;) caused The outsii
j. barge. in the second tier on the port sid
e Of the Sam, Parker, 10 run over The cor
% ner Of the forw ard barge in tow Of tn
e. Bowen. on her pot side, Iorcing ii De
II the water and causing it 10 sirk
"At the Tins Of the collision the Bow
en- was headed straight down tho riyH
Q but the force of the collision change
3 her course. causing her 10 head tOwar
/ the Kentucky shore. The barge OF tn
"A Parker ran on that Of tho Bcweu, wher
it rested for a short tim. until that {
&c the Bowen sunk The Parker draGgc
the Bowen's barge considerably neats
8 the shore from the locality Of Tie col
/ lsion.
There was some wind Blowing OF Ia
, Kentucky shore at the time, which ma
d possibly have effected the handling {
a. the Parker, slightly, but beiog daylst
and 10 good piece of river, it was III
ne duty Of her pilot 10 have made calcali
lions accordingly.
Tho pilot of the Bowen evidebll
u, did not change his, course, but evince
I'd prudence and carcin stopping and back
- ing his boat srasonably.
at is the opinion oftLis Board, Ibl
said collision was occasoped throng
the unskillfulness of Benton NJ Chap
peIl, pilot on duty on board the Sll
s. Parker, and in accordance with the al
ig horiry in US vested. DO hereby suspoo
/, his license. 10 act as pilot of stegme
Sc for a period Of ninoty days from III
:, dstG.
Nv II. II. Drrsrrr,
IN &c w FlsuGU,