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

|
] Report OF United States Local Inal
Tors in the Case Of the Cohisidh y
the TOw-BOais Sum. Parker Rifd Ci5ll
!, lie Howen.
The following is ihe-Fep6It Of she To-
cal Board Of United States Ipsp6rtofs
in the case of the collision between lhs
tow boats Sam, pglar and. Charlie Bni.
60, uea. DOver, ,Kshucty on lhs'7th b
August, 1868. & It ssltlss several ysEsd
quOsrious .. y.
eoYnoE or LOCAL BoAhD d U $. IssSFcIonil
"CIycSSAn o., October %, 1868.
TO Geo. ". Nef, E'q., Sur, Of cus's
"SI.-Horewith we Dresen, Inc ~
suit Of our investigation in The case Is
the collision between the tow boat
Charlie Bowen and sam. Parker, which
occurred on the obid SRiver, opposiIi
the town Of Dover Kentucky. about
O'Clock P. NJ. on Friday, August q
1868, by which one barge loaded viii
coal, and in tow Of the Bowen, Sal
sunk ~
"The Bowen was boGnl from R6li
Pleasant West Virginia, to Cincl6hss
Ohio, with tow ofsesen bsfges load
ed with coal. ~ Ss,
1.-The Sam Parker was bound flSnl
Cincinnati to Pomeroy, Ohio, wifi y
tow Of twelve empty barges. 4IE
1--WE have examined onumber Sf Ril
desses in this case. some Of whom Isgar
residents near the scene. and who VI
messed the collision. and their eyitehd
establishes these facts; e.
THE Bowen was deScen ling tbs nv
er. eping the course usually taken!
bosts of her class at that place, btii
about onc-lhird way out from the on
shore, while tho Parker was asrend;l
aud keeping about similar course.
The signals for passing were exchang
at a proper distance. by the Parker iid
blowing one whistle for The righl, which,
was promptly answered by the Bowen.
AFTER answering the signal The Bow.
en'5 engines we're stopped and backed,
They continued backing when the col
lisiOn occurred, and also oftsrwarl-
Her machinery was in good condition,
and backed strong She had been
backing Tor over me minute and a half
prior 10 the collision She had fire.
GuenLly handled larger tows with per-.
feet safety, Her ruiders and tiIlers
were in good condition, the middle one
being balance rulder, having u blade
over fourteen leet IN length. She was
a, the lime of collision, holding straight
down. the river,
"Ths pilot on duty on Board tire Sam:
Parker. after having signaed the Bowen
for sides, and being answered, evidently
neglected to steer or hold his boat to-
ward the right, or Kenlcky sjde. IN due
time 10 Yoid collision with the Bowen;
aad b. getting 100 closeto 4ha futyasd;
portion efILe Boweu's tow. aud Shen
attempting to hold nearly ,quate across.
together with the fact Of not stopping
the engines ofthe Parker. until jus, be-
fore the eoliaioG;) caused The outside
barge, in the second tier on the port side
Of the Sam, Parker, 10 run over the cor
ner of the forward barge in tow Of the
BowcG, on her pot side, Iorcing it u der
the water and causing it to silk
cat the lins Of the collision the Bow
en- was headed straight down tho river
but the force of the collision changed
her course. causing her 10 head toward
the Kentucky shore. The barge oil the
Parker ran on Tia, of the Boweu, where
i, rested for short tim, until that OIL
the Bowen sunk. The Parker dragged
The Bowen's barge considerably nearer
the shore from the locality Of Tie col
sion.
There was some wind Blowing Of the
Kentucky shore at the time, which may
possibly have effected the handling oil
the Parker. slightly, but beiOg daylight
and in good piece Of river, il WAS the
duty Of her pilot 10 have made calcula
lions accordingly.
Tho pilot of the Bowen cvide6lly
did not change his course. but eviuced
prudence and carcin stopping and back,
Ing his boat srasonabIy,
81! is the opinion oftlis Board, thai
said collision was occasioned through
the unskillrulness of Benton NJ Chap
pell, pilot on duty on board the Ssm
Parker, and in accordance with the su
lhoriry in US vested. DO hereby suspoOd
bis license. 10 act as pilot of steamer,
fora period of ninoty days from thi:
dst0.
II. II. Dr'Errr,
&C W FsnEE,
Local Inspectors"
-HH= s====
oUTRAGEIN GEORGIA.