The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-02-18
THE OHIO RIVER DISASTER,
Report of the United States Inspectors
upon the Steamboat Collision.

After rigid and minute investigation into
the causes which resulted in the collision be-
tween the steamers America and the United
States, on the Ohio river, by which a number OF
lives were lost. the United States inspectors
have come to the conlcu'ion that the disaster
was chiefly owing to the carelessness OF the
pilots on the said steamboats,. 1t appears that
the Inflated steamers were perfect IN all their
appointments and equipped in strict compliance
with the law, some of the equipments being IN
excess of those legally prescribed. The pilots
and commanders had for many years previous
10 the accident sustained high reputation as
careful and skilled officers; but the Inspectors
revoke the licenses of both pilots in view OF the
strong testimony showing that certain rules
established by the Board of Supervising lnspec-
tors for the government of pilots had been
violated, thus causing a collision which might
have been avoided. The rules referred to are
as tollOWs:-
Rule l. When steamers are approaching each
other the signal for passing shall be one sound
OF the steam whistle to keep to the right, and
two sounds of the steam whistle to keep 10 lne
left These signals to be made first by the
ascending steamer. II the dangers OF navl-
cation, darkness Of the night, narroWness oil the
channel, or any other cause, render 1t necessary
tor the descending boat to take the other side,
she can do so by making the necessary signals,
and the ascending steamer must govern herself
accordingly. TGese signale TO be observed by
all steamers, either day or night.
Rule 2. Should steamers be likely TO pass
near each other, and these signals should not
be made and answered by the time such boats
Snall nave arrived AZ lDe distance OF SuU yhIu5
from each other, the engines OF both boats shall
be stopped; or should the signal be given and
not properly understood from any cause what
ever both boats shall be backed until their
headway shall be fully checked, and the engines
shall not be again started ahead until the proper
signals are made answered and understood.
Rule 10. Doubts or fears Of misunderstanding
| signals may be. expressed by several snort
| sounds of the whistle in quick succession.
After careful review OF the testimony 1t IS
the opinion of the Inspector that the pilots OF
| both boats were at fault. The pilot of the
America, when he first signalled, blew two
| sounds of the whistle, aud while sounding the
| first blast that of the United S'ates was eVl-
IDENTIFY also blown. one sound simultaneously,
| and ceasing with the first sound OF the Anne
| ricas whistle, which entirely prevented the
| pilot of the United States from hearing It,.
Hearing only the second sound blown at thai
| time by the America, and supposing he had
| received one whistle in answer, he came ahead
| and as both boats were approaching each other
| rapidly during the time the signals we're being
exchanged, they were too close to avoid COLL
| sion when the signals were exchanged the
second time, when they immediately stopped
and backed, but it was 100 late.