New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-12-08
NEW ORLEANS THURSDAY DECEMBER 1870
The Wild Wagner and Nicholas Long.
worth COllision-The Wild Wagner
PILOTS LicenAe Suspended.

The Wild Wagner and Nicholas Long
worth Collisfon-The Wild Wagner
Pilots License Suspended.
The following is furnished for information
by Mr.. E. P. Champlin, deputy collector:
OpFlcE BOARD UNITED STATES Local Inspectors,
New Orleans, December G, 1870.
SIR-We have the honor to report that a
collision occurred about twelve miles above
Baton Rouge, on the seventeenth ultimO,
about eight o'clock A. NJ, between the
steamers nicholas Longworth" and wild
Wagner" resulting in serious damage to
the former and slight injury to the latter.
The testimony and evidence before us
show that some time previous to the col
lision, both steamers had experienced foggy
weather, more or less dense; that about ten
minutes previous to the disaster both
steamers entered dense bank Of fog, the
'' 'Longworth -" descending, and the "Wag-
oner" ascending that upon entering said
fog, the LongwOrth" slowed down to
merely steerage way, and blew signals Of
one blast at proper intervals, and heard
signals Of one blast in reply, from an
ascending steamer directly ahead.
1t also appears in evidence that the
Wagner also blew the same signals, and at
intervals slowed her engines, but not sutfi-
ciently to meet the requirements OF the Oc-
casioIh she making a Roadway of about
eight miles per hour; and further. that the
signals were distinctly heard on each
steamer, and that neither was seen until
some seventy-tive yards apart, at which
time the Wagner suddenly blew two blasts
to pass between the LongwOrtf and the
bank Ia distance of about fifty yards), and
at the same time stopped and reversed her
engines. and had made about two revOlu-
tiOns back when the collision occurred, cut
ting the guard and hull Of the LongwOrth
on the starboard bow, to a few inches be-
low the surface of the water, requiring the
strenuous efforts of her crew to keep her
from sinking by throwing overheard freight
from her forecastle, which proved success
full. Fortunately, no lives were lost.
After a careful review of the testimony
and evidence, we are clearly Of the opinion
that the collision resulted from the reckless
speed on the part Of the N"Wild Wagner"
coupled with her sudden change of course.
1t is evident that prudence would have die
tated to the pilot OF said steamer to reduce
her speed (under the circumstances) to
merely steerage-way, or even, to have been
governed 10y previous signals (which pre-
caution appears IN favor OF the LOngwOrth) J,
instead OF crossing said signals at the time
she did, for the purpose CT passing between
said steamer and the bank. In either case,
we are OF the opinion this disaster would
not have occurred.
Believing the foregoing conclusions
to be correct. and that the disaster was
caused by neglect of duty on the part of
Mr.. Diogenes Daigre, the pilot on watch at
: the time on the Wagner, we have, in ac-
cOrdance with section nine, articles nine
and thirteen of an act of Congress relating
to steamboats,, approved August 80, 1859,
this day suspended the license as a pilot of
the said Diogenese Daigre, tor the period of
thirty 1907 days from the date hereof, and
have notified him to that effect.
Very respectfully your Obedient servants,
w. &. FLANDERS,
j. A. MOFFATT,
Local Inspectors.
Hon. James F. Casey, Collector of Customs, New
Orleans.