The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-02-04
THE LATE MARINE DISASTER.

The Sinking OF the Steamer Brunette-Cnp-
tain jones' Version OF tho mishap-" The
Brunette's Ofncers to Blume." -.r
The last sad marine disaster, resulting in the
sinking of the steamer Brunette by celliding
with the Havre steamship Santiago de Cuba,
during the night of Tuesday, with the loss OF
valuable cargo and two lives, has caused the
master of the latter vessel to give his version
Of the lamentable occurrence Captain A. g.
Jones, the officer In question, declines most
vigorously to wear the mantle of blame which
the officers of the Brunette have thrown upon
his shoulders, averring that the cause of the
accident was due alone to their Ignorance or
stupidity. He further states that the residue OF
their statements are erroneous, being prompted
by self-preservation entirely, as truthfulness
could never cause such malicious insinuations as
their report conveys.
Captain Jones says that his instructions from
the owner of the Santiago de Cuba were that,
upon her return voyage he should take the
southern passage, and he fully complied with
the orders Moreover, his vessel at the time
was in a disabled condition, caused by an acci-
dent TO the engine, and that was the reason of
his being in the latitude where the accident oc-
Cured, His statement is exceeding clear, and
OF such interest that 1t invites perusal Captain
On Tuesday night, about Is mintues past 10
o'clock the Santiago de Cuba with the crank
pin of her engine broken, was off Woodlands,
Squan Beach, en- route to New York, having
made by instructions the Southern passage.
The second officer, Mr.. Cornelius, was in charge
of the deck, as he had Just relieved me, and
was sitting in my room, which is near the pilot
house. We were endeavoring, because of our
crippled condition, which at that time
to make as smooth water as possi-
BILE, to relieve the strain upon the injured
portion of the engine. At this hour the San
tiago de Cuba was heading in northwest by
north, when the light of steamer was made off
our starboard bow about three points The Off
Ger in command instantly ordered her helm put
astarboard, keeping our ship off fully point
Alert and cautious, he anxiously watched
the approaching vessel, and in n
few minutes, finding that she con-
tinued her course down upon US, ordered
in louder voice. which / heard distinctly,
the helm to be 'hard astarboard." So soon as 1
heard this order stepped from my room on
deck and saw the vessel approaching, afterwards
ascertained TO be the steamer Brunette. To her
officers, from the respective courses we were
steaming, but two of our lights could be seen,
the starboard green light and the masthead white
light. To them our red port light was entirely
hidden; 1t was not possible for them to distin-
gnish il as they bore down upon US, and the
sight of this red light could only give them the
right TO put their wheel aport This was their
fatal mistake. At the time when Mr.. Cornelius
| gave the second order to put the Santiago de
Cnba's helm astarboard the ship kept off another
point to the westward; but despite all this pre-
| caution, and contrary to all rules OF river and
| ocean navigation and the Steamboat laws of the
L
nette's wheel was put hard aport, which kept hel
| off south-southwest, causing her to cross oul
| bow, and hence the collision. Every effort wa:
| made by us to prevent it; but the ignorance o.
| the laws of navigation on the part of the Bru
| nettes officers must throw the blame entirely
upon them, and their own statements so convic
| them.
1t appears that in the opinion of the Learned
marine officer of the Brunette, if my ship hdt
not come in collision with her we would hav,
| soon been ashore. In answer to this, and which
can without difficulty be- proven, after we hat
| taken on board the crew of the sinking vessel
which occupied some time, and we had con
| tnued our course to the northwest by north, W.
| steamed fully thirty minutes before land wa
made. This statement, in view Of the knowr
| truth, is too absurd for momenTs serious re
| Election by any experienced seafaring man.
Besides the above Captain Jones very goot
| naturedly says that he has been in command o
vessels for more than thirty years-ffteen year
in steamships-and rather pertinently asks that
with his record and known qualifications, i
he could commit such an absurd nautical erro
as that charged tohim ?"-N. Y. Herald, today