New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-04-19

cana ,,rsst on the morning OF Tuesday The fact OF
the .hip striking the land at point IL OF 10
mi,es westward OF that which capt Williams
ho,,ovsa the course he was steering ought to
have made IA accounted for by the westerly current
which usuay prevails to greater or lesser extent on
M coast Of Nova Scotia and which IA said 70 run with
Greater force during the months OF March, April and
MAY than during any season OF the year Whetner or
not suaeeut allowance made by Capt Williams for
the current the that he steered docs not seem
70 be a question Of vital Importance; for 1t lie very
probable that the TO the speed of the ship
and the lack Of vigilance the part Of the officers who
were on duty which is too apparent, and the total
neglect 10 obtain sOundings tho most ordinary
preeauton that ought TO DO used In approaching the
coast would her ashore had she been on the
course that Capt Williams supposed her to be-
the distance from her point Of departure at p. M
ON Monday to the land, had her course been
correctly held, being about the the distance
from that point OF departure to the spot where che was
wrecked IL seems be impossible TO account in any
other way by want Of vigilance for the fact OF no
lights being seen 1t has been proved that Sambro
Island Chebucto and Devils Island lights were all IN good
order on that night sambro light was distinctly visible
from the Devils Island light distance Of about o. miles,
OF little before the ship struck and when she could not
have been than seven or eight miles distant from
eambro Light. The night seems TO have been fine.
Capt williams states that at midnight when he left the
deck and again when he came on deck, the
stars being visible, that the light ought to
have been seen, and that even the land
might have been seen at two or three miles distance
Some Of the men duty have sworn that at one time
during the interval between u and o'clock it
dark and some fine sleet falling but the whole weight of
the testimony goes show that the night was one on
which the light might have been seen, and ought to
have been seen some time before the disaster proper
and vglant lookout had been kept gross error must
have been made in estimating the speed OF the ship.
nd Af
seven knots prior to her course being changed on
Monday the consumption OF coal increased after she
bore up for Sanbro her full allowance for her highest
rate Of speed 1t is in evidence that under favorable
circumstances, with steam alone, the Atlantic woho
make from IS knots per hour After bearing up al
o. III. on Monday. the circumstances were mostiaVor-
able obtaining her best rate OF speed The Wlnd pehg
free and the water smOoh yet we find that at midnight
Capt Williams estimated that she had made an average
OF II knots an estimate which the event shows must
have been inaccurate The common log was used, and
this only at intervals OF two hours The officers seem TO
have LETT the duties OF heavng the log and noting the
rate OF speed on the log slate TO the quarermasters
FROM the time the ship bore up 10 Halifax untn she
struck, she made average OF II knots per boui'
Assuming her point of departure at o'clock on Monday
20 have correctly ascertaned there no evidence
OF any nothcry set OF current TO account for the die
lance which the ship actually up 10 midnight, and
that which, estimating by the log the captain supposed
her TO have run II is stated that sometimes change
OF wind will produce change of current for few
hours on the Lahore and Sable Island Banks, at dis
lance of shore OF from so TO 20 miles but IL is well
authenticated fact during the Spring months there is no
continuous norhery set Of current on this coast The
facts thai the body OF OF the passengers OF the At
lantic was picked up few days after the wreck at
distance OF miles to the west and SOUTH and that two
trunks from the wreck were picked up at distance OF
miles in the direction, show that the current sets
OF shore. Bales OF merchandise drifting sea
ward from the steamship Dorien, wrecked OF
Clam Harbor the third Of April last, proved the e1
have annual confirmation of the fact of ohshore cur
rent in the circumstance that the ice drifting IRON the
coast closely, would be the care an nshore cur
rent prevailed very rarely in sight OF our shores
possible to the error in estimating the ships
speed except on the ground of ineOmpeteney cart
essness calculating the part Of those attending 70
have also TO observe that the conduct Of the captain
In leaving deck after midnight seems 10 me 10 nave
been at least mprudent and calculated to create the
impression the minds of the officers on dny mat they
not near land as to make extra vigilance upper
alive. -
Cant Williams states that at that time he believed
himself TO be Is miles from land In this belief, II is now
known that he must have been mistaken and IT seems TO
have been eupable rashnees for him, under the crcum
stances order the chip TO be toward the land for
three hours at her rate OF speed without the m
guard against possible erTorln ms o. s
position, in the event OF the nght wlnch ought 10
haye
visible that time, had the very ordinary precsuton
been taken Of sending lookout at intervals 10 the as
head the disaster would IN human prSpaDintes nave ave
been prevented. But the greatest ana may say per
haps the fatal error is found IN the Iact mat te eo
was never used, although the snip was III souo Thts
is neglect Of duty for when there
soundncs laid down upon the chart that mad the lead
USED at proper intervals the sblps saIey Wouu
which the lights could not possibly have been seem 10
is true that the frequent use OF tne ieao Iu' h &
layed her for few hours 10 reaching pCr ont euT h
was nothing DO gained in point OF time IN making INC
mort before daylight; even there had been, these
few hours OF detention ought not 10 nave een @ @
that were impered and more thah nan
OF which have been lost by the neglect Of this plainly
THE VERDICT
From careful review OF all the facts OF the case,
feel compelled state my belief s that the conduct OF
Capt Williams In the management Of his ship during the
u or IA hours preceding the disaster was so grayey at
variance with what ought 10 have been the conduct OF
man placed his responsible position, as to call Tor
severe ceDsure and 70 justify me III saying that hs GER
tcate extra master and master might I've canceledj
bnt in consideration Of the praise and energetic
Fl Jrs made by him TO save life after the ship struck
mitgaed penalty OF suspension OF his ceruncae ior
also feel it my duty TO state that the conduct of
Mr. Brown, the fourth officer, IN preventing the
servant from calling Capt Williams at 20 minutes 10
3oclock as ordered, under the circumstances an
improper violation OF the crptans orders and further
fact that he was one OF the oneeTs OF the watch
after u o'clock ought 10 have the light aud did
not and ought 70 have seen The land and DID not
see H. there implied eulpable neglect aud want OF
vigilance which considerations for the public SAFETY de-
should be marked BY eensqEe and moneTste pun
officer Brown, Master should be suspended Tor three
months. l.. NJ hCDohHLD, ColnInissionef'
GEO. A. McKENsIE.
syvEEry-oNE BODIES RECOVERED on THURSDAY AND
FRIDAY.
HALIFAX. April 1S.-Yesterday afternoon,