, 1873-04-19


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THE LOST ATLANTIC. |
Verdict OF tho Commission Appointed
by tho Canadian G0vcrI1tncnt-.Sttn-
pension OF tho Captains Certificate
for Two Kcnrs4
HALIFAX, n. s., April 11.--Tho Commissioner |
conyoned the Court Of Inquiry tuto tic loss Of
tho Atlantic this afternoon, and rendered hihl
decision. Tho courae Of Capt. Wi]liama In boar
ing up for Halifax is commended as prudent.
Tho ship had not sufficient coal on board at tho
tine of sailing for d Bhip OF her olasB Tito coa1
was Of inferior quality, Of Which Rl!e corl.
aurned seventy tong por day. thus giving hor loss
Had all tho circumstances OF the passage been
favorable, this quantity Of coal would undoubt-
ed1y have carried tlo SLIP and passengers safely
to Now York but passage across tho Atlantic
in winter without more or loss unfevorable
weather is the exception and not tho r'l1o. Fa-
vorablo wonthor during tho whole western
passage In the month Of Alarch could not
Of low rato Of spood, resulting from bend winds
and foul weather, ought to have boon provided
for. Assuming tho position Of tho vossol as
stated by Capt. williams to hevo heon coneett,
to tho eastward Of sambro, had there boon no
| current. The officer loft In charge did not obey
tho ordor given by Capt. Williams to awako
| him at . o'clock, for ho slept until awakenod
Il to I II minutes attor o'clock. Tho conduct of
| Capt. Williams and tho officers after the ship
struck was all that uorld bo demanded from
mon in thoir trying situation. The management
tt,5idhS tmo she became % - wreck. Whethor or not
sufficient allowance WAS made by Capt. Williams
for THO crrrout in tho courae he
Importance; for 1t is very probable that the
Bano error Us to tho spool Of tho ship a,ll lacts
Of vigilance on tho part Of tho oticera who were
on duty which Is too apparent, and the total
dinaly precaution tint ought to 10 used in ap-
proachlng tho coast, would hayo .ran her ashore
lad sho been on tle course that Capt. Williams
supposed hor to DO. Tho r. faot ,3o Of no lights 9ts
S(sef TfnS sta9es 'aS' thss even land a%s ms5
hayo boon seon at q distance Of two or three
m'ilcH. The night was ono on which Hight
might and ought to havo boen seen somo timo
before the disaster If proper lookout, Ind boon
kept. gross error must have been mado in
estimating tho spool Of tho ship
The Commissioner ,Hays It iB well authonti-
catod fact that during the spring months thoro Ia
no continuous northerly aot Of currents OH THIS
coast. .Wo hnvo abundant evidence Of
the extatenoo OF an oN-sIore cur.
rent. The error IN calculating the shlpa
caroiossnass in calculating OIL the part OF thoae
Tho conduct OF Capt. Williams III lowing tue
at %dht a,ssa rs %prqah T. e.
minds Of tho officers on duty that they wore not
80 near land as to make exsra vigilance impora,
tive. At that time tho Captain believed
to to havo MsS b boon V oulpaSo % 1as1noaa @ for Lin
+ under the circumstances to order the ship to be
run towards land for three hours, at her rate OF
speed, without the precaution to guard against
, nny possible error III Lis estimation Of hiB posi-
ton. As in tue event Of the light, Which ought
to hnvo boon seen at oightoon or twenty miicB
, distance, not becoming visible IL that tmo, hae
tho very ordinary preeaauttio,u been - tnkcl k;,l
Of a9ndlng Lockout s"s at aea insG1Vala m TO s eat
probabilities have boen prevented. But tht
Is found in tho tactthat the load was meyer uaoa
although tue ship WAS III 80 s1nnd!ngs IN Tor eigh
duty for which thore bo positively no excuse
So accurately are tho Boundings laid down upol
t the chart, that hal tho lead boon used at til
proper intervals tho nhipa satesty s wogld a hag as
hS havo boon seon. It j. trlo that froqaont qse
tha lsa4 might have delayed her for faW hoqr 70 u
, gained in the point Of time in mixing tic por
6ofore daylight, Or ovon il thoro had boon, tics
. fow hours detention ought not to have boon q
r i1sls haif tos' of VIII WITCH aad' lad boon lost
neglect Of this plainly .ts manifest ifoss j., dat, "
:" case feel compelled to state that my belief IL
8 that the conduct of Capt. Williams In the man
q agement Of his ship during the twelve or four
toen hours preceding the dgasor was 70 grossas ~
Il ly at variance with what ought to have boon sh
~ conduct Of man placed in his responsible
= position, as to call tor severe censnrf r!
= certificate aB an extra master and maste
i, might bo cancelled, but In consideration
- | Of the praiBeworthy and energetic efforts mad
:. by him to save lifo aftor tho ship struck, th
10 mitigated penalty Of tho suspension OF his ce'
It tilcato for two years should be imposed. nls
\. Brown, tho Fourth Of1oer, in preventing th
- servant from calling Capt. Williama ct twent
minutes to O'clock, as ordered, was, under the ci
>, cumstancea an improper violation OF tho Captain
u orders, aud further III fact, that US he VAS on
Of tho oflcers Of THO watch after Il O'Clock, !
aud ought to Aayo aoon land, and did not SEQ Il
There IL an implied culpablo neglect md War
B. Of vigilance which consideration for public sat
~ ty demaul should DO marked by consnro Of
- - moderate puniAlAmont. I therefore decide th'
~ tho certiAoateH Of Fourth Officer Brown as Mast
y he suspended for three months.
}. Yesterday afternoon, aftor tho steamer 10
ID Prospect, seyontsen bodies wore recovered, ma
M | ing ffty-uine for tho day, and twolye we're +
=" covered to-day. The personal baggage Of Il
Merritt family was recovered. and placed in Il
., hanls OF tho cuBton-houao authorities.
IE
Of knights OF Pythins.
od RICHMOND, VA, April 18.-The Supreme I4od
OF tho Kuiglits Of rythias to-day sustained, BY
yoto OF "A to 0, tho action Of this Supreme Gus
color In ausronding tue Grand Lodge OF Pen
Bylyauia togother With about 100 anbordlna
=. lodges III that State, for alleged rebellion again
VI the laws Of the Supreme Lodge Ih's a'ee. 9oti