The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-12-19


after an examination. yesterday made their re
port on the Cotton Valley disaster, az follows
OFFICE UNrTEB STATES BOARD Local ,
| Inspectors of Steam Vessels \
| New Orleans, La. December 49, 1873 J
Decision in the case of collision between the
steamers Cotton Valley and Charles Morgan
! We have carefully studied the testimony given
! In the case and find the Cotton Valley ascend
| Ing and The Charles Morgan descending the
river, on the morn ing of tho FIRST instant, at
! abont o'clock, II being very dark, the wind
blowing hard and raining heavy. ut place
| Brtnglers point, where collision occurred.
| whereby the Cotton Valley was sunk and three
lives lost, We nnd the Charles Morgan in her
| proper place in tho river for u descending
aures both pilots in tho pilot house at
tho time, rs also tho captain, whore he had
goneto keep out Of the hard rain hon falling tho
first mate on watch and at his post, tho steamer
baGking before and at the time Of the collision.
and ey rything done by her officers to avoid a
collision and, afterwards, TO rescue tho people
OF tho ill-fated steamer We find that the Got
ton Valley was not In her proper place for an
ascending steamer, that her cautain had not
been ON watch since II o'clock Of the night of
tho collision; that her first mate had not boon
city till about o'clock on tho morning Of the
collision both Of which we deem gross neglect
of duty. especinlly on such night.
MIR. Swain. the pilot watch on tho Cotton
valley, was evidently mistaken In his position
In tho river. as the. testimony shows that the
collision occurred in or near the middle Of the
river When he stood out to turn Bringier's
point which was starbpard point The night
being very dark and the wind blowing off the
starboatd shore. he missed his calculation and
we lind him out of hs place. We also find that
Inc Cttton valleys eng mes were not stopped
until her bow had passed across the bow Of the
Charles Morgan. nor were they backed ut all.
We believe that III either the captain or tho
first mate of the Cotton Valley had been on
watch and at his post the collision would not
have occurred,
We see no evidence on the part Of the officers
Of tho Cotton Valley whore the licensed officers
did anything to save tho lives Of the cabin or
deck passengers. either through supplying
them with tte-preserVers. or even suggesting
nate lady allowed to drown with only simple
invitation to jump overheard. whereas had she
q life preservsr on sha would doubtless have
hoated until she could have boon rescued by the
yawl Of tho Charles Morgan.
The act OF Capt. Kouns In allowing only his
Vile and two children and Mrs Sandford In o
ilfeboat that was capable Of carrying fifteen per-
sons. is reprehensible in the extreme
Capt Kouns Is also responsible for the dock
OF his vessel being in charge Of the second
mate. m officer not required to be licensed who
was in charge Of tho deck from O'Clock D. m
TO I o'clock q. ma most unusual watch.
We have. therefore, this day. In accordance
with sections 4439 and 4lfO OF the Revised Sta
utes lnattention to duty. revoked the license
OF M. II. Kouns and w. A. Duke, respectively
master and mate of the i'll fated Cotton Vail "
and suspended the license of A. q. Swain, the
pilot on watch on tho Cotton Valley for q pe-
riod Of thirty days from the date hereof, in
accordance with section 446U Revised Statutes
Tor unsklllfnl management. inattenton to duty
and neglect. and hereby exonerate tho
licensed officers Of the steamer Charles Nor
gan from all blame
G. L. JOHNSON.
J. A. MOFFETT
United States Local Inspectors