Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-11-16
STILL SMELLING.
More comments on the Decisions
In the Scioto Case.
The Row KelIer's Restoration Made
What Riyerman Says-6en-
eraI TaIk-Genefal River
News.

The collision by which the Scioto was
sunk, occurred last July 4, but the case is
still fresh and will not be allowed to rest
One by one various papers have harped
upon Fehrenbatch's decision, q few com
mendiDg, but most of them jumpiag upon
it with fierce condemnation. The Pitts
burg Dispateh Of yesterday, editorially at
tacks Fehrenbatch, saying he doubtless will
and certainly should be fired out by the
Government. Not satisfied with that in
another place it says:
The announcement that Supervising In
spector John Fehrenbatch had reversed the
finding of The Local. Board Of Supervisors
al Wheeling in the sciQto case has been re-
ceiyed with varied sentiments by the river
men. Some OF them denounce the action
of the superior official in unmeasured
terms, while others who have always been
disposed to regard Keller's conduct on the
occasion of the collision rather lenient,y
regard the reversal as a simple act OF
Justice. Keller himself has been in
defatigable in his efforts to have
the decision of Captain Young and
Wilson reversed, going from city to
city, and from one river pilot to another,
and from captain to captain to obtain
their signatures to his petition for rever-
sal and restoration. Said one riverman
yesterday: His pathetic appeals have
usually met with their reward, and many
a signature has been obtained, not because
the signer had given the matter that care
full consideration its Importance demand
ed, but merely because he sympathlzed
with the petitioner For weeks Keller was
engaged in this sort Of work, and was
abundantly rewarded, as he was at length
enabled to present to Captain Fehrenbatch
an array of names of influential rivermen
that was at least respectable. Soon af,er
2the presentation came the decision restor-
ing him to his original position as first
class pilot on Western waters"
HOW IT WAS RECEIVED.
In Wheeling there was considerable in
dipnation expressed at the action Of Cap
tain Fehrenbatch, and this was justly
augmented because of the feeling that
already existed there by reason of his
powerful effort made some time ago to re-
move Captain Thos. c. Wilson, local in
spector OF boilers and machinery, in order
to give place to friend in another city.
Hon. L. G. Cracraft, of counsel for the
steamer John Lomas, and also for John
Long, who was pilot on the occasion OF the
collision, was most outspoken in his con-
domination of Fehrenbatch and his de-
cision. Said he: III have gone into this
case we'll assured that Keller was largely
responsible for the collision. and that Long
did everything that human power could
do to avert it, and | will stand by him to
the end. Fehrenbatch came up here
'prejudiced against Long, and during the
time he was here he always took occasion
to express his idea of the case, and these
expressions were always uufayorable to
John Long. l intend to gather evidence OF
his partiality for the Transportation Com.
pany and produce it before the Board of
Supervising Inspectors at their meeting in
Washington in January next. Then there
will be a new hearing of the case, and l
have evidence enough to show that Keller
was in no condition to steer boat on the
night of July 4, 1882. / intend to show this
man Fehrenbatch up before the board in
manner that will break him up"
Anew SUITS.
So far no less than 81 suits have been en-
tered by the legal representatives of the
victims of the collision for damages, aggre.
eating in all about 800, 00o Thirty-three of
the suits are against the Wheeling, Par
kersburg and Cincinnati Transportation
Company, and the others jointly against
the company and the steamer Tomas.
These suits have bsen entered in the Cir
emit and Municipal Courts of Wheeling
and Ohio county, but they will be removed
from that to the United States District
Some months ago indictments for man
slaughter were found in the United States
District Court in session at Parkersburg
against pilots Keller and Long, and also
against Captain Inglebright, Of the Tomas,
but nothing further has been done in the
matter. At the same time an Indictment
was found against Captain Hiram Young,
Inspector of Hulls, at Wheeling, who issued
the permit which allowed the Scioto to carry
the excessive number of passengers on July
4th.