The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-11-08
TIE M1xco prsA.rEa., :
Inspector Fetrrnbaich Restores Da,l..

{. Keller us Pilot. e
The local Board Of BleAmboAt inspectors
at this point, after long investigation,
having revoi ed the llceuse Of David O. Kel
Ter, pilot Of the scloto, Tor an alleged viola.
ton OF the law In crossing the sigma Of tho
steamboat Loma., Il will b. remembered
that Pilot Keller appealed from the decision
to Supervising Inspector Fehrenbatch, on
the grounds that Il was not In nccosJs lance
with the law or the Testimony taken In the
case. Tho Inspector has rendered his decl.
sion, which Is substantially as follows.
which We take from the Clncinnuli Time,
Star! .,,'1 ""
THAT Pilot Keller appealed from, the 10.
cision on the ground lhnt II Is not iustiasd
by the law or by tho evidence taken In the
case; that no the lnspeclor) las carefully
examined the testimony ind has found III.
tic In the great nlass (l9S pages) that Is not
contradictory, but what little he did find has
enabled HIN to arrive ut q conclusion In the
case. ,. ~
THE report then goes OH 10 state that the
proper place for a descending steamer is the
channel or the bend towards tho West Wiz.
Eihia shore, and the proper place for an as.
ccndlnG steamer Is toward The point near The
Ohio shore; that the sclolo was In her proper
place and tho Tomas was moi; that the
Tomas blew her first signal ut q distance OF
o0o yards from the Scioto TO pass between Inc
scioto and the Ohio shore, a space ot about
200 feet, and she had the cl,annel and bend of
ths river to her left and space OF about
l,2o0 feet; that the manner IN which the
Tomas was navlgated at tho time and In.
mediately prior 10 the collision placed, IN
pig opinion, beyond the power Of any human
being TO have navigated the scioto
SO as 10 nave avoided n collision; from the
facts presented, the pilot Of the I.onas prov.
Gu himself incompetent, and never should
have been trusted with the steering OF a boat
In that part OF the river, the evidence show.
Ing that he had never made trip as pilot on
that part OF the river before; this, notwith.
standing that the scioto was In ller proper
place, and the Lonias was not 10 her proier
pace; u BY any means Il was possible for the
plot OF the Scioto 10 have avoided or pre-.
vented Tile collision, aud he failed to do his
Duty lie should have been held responsible
70 the extent OF llsfailure to avoid or prevent
the collision; that there Is nothing In the
evidence to show that be did not navigate
his boat properly, but on the contrary That
he Is a competent pilot aud well acqusin led
with the rules OF navigation. TO0iI Z
I'm the decision Of the Local Board At
Wheeling the only point made against pilo,
Keller Is that he violated the law In crossing
the signal OF the l.omas, when In fact there
IS no such law, rule or regulation mentioned
BY the board; therefore," Inspector Fahren.
batch concludes, "ths decision Of tho Board
has been set aside and David G. Keller Is
restored to his former position as tirs,.class
pilot on Western rvetsH ra'n
N-Stn A.
kellers attorneys. 49, -,
BY this action, the Scioto and her piiot is
exonerated, md the numerous suits tbut
have been instituted against the owners Of
the boat will very likely fall fiat. The news
OF the restoration OF Keller reached the CITY
last evening, und he was heartily coucratu.
lated by number OF friends ~ 1