Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-09-28
KELLER REVOKED
And Long Turned Over TO Fshren-
batch
For Final Adjudication = The inspectors
Report Of the Causes Of the SeiOto
Disaster.


tors agreed on the perpetual revocation OF
Keller's license as pilot, while they differed
concerning Long, Wilson holding him
accountable, and Young believing him
| euiltless. His case is turned over to Su-
peryisor Fehrenbatch for final adjudics.
ton. The report is as follows .
WHEELING, W. Va, September %, 1882.
John Fehrei.6atch. Supervising Inspector Of
Steam Vessels, .SereHh District Cincinnati,
Ohio: g.. ..
slR.-We have this day revoked the
license of David c. Keller rs hrst class
pilot of steam vessels, for violation of the
rules and regulations for the government
| of pilots on rivers flowing into the Gulf oil
Mexico, and their tributaries, while at the
wheel of the steamer SCiOto when she col.
hd.d with the John Tomas. The Board
fails 10 agree as 20 the finding in the case
of b ]. Long, pilot of the John Tomas.
While the Inspector of Boilers holds him
equally responsible, the Inspector Of Hulls
clsinis he is guiltless.
The collision occurred on the even
ing of the 4th of July last, between the
hours of 8 and 8 O'Clock on the Ohio river,
opposite or near Mingo Junction, Ohio.
The Scioto, in command OF Capt. I. ).
1DOlldb, Vi NhiO, VIZ
| ing, and the John Lomas, with Capt. Lew
| W. Inglebright, of Martins Ferry, Ohio,
was descending. Both vessels at the time
were running under excursion permits,
and were freighted exclusively with pas.
sengers. The Scioto was built at lronton,
| Ohio, in 1876; has side wheels; is sharp
modelled, and measures 1855 tons burden.
In her construction special reference was
| had to her speed. She is perhaps the last
L.. al Nhn
and il valued at 5000. Recently she was
purchased BY Capt c. II. Booth, OF this city,
representing the Wheeling, Parkersburg
and Cincinnati Transportation Company,
and placed in q local trade between this
port and Matamoras, Ohio.
On the day preceding the
and secured from this board, after
complying with the provisions gov
erning the same, a permit TO carry three
hundred 1901 passengers exclusive OF the
number authorized by the certificate Of in
spection, and limited in route between
East Liverpool, Ohio, and Cresaaps Grove,
West Virgins. On the morning OF the
4th she reached East Liverpool, and after
taking on board majority of the excur-
sionists, started for MOundsville, West Vlr-
ginia, her destination, landing at points in
termediate for the accommodation OF those
wishing to avail themselves of the occasion.
Up until the collision the voyage was made
without any occurrence worthy OF special
mention. 1t was the nations anniversary,
and restraiHt seemed to be at a discount.
, 1t was lively day on board, too gala for so
sad an ending. To the annoyance and dis
comtiture of the more orderly disposed
not few OF the excurs onists INDUCED too
freely in intoxieants, having procured in
diyidual supplies before embarking, con-
dition OF things which Capt. Thomas was
powerless to control, and for which he can
not be held responsible. In justice TO all,
it should be said that nothing but the most
harmless beverages were dispensed on the
boat.
The John Tomas was built at Browns.
vile, Pa, in 1881, is stern wheel with
model bow and towing boat fOrecastle. She
measures 20 tons burden, is of but medium
speed, and is valued at $1,000. In point of
staunchness she excells most vessels of her
class She was purchased but a short time
since by Capt. lnglebright Il Co., and at
once entered the Wheeling and Martins
Ferry trade. On the 30th day of June, a
permit was granted her to carry
one hundred and fifty (l50)
passengers between Steubenville, Ohio,
and Cresap's Grove, W. Va, on this
occasion it was used only on so much OF
the limit as lays between Martins Ferry
and Steubenville, a distance of q miles.
Leaving the former point on the morning
of the 4th, she proceeded TO Steubenyille
and returned in the evening; was home
ward bound when the collision occurred.
Passing for the present, since we do not
wholly agree on the cause or causes that led
to the disaster, il is only necessary 10 here
say that the pilot Of the John Tomas select
ed the side on which he intended to pass
with one blast of the steam whistle, which
was contested by the pilot of the Scioto by
crossing The same with two blasts. Here
the signalling ended. We have reason to
believe that both boats were backing at the
time, the Roadway of neither being fully
checked. Such was the position of each at
the time that the larboard corner Of
the guard Of the Tomas, struck the Scioto
Immediately under her larboard guard, and
about five feet from the stem. After strik
ing, the stern Of the Tomas thanked towards
the Ohio shore, crushing in as she rounded
the side of the Scioto Is or 30 feet in length
a very short space of which only was down
to the knuckle. The Tomas is now buried
in the side Of the Scioto: the entire width Of
her forecastle is comparatively uninjured,
while the Scioto is rapidly taking water and
is in sinking condition. The scene is rep.
resented as one of indescribable confusion
all efforts by cooler heads TO allsy the eH-
element was useless, and to add to its in
teDsity the alarm OF fire spread. While yet
the Lomas is IN reach succor is afforded,
and after permitting as many TO
board as he thought safe, Captain
Inglebright, 10 prevent his own boat from
swapping, which there was great danger
of concluded best to back away, land his
own passengers and return, which he did.
Although for thishe was by some censured,
We think q moments reflection will show
That to have remained longer might under
the circumstances resulted dOubly disas
trous In this we think he displayed coed
Judgment
In moment or two after the Tomas
backed away the Scioto Was resting on the |
bottom Of the river in about fourteen feet
of water with her cabin space half suS-
merged. While going DOWN, passengers
were lesping from the guards and hurri- |
cane roof into the river, leaving those on
deck who failed TO gain access to the Lomas (!
struggling in the water.
In the meantime the Tomas was engaged
In rescuing all within reach, and after max
ing four trips succeeded in landing safely
all who remained on and were cling.
ing TO the Scioto. In Aadi- |
ton TO this skiffs and all other
life saving appliances available were
brought into speedy requisition by the
hundreds who hccked to the scene, and all |
the ara posi- DIE was rendered.
For several succeeding days search for |
the missing WAS made, with varied success. |
Bodies were found and identified rs |
victims. having drifted 80 or more miles |
from the scene. From the most reliable |
information we have been able TO obtain,
IS lives we're lost, all by drowning; save 2 |
or 3, who. after reaching shore, persisted |
from exhaustion. For the purpose of de- |
termning where the responsibility rested, |
We notified the pilots Of our purpose to at |
once proceed with the investigation, and |
suspend the license of both pending the |
same. The magnitude of the disaster |
clothed the event with more than ordinary
interest, and seemed to warrant departure |
from the ordinary method of proceeding in |
such cases, and 70 the end that |
che public and all interested might have tho |
opportunity of witnessing. the United |
Siates Court room vas used for the occa- |
sion, the principals were allowed represen.
tstion by counsel, witnesses were sum- |
moned and everything being in readiness
the investigation commenced on the llth |
day Of July, aud without concluding al. |
journed in order 20 give attention 10 other \