Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-07-22

.
the John Lsnas-I Ideas ~ 1iver CsP-
tains.
A large meeting Of the steamboat cap
tains who run boats on the Ohio river, was
held in Pittsburgh on Thursday, ct which
the following steamboatmen were present:
Andy Marsilliott, A. d. Reno, Swaney, ].
F. Stockdale, Robert Holmes, Mehaffey,
and Michaels.
The meeting was called to take some &C
ton relative to the abolition OF the new
rules governing the passing OF STEAMBOATS,.
The matter was discussed at great length,
and the unanimous opinion was that the
practice of the rule was impracticable, and
Il should be abolished. Referring TO the
recent disaster, Capt Killen, the Oldest
steamboatman present, was called upon,
and said: ;
,sThe investigation by the Inspectors at
wheeling has not developed any, facts BY
which the responsibility for that terrible
calamity can be charged ON any particular
person. One thing, however, has been
July developed, and that is that the loss OF
so many lives on that occAsion was cansed
BY terrible mistakes. What those mistakes
were must not be left to the inspectors
alone TO determine. 1t is q duty that all
steamboat officers owe to themselves and TO
those whose lives are in their charge to in
diyidually examine and investigate, in or
der that they may guard AGAINST them.
THAT the pilots OF the Scioto and Lomas
are guilty of serious mistakes Is beyond all
doubt and as no one will say that they
made them Intentionally, the question that
presents itself is, were they unavoidable
and Of character that skillful and relia-
BILE pilots with several hundred lives de-
pending on the faithful manner in which
they discharged their duties would be liza
BILE to make? -.
"Among the many. plumbers made by those
who have had charge OF laws governing the
running of our steamboats, the change made
few years ago reversing the rule by which
up pilots gave the passing signals, in my
Judgment was the worst they ever made.
The pilots, who were nearly unanimously
opposed to the change, fought hard against
ii, but the change was made by the casting
vote of one man, who, if am correctly in.
formed had no practical knowledge OF
navigation on western and southern rivers.
The result was that his one vote was more
potent than the petitions Of skilled boat.
men against the change. And ! do not
think that will be much wide Of the
mark il say that in my judgment the
change of that rule was to some extent, in
q remote way, it is true, partly responsible
Capt Mic6aels said that on his last trip
he had counted the descending boots whose
whistles he had not heard This was not
caused by any negligence on the part OF
the descending bost, but the breeze carried
the sound the other way. This in his
mind was the strongest argument In favor
of the first signal being given by the
ascending boat. When he could not hear
the descending boats whistle, as a matter
of self'preservation he pushed TO shore,
thus avoiding collision, but entailing large
expense on the owners. Other gentlemen
conceded in this view.
The Commute on Resolutions reported
as follows:
WHEREAS, Rules for the government of
steamboat pilots, giving the ascending boat
the choice of sides, have been abolished by
the Board of Supervising Inspectors OF
steam vessels, and the new rule went into
effect July /. 1880, giving the descending
boat the choice OF sides, as well as the
right of way, which in our judgment is in
judcious and impractical, because
First. The pilot OF the descending boat
can not tell the speed, draught or locality
of the ascending boat, at the distance re-
quired by law to give the signal For ex-
ample, the pilot Of a descending boat may
sight an ascending boat after dark. 1t is
impossible for the pilot to know IL the as
cending boat is making three miles or
twelve miles an hour. The difference be-
tween the two situations is apparent toany
practical pilot.
Second. Owing to the fact that our west
ern rivers usually run in westerly direc.
ton, and as q general rule there is an up
stream wind, the descending boat giving
the first signal at the distance required by
law, very often the pilot of the ascending
boat must govern his course by seeing the
steam from the whistle instead of hearing
the sound.
AThird. The pilot of the ascending boat,
knowing the speed and draught of his boat,
and knowing that the descending boat is
entitled to the channel of the river at all
times, he is the proper judge and should
be entitled to have the choice. IL from good
reasons the descending boat should elect to
take the opposite side, the abolished Rule
makes provisions for this emergency;
ResoIred, That after two years trial Of
Rule for the government of pilots on
Western rivers we are fully satisfied and
convinced that it is impracticable and very
detrimental TO safe and intelligent naviga-
ton and for this rule to remain in force Is
to jeopardize life and property.
Resolred, AS a rule was forced upon us,
against the wishes and protests of four-ffths
OF the licensed masters and pilots on our
western rivers, and il has been demonstrate
ed beyond all doubt by the two years we
have been trying TO work by 1t that confu-
sion, collisions and disasters have been the
results in many instances. while the great
commerce of our rivers demands that we
should have good practical common sense
rules.
Resolred, That we do most respectfully
and earnestly ask of the honorable secre-
tary of the treasury in the name Of justice
and humanity TO rescind rule enacted in
February, 1880, and restore to the western
rivers the rule for steamers meeting giving
the ascending boat the choice OF sides az
the rule was in force prior to July l, 1880. |
The report was unanimously adopted, |
and then Captain A. ID. Reno moved that |
committee be appointed to secure the in.
dorsement OF the Chamber OF Commerce |
and the Coal Exchange to the resolutions
adopted.
The motion was adopted, and on motion
of Captain Swaney, the committee was in |
structed to correspond with the Represent |
atives in Congress and with the steamboat |
men Of che lower rivers.
The Committee appointed consists OF |
Captains ]. T. Stockdale, A. d. Reno, W. X.
Cowan, s. A. Mehaffey and William Rus.
sell.
Captain swaney suggested that the in
dorsement of the Councils Of Pittsburg and
and other river cities be also Sc
cured. As the feeling in favor of making |
a last desperate effort was very pronounced |
this suggestion was also heartily agreed TO,
and the meeting adjourned
H0nord and Blest.
When board OF eminent physicians and
chemists announced the discovery that
BY combining some well-known valuable
the most wonderful medicine
was produced, which would cure such
wide range of diseases that most all other
remedies could be dispensed with, many
we've skepticai; but proof of its merits by
actual trial has dispelled all doubt, and TO-