The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1883-03-17
Loss Of the Tacoma.

Loss of the Tacoma. /,
The official report of the loss Of the /
collier Tacoma was rendered at San Il
Francisco last Saturday. After review
ing at length the testimony adduced /
during the investigation it goes on TO
state that the evidence in relation to
the courses steered after leaving Cape
Flattery is very conflicting, and the IN
spectors are obliged to rely entirely up
on that of the first officers. The courses
given by ylKorts are highly improbable
under the circumstances, as he states
that the ship, on passing Flattery rocks, |
steered southwest, then south by east.
and he could not remember changing
the course at noon to southeast 10y east.
IT was his duty to know this, as he was
on deck most of the time taking courses,
which the watch officers declare was
steered in draught of fifteen miles in
twelve hours, which the captain admits
prevails from Care Flattery to sixty
miles south Of the Columbia river, and
the heave of the sea toward land would
place the ship very near to the point
where she struck, allowing for deyia-
ton of the compass which was also
known by him. He states in his evi-
dence that on run of fourteen miles
to Cape Flattery rock, he found the
Tacoma was three miles nearer shore
than she should have been on the
course steered, and this should have
warned him to give her course more
to seaward. The inspectors find that
land was plainly visible OH the afternoon
of the 29th, at an estimated distance OF
from ten to fifteen miles, and conclude
that if Captain Korts had consulted the
charts at the time he would have discov-
cred that the
VESSEL WAS OUT OF HER PROPER COURSE,
and nearer the land than she should have
been. Moreover, he lad all the surface
of the ocean lying outside wherein te
navigate, and there was no occasion 70,
and no advantage gained by being with
in forty miles of the coast, as the course
from Cape Flattery to San francisco il
direct for forty six or forty seven miles
and would takehim twenty five or thirt,
miles clear of Cape Mendocino befor.
there was any necessity Of changing
Relative to his leaving the ship the in
spectors say they consider he acted yer,
sunwisely and unseamanlike. It was {
grave error on his part as master, ane
he should not have been influenced b,
anybody. His plea that he had no Of
fcer who could be trusted to go ashore
is frail one, as he had officers of grea
experience and worthy of confidence
They believe that after he landed b,
did everything possible to save the live
Uf those on the wreck, and took ever
means to secure assistance. The re
port closes by saying that the inspector
can arrive at no ether conclusion thai
that Captain Korts navigated the T;
coma, after passing Cape Flattery, wit
negligence, and that he did not main
tain that degree Of dieipline necessar
on board Of steam vessels. There bein
no fault found with any of his officer,
nor any blame attached to them, the III
spectors hold the captain wholly respor
sible, on account of this gross negligenc
on his part, thereby causing the loss c
the steamer on the night of Januar
>29th, and order the suspension of hi
license as master and pilot of stear
vessels for two years.