, 1883-02-22
The Loss of The Tacoma
PoRT DISCOVERY, Feb. II, 1883.


EDITOR ARGUs:-In your last week is
sue, in the article on the loss of the Ia
coma, You mention the magnetic attraC-
ton as perhaps causing the loss OF the
vessel; this ought not to have been the
case. The correspondent Of the Post. IN
teHigencer, in his report to that paper.
says that Captain korts had no theory
for the cause OF the disaster, except the
arrangement of the compass (Which he
ought to have known. ], like Captain
korts, have also no theory, but am GER
tain that | kHOW the cause of the vessels
loss, as well as if had been on board of
her from the time she left Philadelphia
until she stranded. This may seem
strong assertion to make, therefore wish
your readers to know that | have been
through the mill, and know whereof l
write. 1t is over twenty years ago since
passed my examination before the eX-
aminers of the British Board of Trade.
and was granted masters certificate of
competency; have also sailed as mate
and master of iron ships, mostly employed
in deep water voyages, and on both sides
Of the equator, and assert with the ut
most confidence that had | been master
of the Tacoma on her last unfortunate
voyage she would be atioat today. To
return to the subject Of local attraction
or deviation to which the compasses of
all iron ships are more or less subject l
would say the deviation, like the variation
as laid down on the charts, is constantly
changing, the latter 50 slowly that there
is very little care required to keep a
wooden vessel out OF danger, but in an
iron vessel this is very different. Sup
pose an iron vessel is moored close up to
buoy, and swung so that her head
would point successfully to each point OF
her compass, there would be found
difference in the deviation on almost each
point, although the vessels stern had not
moved yard during the operation OF
swinging her. Thus an iron vessels COM
pass may have little or no deviation at
north; alter her course a couple or three
points, and you may be sure that the dev.
iation is changed, perhaps considerably,
These deviations cause all careful and
skillful navigators to take observations
and make their calculations whenever
they have chance, in order to be sure
OF the course steered. Also suppose one
course, say south, is steered for couple
of hundred miles or less, il observations
are taken te learn the deviation it will be
| generally found the deviation has either
increased or decreased, thus having
thrown the vessel out Of the course sup.
posed t6 have been steered.
I could write much more on this sub
ject but ! fear have already occupied
too much of your valuable space.
There was one item | was ashamed to
see in the published account of the loss
Of the Tacoma
"The Captain was the first man to
leave the ship" Inever beard, read or
experienced such an act. 1t is point
OF honor among all true seamen, Cap tain
who can navigate all kinds of vessel
wood or iron, creator small to be this
LAST man on board to leave his vessel
when she is in distress, but you will find
few of this kind of seaman wearing kid
gloves or wearing the brass bound livery
OF any corporation or company.
think that the best men to employ in
the court OF inquiry would be masters Of
iron vessels who make deepwater voyages
and from their own daily observations
and experience never have to hunt for a
theory il they find themselves closer to
the land than they ought to be.
Yours Respectfully,
MASTER MARINER.