New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-01-21
AID TO DISABLED VESSELS.

70 the Editor Of The Tribune.
SIR: | notice a telegraphic report from Lon
don to-day that Captain Geadr OF the steamer Celtic,
complains that the captain Of the steamer GeneTt re-
fused to take Tie former vessel in tow, although he did
offer 10 take OF her passengers Now, instead of being
censured the captain Of the Geler should receive the
thanks Of the travelling public that he did not Ieoparze
The lives OF his passengers in attempting TO tow the Celtic
into port Every knows the extra risk he would
have assumcd-and what forl Simply to save
few thousand dollars more or less for the
underwriters, with the certainty OF receiving notl-
ing for hs st5vices and risk, II after even two
weeks hard and hazardous work ho should fail to de-
liver the ship IN port and the further certainty OF having
any contract which he might make with me captain OF the
Celtic as condition precedent to his taking hold OF nun
sci aside by the NewYork Courts OF Admiralty KIT e1-
cee,led the bare cost Of doing the work
An this u becoming well understood that II Is cur
reuy reported that m0r than one line of steamers nave
to take Of the cngtrs and crew. but not 20 spend any
time any risk in attempting TO tow the vessel into
post Truly yours, 80, NoHsiANIINL'
NeT- lOrh, Jan. 10, 1854.
Managers of STEAMSHIP, lines admit that captains
have been instructed not to take in tow vessels in
distress ri sea hut to offer to take off passengers
and crew upon all occasions. The reason Of this Is
found az orr correspondent states in the risk
taken and the frequent failure of the courts TO grant
suitable compensation. While ii IS not difficult to
tow u vessel in smooth water, the hawsers eau
seldom stand The strain of boisterous weather aud
an angry sea, and attempts 10 PICK inc ulsaDie1
vessels up again are hazardous. The sum finally
maid to the owners of the steamship Atlas which
flowed the disabled Colon into port IN 1876. is
often cited as an example Of insufficient compensa-
ton and as reason for hesitatng TO afford similar
assistance The owners of the Atlas were advised
that $50, 900 OF $35. 900 would be fair remunera-
ton but they sued for $4,000 causiE the Pacific
Mail Company 10 deposit that amount of security.
Judge Choate concluded that $1,000 would be
sufficient About year after that the Atlas sighted
a Calcutta ship in distress off Cape Hatteras and
offered to take OIL the crew. The offer declined,
and the Atlas in turn, declined to take the ship in
tow. The ship was never heard of again, and the
underwriters lost $3.50 900 result of the practice
of breaking contracts made at sea between captains.
Since then the courts have been more liberal. A
few wears ago the steamship Crcassia picked up the
steamship Republic, Of the White Star Line, at sea
with broken shaft, and tOwed her for three days
before reaching port. BY mutual agreement the
Circassia received go 800 for the service. year
ago last spring the Republic picked up the steam
shin d. Steinman 700 miles at sea, with passengers
and freight, and lowed her Into port. The owners
offered the White Star Line 000O for the service,
which was considered insufficient, and the matter
is now in the courts. If owners and captains were
sure that fair compensation would he made for baz-
ardous service at there would be fewer Teiusas
! TO tow disabled yessels.-EGI