The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-09-23
THE TALLAPOOSA INVESTI.
CATION.
Fatal Error of Captain Reed of the James
y, lowell

EataA EfrOr Oh CapsaAM ASeed OF the James
.. lowell.
WASHINGTON, Sept 22.-The findings of the
Tallapoosa court OF erqmry were as follows
On sighting the lights of the schooner, the
steamers helm was put TO the starboard, and the
steamer steadied when she had fallen off about
three-quarters of point. Constant watch was
kept upon the schooner's lights and suddenly the
green light disappeared aud only the red could be
seen. The steamers helm was then put hard-a-
starboard her whistle blown twice and then
sounded repeatedly, but her speed was retained
she was struck by the schooner about forty feet
from the bow on the starboatd side, at an angle of
from 80 to 70 degrees, with the line of the keel
from the DOW. The schooner on sighting the
lights of the steamer one-half point on the port
pow, as seen from leeward under the sails, kept
her course until the green light of the steamer was
seen, then put her helm To port and struck the
steamer as described,
The evidence that the red light of The steamer
was seen by the schoon5r's people soon after
her n asthead light, was disregarded by the court
as the relative positions of the two vessels as es-
taDlshed by each OF them would render it imposs-
Die for the red light of the steamer to be at any
time visible from the schooner. The steamer did
all that she was able to do in her position to avoid
collision and complied with the law in every and
all respects as she in the direct course of the
schooner when she first sighted her, and that the
schooner when she saw the green light of the
steamer. instead of holding her course, did by
putting her helm to port and altering her couse
violate section 4233 revised statutes (rue % and
24), for preventing collisions. The court is of the
opinion, therefore, thai the blame for the collision
rests with the schooner.
The Navy Department approves the above
findings, not relyisg alone Oh the testimony of
the officers and crew OF the Tallapoosa that
they saw the schooner change her couse and
that her sails were ectua!ly shaking when she
struck, and that therefore sae caused the COL
lislon, but places its approval upon the admis-
sions 10 the testimony OF the witnesses on the
schooner. Master Rsed of the Lowell testified
that bafore the Vesseld came together hs, or
dered tue helm hard down. Being asked whv
he gave this Order he answered til at it was be-
cause the steamer had shown her green lights
from hich fact he inferred that sac had star
bosrded her helm. Being asked why he did
not, therefore, ii he took the responsibility of
changing her course, put his helm hard up in
stead OF lufiag directly into the steamer, he
gave no reason xcept that his impression was
that hard-ap or haFd-to starboard would
cause the schooner to strike the steamer amid
ships instead of forGarh near the bow, when
both vessels would go down. The boy at the
wheel, 20 years of age. also testified that the
captain gave him the rder toput the helm hard
down, and that he gave her couple of spokes
From this testimony OF the schooner's wit
Desses, the department decides that: III the
schooner had kept her course, as she was
bound to do, there would have been no collis-
ion, and that the change of course on her part
and the giving of the directly wrong order BY
her captain vas the sole cause of the collision.
The claim made at the trial that, although the
order was given to put the helm hard-down,
this was not done before the collision, is treat
ed by the department as an afterthought, and
is disregarded.