Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-10-16
COLOR BLINDNESS.
The Exlen to Which 1t Prevailt in
the Navy Yard.
Washington Star.

the Navy Yard.
Washington Star
us there any probability that the
loss of the Tallapoosa will be traced
to color blindness on the part Of the
officers?' asked a Star reporter of a
well-known naval officer the other
day.
4 don't think there is the slightest, y
was the reply
why was the court of inquiry in
structed to include that subject IN
their investigation of the accldent?"
querled the reporter.
Well, on general principles, I
suppose. You see q great deal of at
tentlon is being given to color blind
ness nowadays, and as suspicious were
aroused IN the minds of some that it
might have been an important factor
III the late accident, it was thought
advisable to look into the trouble to
allow nothing to pass which might
afterward appear to have been I'M
portant."
But you thiak when the matter is
investigated twill be found that color
blindness had nothing to do with the
collision
Yes, | am pretty sure of it. The
collision was caused by bad manage
ment, as near as [ can Judge from
the statements of the officers of both
vessels, and / must say it was on the
part OF the schooner. AL tle men on
the schooner agree that the red light
o. the Iallapoosa was the first seen
and then the green light. Now, that
saows that the Taiapoosa was chang
Tag hor course and goiag to the star
board of the schooner. The latter had
the right of way, and is she had kept
her cruise there would have been no
collision, as the Tallapoosa would
have passed on her starboard. Instead
Of that, however, the schooner must
have luffed and brought her head ap
to the wind, and then she struck the
Tallapoosa Everybody on both yes
sells agrees TO all OF the above except
as to the luffing The captain Of the
schooner says that the helm wasn't
touched. But he must be mista ken,
for If the helm hadn't been put down
she wouldn't have luffed, and if she
hadn't luffed there have been I'D col
llslon. But whatever is the verdict of
the court, | am pretty sure there will
be no no color blindness 10 it,
During your long and continued
active service in the navy did you
ever know color blindness causing an
accidentp
mo, [ didn't" was TIE reply.
"There are men in the service thoug!-
who are color blind, and an accident
is liable to happen on account of it,
but there are not nearly SO many
casualties which can be attributed to
that cause as is generally supposed.
A man, although color blind, may
sometimes be able 10 distinguish red
from a green light. [ cannot explain
1T, but there is some mechanical facul-
ty which enables him to do it. I
know of one such instance
A passenger conductor on one
of the railroads, after twenty
i've years service, was removed from
that position for color blindness and
placed at clerical work. He felt very
sore about 1t, and maintained that it
WAS unjust, as he was not color blind
As favor he was examined at the
navy department, and showed one of
the worst cases of color blindness [
ever saw, and yet, do you know that
that man could distinguish red from
a green light on railroad train every
time? There is no doubt about it,
however. No man ought to be allow
ed IN the navy as an officer who is
afflicted with color blindness, and
further than that, a near sighted Off
Ger who nas to wear glasses ought not
to be allowed A watch officer with
glasses on rainy night is at great
disadvantage. The water is bound to
get IN on bis glasses and obstruct his
sight, and, too, if he should drop them
IN toe dark where would he be? 1t is
a mistake to suppose though, as many
do, that precautions are not made to
prevent the admission into the service
of color blind cadets" continued the
officer, You know that several
youngsters had 10 send IN their res
ignation last year because of color
blindness. They are a great deal
stricter now in that respect then they
used to be-
I see It stated said the reporter.
that the Oneida was lost in the
Chinese seas some twenty years ago
on account of the color blindness of
the commanding officer, who is still
IN the service. !"
That's a mistake. The officer re-
ferred to has been out of the navy for
over a year. and the loss of the Oneida
was not due To color blindness, but to
mismanagement at the helm