The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1884-06-01
Proceedings " the Jury OF INQUEST

vestigate the collision between the
steamers Anita nd Princess convened
according to adj os1rnment at , p. m. of
the 31st Messrs. ". P. Megill, Stephen
A. Brau0. A. L. Ro zero and Thomas A.
Simmonds We're exa mined. All the Jury
were present, with Be nj, Harrison. Couny
Judge, ex. off. Coror.er, and VIM. II,
Wigg, Esq, for the STATE.
We give q summary Of the testimony:
Captain VIM. 2. MegilI testified that
he had been master and pilot on the st.
Johns for several years; had passed the
locality of the occurrence almost daily
for turee years; was a passenger on board
the Anita on the evening Of May 9th.
and was seated near the pilot-house in
conversation with Captain Bravo. After
coming into the long stretch Of river at
Buffalo Bluff, he saw the Princess at the
farther end just coming out of the islands:
could only see the red light. The Prin-
cess gave one whistle when about one
third of a mile from the Anita; she Ami
ia answered this by giving one whistle.
These whistles would indicate that the
Princess wished to run between the Ami
Ia and the east shore, and that the Anita
would allow her to do so. Capt. Bravo
then ordered the pilot to give herplentv
Of room" and the Anita turned about
two points to the west. At this tue
the Anita was two hundred and fifty
yards from the eastern shore, The two
boats were so situated that from the
Anita only the red light of the Princess
four whistles for McGraw's wharf, and
Immediately the Princess changed her
course so that her green light was visi-
bic. Witness then called to Capt Bravo,
My God, she IS crossing your bow"
The Princess was then very near. Capt
Bravo ordered the pilot ito back, which
was Immediately done, and the Anita
sheered off a little to the east. Witness
ran to starboard side, and saw the col
lisiOn. The Princess was struck Just aft of
midships. Witness ran to the whell-hOuse
and heard some one scream. He called to
the Captain to stop his engines, some one
was in the wheel. This was Immediately
done, and witness helped Captain Bravo
get down the lifeboat, which was imme-
| diately sent out in charge Of First Off
Ger Wade. The witness Thought the
Rule and Regulations, from one to three
inclusive, for the Government of Pilots,
applicable in this case" He was of Opin-
ion that the Princess should have sig
nailed the Anita and waited for reply
before attempting to cross her course.
| The Anita was never nearer the east
shore thantwo hundred and fifty yards,
and the collision occurred about five hun
dred yards from the east shore because
the Anita had run out
Stephen A. Bravo is Master of the
Anita. His testimony was the same in
substance as that Of Captain Magill, ex-
cept that he entered more fully into an
explanation Of his rules and regulations.
He thought that no point or wooded
shore was near enough to make Rule Y
| applicable in this case. The Anita was
five hundred yards from the east shore
at the time Of the collision, and was new
er nearer than two hundred yards. It
was not usual for steamers to whistle on
| rounding the point near Harris wharf,
because the channel was on the opposite
side of the river, and the point was not
suddenly turned in any case. The
! whistles had been blown at another point
less than half a mile distant. Thought
the Princess should in no case have
crossed his bow without giving warning
and waiting for reply when so near.
Thomas Simmonds. the pilot OF the
Anita, and Nh A. L. Rogero, express
messenger, differed in no material points
from the statements of the first two wit
nesses. Mr.. Bogero testified that the of
ficers seemed perfectly cool and col
! lected.
The jury ordered other witnesses sum
moned, and adjourned to , p. m. of
! limo Cd