New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-01-20
ATTRIBUTED TO CARELEssNEss.

THE OPINIONS OF NETWORK STEAMSHIP MEN RE-
GARDING THE ACCIDENT.
Among persons connected with steamship lines in
this city, who are acquainted with Vineyard
sound the accident TO the City of Columbus is
generally attributed to careessness. They are.
however very careful in their statements, and eX-
press hope that full detais will show mitlgat-
ing circumstances. One old pilot said blunt
ly: "If Captain Wright had staid ont of his
cabin fifteen minutes longer, he might
have gone to bed and slept for n week. He shuold
have been certain he was clear of the Middle
Ground and Gay Head before be turned in. My
namo7 III give it to no newspaper. may be in
the same fix as Captain Wright tomorrow and he
feels worse about this accident than any man alive,
III guarantee"
CONJECTUREs As TO TIE VESSELS COURSE.
II. f. Dimock, agent of the Metropolitan Steam
ship Line, Pier No. II North River said: 1--WE
have three steamers a week running through the
Sound to Boston. don't understand how this ac-
cident could have occurred. 1t is mexplicabe from
the information now at hand. The vessels machln-
cry is not reported to have been
out of order. The boat was all
right. Devils Bridge is very bad place, but its
nature is known to every one. don't want to ex-
press any opinion on the accident until all the facts
are known. 1t was "A clear, moonlight night The
and then man would go slow. ! hope that cir
cumstances will show that there was an accident Of
which we are not yet apprised.'
Captain A. b Coleman of the steamer Nereus of
the Metropolitan Line, brought out the ship'c
chart and showed the various points to the re-
porter as he said: Captain Wright says he was
going west-southwcst when he went into his room
about opposite Nobska Light. If the ship continued
that course he should have been three miles away
to the north of Gay Head at the time when she
finally struck. He must have sagged there. else
steered there. His statement is clear that the
sci was set in due course west-southwest, so the
only theory is that she sagged. If there
had been q lookout, it is impossible
to understand how she was allowed
to get down there On Gay Head there is
bic revolving hight, three white and one red fash
lookout could see that light twenty miles away.
From NObska. where the captain turned IN, ii Is
clearly seeh ali the way down the Sound. There
five or six lights in this range, and on clear
night there is no chance to 90 wrong. In foggy
weather there are steam whistles. The captain
saws ~ hen be came ont he saw the buoy on Devils
Bridge 800 yards away. He was to eastward, or he
might have cleared even then. Vineyard Sound,
coming this way, is like funnel. The further you
come the more sea room there Is On the
north shore, along the islands, the
"a
In clear weather, steamers for New-York lay very
close there-only two or three lengths away some
times. All along the lower side are shoal spots. On
what is known as Middle Ground we took off
steamer only last summer. The Whitney of our
line went aground there in the fog The wind and
tide both sent the City of Columbus to leeward out
of her course. But with clear moonlight, and the
lights all visible, that is reason why she should
have gone over on 70 the Bridge. If there was
any doubt Of her location. there are good
soundings for the lead. High water the morn
ing of the accident about halfpast
three aud the tide was two to five knots. The wind
was from the westward at two to four knots. Wind
and tide were both combined tOdrive the boat over.
But a man awake could easily see that tendency.
Of course can't express an opinion as TO how the
accident happened The reports are too meagre as
yet. | don't understand how the mates and the
captain were all up at once, the reports say
the case Just before the captain went in. The life
raft has probably been carried by the lido into
Menemsha B ght, which is full of ice The people on
it are doubtless dead-fIozen to death The water
would wash over the raft and in such weather no
one could live
Pier No. 3, East River, has just succeeded
John +. Ames and could not say much about the
route: The ship got ont of her course too far over
to Gay Head Il a terrible accident and heavy
responsibility To place the blame. As 10 how 1t
happened cannot express an opinion"
DANGERS OF TIE SOUND.
Captain Albert Bragg of the Nano Line, was
found in the cabin of the Eeanora, preparing to
cast off for trip to Portland which viii
take him over the Vineyard Sound course.
He passes and repasscs there continually.
He kindly delayed his departure long enough to
give tins Information: We all 1--we IN glass houses,
and | do not want to say one word that Will bear
hardly on any one connected With the city of
Columbus. Here is the chart. Coming from Bos-
have what are called regular courses. 50 many min
utes in this direction, 50 many in that. The main