Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-03-03
WORK FOR THE INSPECTORS.
Investigations to Begin To-day In the
Savannah and Cumberland River Col
Iszsn

Investigations to Begin To-day In the
Savannah and Cumberland River Col
IIsions.
The steamers Katie and Ethel, running
between Savannah and Augusta, collided
near Haga Slagar Sunday while coming
down the river, brief account concern
ing which appeared in yesterdays NEWS.
TIE wheel Of the Ethel was so badly
broken that 1t had to be repaired before
the boat could proceed on her way. Capt.
Gibson has pefsrred charges against the
oiIot OF the Katie before Inspectors Jones
and Headman for running into his boat,
and the case Will he investigated this
morning. Capt. Gibson states that he
left the landing at Haga Slagar ahead of
the Katie, and had gone about miles
down the river, when the latter came
along and, without whistling TO give the
signal that they wanted to pass, the pilot
of the Katie ran his boat straight into the
wheel of the Ethel.
The officers of the Katie say that While
il is true that their boat did not whistle,
there was no necessity for their doing SO,
As there was plenty Of room for them TO
pass the Ethel without their whistling
Tor the river, but they say the latter boat
threw her stern around to prevent them
from passing her and the collision Oc-
CURED before they could prevent Ii. 1t
was while the Ethel was repairing her
wheel that Assistant Engineer Myers
vas injured by the wheel suddenly re-
yolving, and the accident did not occur
Con the Katie as heretofore stated. Myers
vas in an uneasy condition last night,
and his case was considered critical.
inspectors Jones and Headman will
also commence an Investigation to-day of
the collision between the Morgan and
Collier in the Cumberland river last
week, and which was fully reported in the
NEWS at the time it occurred.
The stories concerning the collision are
conflicting. The Brunswick Advertiser
md Appeal in an account of the disaster
gives an opposite story, evidently obtained
from some of the COllver's officers. to that
given in the NEWS. The COllyer, it SAYS,
reached High Point in the Cumberland
on her way from Fernandina to Bruins
wick in a dense fog, and her Captain,
| deeming 1t hazardous to attempt to cross
st. Andrews sound before the fog lifted,
turned out of the course and anchored.
/ The fires in the furnace were allowed to
! 90 down, and everything made ready to
| spend the night. About this time the
| Mary Morgan appeared around the High
/ Point, and soon after turned abruptly
/ from her course and ran directly across
! the COllyer's bow. She then, apparently
| without cause or reason, attempted to
/ turn, and by the tide was forced upon the
! Hollyer, her iron PROV striking the Coll
! yer and crushing her bow to the water line
/ Capt. Club went at once to the forward
! hatch, and examination proved that.
! though badly crushed below the water
/ line, the water was not flowing in. He
| instantly looked for his passengers t.
calm their fears, but found that they, as
/ also several of his crew, had taken refuge
! on the Morgan, which, after the collision
mad swung alongside. The mate, engi
neer, fireman and few deck hands alone
I remained. Capt. Club Immediately or
I dered the fires renewed, slipped his cable
and proceeded to beach his boat. This
! being done, he made such repairs as were
| possible, shifted his freights to the stern
to raise her bow from the water, and or
| Thursday morning came on to Brunswick
We visited her to ascertain the amount o.
damage, and found that the Morgan
I struck her about three feet from her bow
on the port side, completely carrying away
that section of the boat. The damage il
| estimated to be about $3.50.
1t is simpl va matter of conjecture, tx
I Advertisers informant says, as to the
/ aim of the Morgan in turning from hel
course and running toward the COllyer
/ the only plausible reason being that she
wished also to anchor. Whatever hel
purpose, it was certainly gross careless
ness on the part of her officers to ALLOW
the collision, and suit will be brought
: fpr damaUpG