New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-04-29
TILE .OREGOND RERDICT

TIE TRIBUNE's cable dispatch of Sunday
stated tf at public opinion in London condemns
the conclusion of the official inquiry in the
Oregon wreck case as Inadequate 1t Is felt that
the complete excupati0n of the owners and
officers of the steamer was not warranted, and
this of course is what the judgment amounts
to, since the slight reproof administered To the
first officer carries with it no penalty. 80 much
confidence has been repOsed in the Board OF
Trade in matters of this kind, and it has rs a
rule performed its duties 50 impartlaly and
judciously, that "a very clear case Is required
to set public opinion against it. In the recent
inquiry the Board was at much disadvantage
in elicitng evidence. All the testimony APP
parently was given by officers and members of
the crew, and the Board had no means of
checking it. But the public no doubt feel
that when passenger steamer is lost through
collision with sailing vessel, in calm and
clear weather, and near the land, a prind tdcie
Indictment lies against the management OF the
steamer and one which it requires very posi-
tive and strong evidence to meet
The question is whether such evidence was
presented on behalf of the management of the
Oregon. If it was, then the dispatch purport-
ing to give the substance of the testimony at
the examination must have omitted some i'm
portant points. SO far as can be ascertained at
present the statements made before the Board
of Tlade were merely repetitiOns of the state
ments made in this city ut the time of the
wreck Nothing ia the way of new light seems
TO have been thrown upon the vital question Of
the lookout Looking at the actual occurrence
it is not credible that such collision should
have taken place had the lookout been ade-
duate 1t may indeed be asserted that the
sailing vessel showed no lights. Unhapplly no
evidence on that point can ever be Obtained
But even granting that, it does not follow that
the Oregon's lookout WAS excusable for failing
To see the schooner in time to avoid collision.
All the nautical expert opinion outside OF the
Oregon people themselves is to the effect that
in such weather and light the sails of the
schooner must have been visible at distance
quite sufficient TO allow for changing the steam
eI's course. Nothing appears To have been
brought forward that could modify this view,
and therefore the exculp patton Of the Uregons
officers does not seem justified by the facts
The Board may nave been disposed to give
them the benefit of the doubt, but the doubt
here was too serious to warrant such course.
The management of the steamer after the col
lsion was also to be inquired into. The ques
ton whether her loss WAS unavoidable lad To
be answered. Now it is curious that since the
loss of the Oregon "A very similar collision, be-
tween steamer ana IL sailing vessel, has oc-
Cured in the Pacific Ocean, near San Francisco.
In this case the steamer, which was cut into as
deeply as the Oregon, was saved by the prompt
action of her captain III shifting cargo, and
listing his vessel that the hole WAS brought
above the watcr-line. The captain OF tho Ore
gon made no effort to list her, though it does
not appear that this was out of his power. In
effect he made no effort to adopt any of the ex-
pedients familiar TO seamen, not even trying to
pass sail round under the bottom, but only
seeking, vanly of course, 10 fill the leak with
mattresses. TO declare under these circum-
stances that everything possible was done to
keep the steamer ahoat, is very bold. The