The Portland daily press., 1889-06-06
CAPT. PIKE NOT TO BLAME.
Decision In Regard to the Collision
OF the New Brunswick and Amy
Knight.
Full Account of the Accident and
Judgment Concerning 1t.

- SsAD uSh, supervising Inspector Oh TIE
second District, headquarters at New York,
on the recent collision between the steamer
new brunswick, of the International line,
and the schooner Amy Knight:
A collision having occurred ON the Goth
ult. between the steamer New Brunswick
and the schooner Amy Knight, whereby the
lives OF passengers and others had been en-
dangered, and reports having been clrcu-
lated that it was through negligence of the
steamers officers that the collision occurred,
we deem it our duty, under sec. 1850. U. S.
K. s., to officially investigate as to the cause
of the collision and conduct of the licensed
officers of the steamer in relation thereto,
and having taken the testimony of seven
witnesses under oath, we hereby respect
fully submit our report and decision in thu
case.
1t appears from the testimony taken that
the steamer New Brunswick, owned by the
International Steamship Company, left Port
land on the evening of March 25th, bound
for St. John, N. b., via Eastport, Me. The
usual course Of the steamer is outside, but
on account of strong breeze and rough sea
the master decided to go inside, and at about
1.30 o'clock on the evening of the 26th the
steamer was about two miles north of the
island of Monhegan, steering N. e. by E.
course. The weather at the time was clear
with strong breeze from the n. NE, and
rough chop sea. The pilot on watch, Simon
ii. Pike, the master, Robert Fl. Pike, also in
the pilot house at the time, and the bow
Waterman, or lookout, stationed on the for
xuor d 0f acta
same moment saw what appeared to them to
be vessel at distance of about one or one
and a half miles, and about two points on
the steamers starboard bow. No light could
be seen on the vessel when first made, but
shortly after, with the aid of glass, a green
light was seen. and when at the distance of
one-thlrd of a mile the vessel and green light
were plainly seen by the master, pilot and
lookout No red light being seen on the YES
sci, the pilot of the steamer supposed her TO
be going clear on their starb0ard side, but
the master, who was watching the vessel
with a glass, observing that she was ap-
preaching them rapidly and with but little
change in her bearing from that when first
seen, ordered the steamers helm hard star
board in order to give the green light in sight
on the vessel wider berth. The steamer.
owing to the strong head wind and sea. was
moving slowly, and consequently swung and
starboard helm. The vessel, according to
the testimony of the master and pilot of the
steamer, luffed as fast as the steamer gained
to the north, and although their engine was
Kept going full speed ahead. the schooner
struck them about amidships on the star
board side. The schooner struck nearly
head on, or at right angles with the steam.
erS course at the time, which as near as
could be ascertained was about N. by e,
One saloon state room, in which was lady
passenger and two small children, and the
nreman.'s room on the guard, were badly
stove, but fortunately without injury to
either of the occupants. The steamers
starboard wheel was badly damaged, but her
hull was not injured, the guard breaking the
force Of the blow; The schooner drifting
steamer was back to her, and the master
sent life boat, with the mate in charge. to
render assistance If needed. On reaching
the schooner they found the crew making
preparations to leave her in their own boat.
and the master reporting her as filling fast,
and not in a condition to be lowed, both
boats left her in company, and with much
difficulty reached and boarded the steamer.
both the schooner and steamers life boats
being stove and lost in boarding The
schooner schooner proved to be the Amy K light,
Rockport, Me-, for Boston. The testimony
OF Capt. Delano and his mate, who were the
only ones OF the Schooner's crew on deck
at the time, Is that about twenty minutes be-
fore the collision they. changed their course
then bore from them WSW., or one point on
their port bow, all her lights showing, and
that this bearing was not changed until thew
were close aboard of her, when she suddenly
hauled across their bow to the northward,
that just before striking her Capt Delano
gave the order to hard down the schooner's
helm. The mate testifes that before he
coulut get the helm to port, or change the
Scnooner'S course, they struck the steamer.
Inc testimony OF all the witnesses as to the
position and bearing of the steamer and
schooner from each other, relatively. when
at distance of half mile or more agree.
but while the master and pilotof the Steamer
are positive In their statements that the
schooner iuffed after they had changed their
course, the mate of the schooner, Charles
McInnIs, who was at the wheel, and the
master both as positively assert that her
course was not changed, and that she was
heading w. by S. when she struck tie
steamer.
Capt. Delano's order to hard anort tba
schooner's helm, with steamer crossing his
bow to starboard, and, as shown by his own
ana mates testimony, so near at the time
that collision was imminent, shows inabil-
lty or gross carelessness in the navigation of
the schooner, for had this order been given
half a moment sooner, and obeyed. il wonld
IN all probability have resulted in the loss of
both vessels, with lives. 1t is in evidence
that the vessel was seen by the pilot. master
and also the lookout of the steamer, who re-
ported her when about a mile off. and that
no lights could be seen on her at that dis
lance, ana that when she was one-third or
one,half mile away, only dim green light
could be seen: also that at no time, although
the schooner's port bow was towards them.
was any red light seen by either of them. 1t
may nave been an error in judgment on the
part OF the pilot of the steamer
under the circumstances, to have
allowed the schooner to approach
SO near before changing his course, but in
our own opinion, negligence, sufficient to war
rant tne suspension or revocation of his Ii
cense, was not shown and in our judgement
tne master OF the steamer, with the schoon-
bow. and the night too dark for him Ia be n
any other way guided as to the schooner's
course, was fully justified in putting the
steamers helm to starboard. The fact of
tnelr vessel being seen so far away without
llgnts SHOWS good watch was kept on the
steamer, and the cause of the collision. in
our Judgement, was wholly owing to the
schooner failure to show the proper run
ming lights required by law. The schooner
was boarded on the afternoon of the same
Gay ana taken into port No blame can be
attacned TO the officers of the steamer for
leaving her, as Capt. Delano reported her
sinking and not in a condition to be towed
In, and the steamers wheel being badly
1t was his duty to gain smooth
water as soon as possible and ascertain the
condition of the steamer The damage to
the schooner was estimated at 5000 and the
steamer at about 500.
Very Respectfully,
GEO. A. PoLLIsTER,
JAMES A. MERRITT
II T..