Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-06-06
WHO Is AT FAULT?
DISPUTE BETWEEN A TUG-BoAT CAP
TAIN AND A SUBORDINATE.
Whether the Latter ehould Mess Fore or
Aft Submitted to the River
Committee.

The Committee on Improvement OF James
River held a meeting Ia the Council cham
Der yesterday evening.
A communication was read from Mr.. w.
Hampton Curtis stating that he was lately
an officer OF the rank OF wheelman on The
tug Henry Christian, and had resigned be.
cause the commander, Captain Thomas {.
Cunningham, did not recognize his position
and made him mess forward with the deck
hands instead OF aft with the captain and
engineer, "a he claimed his place entitled
him. His appeal to the committee was to
right the wrong done him.
UNDER WHOSE AUTuORrTYg
A question srose ns to whether the COM
mittee had the right TO net in the matter.
The point raised was that while the tug
belongs to the city the nen are paid by the
United Ststes Government.
Hon. JOnn A. Curtis was present as the
representative for his ION and asked that the
persons concerned be heard and then the
committee could decide asto their action.
This was finally agreed to.
TIE COMPLAINANT's SIDE.
Young Curtis was trst accorded the floor
and explained his side briefly.
lie was appointed to q POSITION on the tug
last September lie said. by Mr. {. l.. l..
Burgwyn, the engineer ia charge OF the
s-Riyer Improvement. but the appoint
ment was made on the recommendation OF
Captain Cunningham. Some time this year
he was promoted from deck-hand to wheel"
man, which gave him the title OF mate, and
entitled MIN to mess with the captain and
engineer instead Of with the deck hands.
bo ra,,f 4 n
Charles City county to be married he should
have left him (Curtis) IN command OF the
tug. instead OF putting another officer in
ch8rge
Mr.. Curtis further claimed that he had 10
act as watchman on Sundays. while there is a
man employed for this purpose. Under
these circumstances he resigned his position
rather than be Insubordlnate.
TIE FATHER TALKS.
Mr.. John A. Curtis claimed that his son
bad been very badly treated. Ia all marine
service wheelman is recognized as mate,
and as such Is next m authority 10 the cap
tam. on this point he quoted Captain Seth
Forster. Of the Chesapeake, who sustained
him. Mr.. Burgwyn had recognized meritO-
rious service on tue part Of his (Curtis's)
son. and had applied to Colonel W. p. Craig
hail, the United States officer in charge OF
the Improvement OF James river. and young
Curtis by that gentleman's order had been
put upon the pay-rOlis rs wheelmsn. He
claimed that the committee had the right 10
rectify the wrong done his son, as the tug
belonged to the city and the captain was
chosen By representatives Of the municipal
government.
THE CAPTAINS VIEW.
Captain Cunningham said be never treated
any one with more fairness than he had his
Young friend Curtis, who often messed aft
with himself. He did not regard him az a
mate, as he had never heard Of a wheeman on
atug being given that title. When he Cum
ninghanD was a whcelman on q tug be messed
with the deck-hands. he did not know
what position Mr. Curtis occupied on the
United states pay.rols. When he Cunning
ham, went away to get married he put In
charge OF the tug the officer recommended
by Mr. Burgwyn.
Captain Cunningham said that he hsd
been compelled 10 complain to Young Cur
tis's father several times about the son beng
irregular in coming on duty. lie seemed TO
come and 90 At will. He had never msde
young Curtis take the place OF Tatchman
except during ireshets, when all hands bad
this TO do. The young man had told hm
that he would never have raised any question
about treatment had he not been urged To do
so by bis father, as he was perfectly satisfied
himself.
40 POWER TO ACT.
After each SIDE had been fully heard the
committee bad few minutes secret session
and decided that they had no jurisdiction in
the premises.
CAN'T LEND THE TUGS.
The Warwick-Psrk Transportation Cons
pany asked the use Of the tugs Henry Chris
Iian and Craighll on the 4th Of July, the oc'
casion OF the annual state regatta at War
wick Park.
The committee authorized the Clerk to in
form the company that they had no authority
TO lend or hire the tugs.
Mud FROM WHARyES.
Mr.. Curtis called attention to the fact that
after freshets the mud from the wharVes is
cleaned off and thrown into the river.
The Chairman was authorized 10 have an
ordinance drawn. TO be submitted to the City
Council, prohibiting this disposition Of the
mud.