The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-09-03
HIS LICENSE TAKEN AWAY.
CAPTAIN BOHANNON, OF THE VlR-
GINA, IN TROUBLE.
Result OF the Collision Between his
steamer and the Louise-Hearing he
fore Supervising Inspector W. y. CAST
and the Decision Rendered by Him.

fore Supervising Inspector W. y. CAST
and the DecIsIan Rendered by Him.
Captain BohannOn, Of the Bay Line
steamer Virginia, who IA well known IN
RIchmnnd, is in trouble. Day before yes
,erday decision was rendered against
him in Baltimore, by Superyising-Inspector
John ". CAST, Of the Third district, by
which his license is revoked. The decision
says:
"After a careful review and examination
of all the testimony in the case submitted
with the decision of the local steamboat ID.
apectors of Baltimore as 20 the collision be-
,woen ,ae steamers Louise and Virginia,
which occurred on July 2Sth last. IN the IA
tapsco river near Fort Carroll, am OF the
opinion that the pilots Of both steamers
were in fault.
"The pilot IF the Louise gave two whistles
10 bass 10 the left Of the Virginia in viola
| ton of rule The first Tor government oil pilots
| which reads thus When steamers are ap-
nroaching each other head and head or
/ nearly so. il shall be the duty of each steam
or TO pass to the right or port SIDE OF the
other. and the pilot of either steamer may
be first in determining 10 pursue TINS course
and therefore shall give rs signal OF MS
intentions one short and distinct blast of
his steam whistle, which the pilot OF the
other steamer shall answer promptly by
n similar blast Of his steam whistle, and
| theruupn such steamers shall pass TO the
| RIGHT or port side of each other: but II the
| course Of such steamers is so FAR on NE
| starboarl of each other as not TO he consid-
cred hy pilots az meeting head and head or
nearly so, the pilot so first deciding shali
Immediately give two sharp and distinct
blasts of his steam whistle, which the pllol
Of the other steamer shall answer promptly
| nv two similar blasts of his steam whistle,
and they shall pass 10 the left or on the star
board side Of each other.
ROOM FOR TIE LOUISE.
.The evidence clearly discloscs the TACT
hat there was ample room for the Louise 10
| baVd nassed 10 the right if she had signiiied
| her intention 10y signal to do so, thereby
complying with the rule for the government
| of steamers i'm the fifth situation, and have
| avoided collision with the Virginia. 1t Is
| also clear that the pilot Of the Louise. after
| Having given the signal to pass TO the lell
or starboard eide. and that signal being an
sweTed by the Virginia. as claimed by NM
and the steamers having approached 10
within a half mile of each other, ana IL Delhg
evident that "A collision was me- ltaDle il
| he continued. he should have Immediately
slowed his steamer or stopped aud backed,
as was his duty under rule 3. when i as
| follows
| "if when steamers are approaching
each other. the pilot of either vessel falls To
| understand the cause or intention OF the
other whether from signals being given on
answered errOncOusly, or from other causes
the pilot so in doubt shall Immediately sig
nifty the same by giving several snort ana
RAPID blasts Of the steam whistle, ana II the
vessels snail have approached Wlthln nan
mile of each other both shall Instantly De
slowed to a speed barely sufficient Tor steer
ace wav until the proper signals are gwen
answered. and understood, or until the yes
sells shall have passed each other. Then
a collision would have been avoided. or So
! light that no material damage would nave
| been sustained.
PILOT At FAULT.
"In regard TO the action Of the pilot Of the
virginia. am Of the opinion that he was
i'm fault 20 this eXtent-that when he saw
the Louise approaching one and-a-hail
miles away. as testified To by him, he heard
the signal Of two whistles, which he dld
not recognize as being blown 10 him, and
| his steamer running al the rate OF
about fourteen miles per hour. that
be did not signal the approaching
steamer. thereby violating rule hrst.
which says: And the pilot Of either
steamer may be the first IN determining 10
pursue this course Ii l. also clear lhal
| the pilot of the Virginia Is at fault further,
that he allowed his steamer 10 get So close
10 the approaching steamer that he had TO
sion and back her engines from speed OF
about fourteen miles per hour, as tcstlned
| 10 by him. but too late 10 avoid the collision,
| thereby violating rule 3, which says: And
if vessels shall have approached WITHIN "a
| half mile of each other both shall bc lmme-
diateiv slowed 10 a speed barely sufficient
! for Storage way until the proper signals
are given, answered and understood, or
until the vessels shall have passed each
other. The action Of b0tn shows either a
carelessness or neglect in complying with
rules for safe navigation that Is unpardona-
| bic. or misiudgment that Is ineXcusable.
| The testimony produced shows cOnclusiNelN
| that there was ample room for steamers OF
| their draught OF water 10 have passed
within a safe distance on either side OF the
| schooner whose position is claimed by both
sides 10 be the cause of the collision Con-
seCuentlv. had either pilot carried out the
| letter or intent of rules one and three there
would have been no collision.
BOTH TO BLAME.
Both undoubtedly are to blame, accord
ing 10 rule alluded 10, and under authority
of section lij2. which says, when there
shall be a disagreement between local in
spectors the supervising inspector when 80
required. shall investigate and decide the
case and Of section 400, which say,
that if the board shall be satisfied
that such licensed officer is mcOmpe-
| tent, or has been guilty of misbehaYlOr,
A.. Ia.
endangered life or Tilfully violated any
provisions of this title, they shall immedi-
atcly suspend or revoke his license 1t Is
evident that not only was life endangered,
but that actual loss of life occurred, which,
i'm my opinion. calls for severe penalty. J
therefore revoke the licenses Of Thomas
Rhuark. pilot of the steamer Louise, and W q.
j. Bohann0n, master and pilot Of the
steamer Virginia, from this date
Captain Bohannon and Pilot i'huark have
a still further right Of appeal 10 supervising
lnspectOr-General DumOnt at Washington.
should either or both desire the case to 20 10
him. the testimony as taken will be sent up
and reviewed 10y General DumOut. who Will
base his decision upon It, From this decis-
ion there il no appeal.
special from Norfolk last night says:
CAPTAIN j. j. BOhannOn, Of the Bay Line
steamer Virginia. who with Captain ThOs.
RhcnOrk, OF the excursion steamer Louise.
had his license revoked 10y supervising in
spect0r Of steamboats,, j. W. cast yester.
dav. on account Of their management OF the
steamers. when they were in collision of Fort
Carroll, July 18th, arrived in Norfolk this
morning. Captain l}OhannOn thinks he has
been unfairly treated, and will take an ap-
peal to General Dum0nt, supervising inspec-
t0r-general, as soon a. is receives Official
information from the Inspectors. Public
sympathy seems to be with Captain Bohan-
non, and in Norfolk the verdict Is being
very harshly criticised. Captain BOhannOn
has been with the Bay Line for twenty
years. and this is the first accident he has
ever had.
IN HYMEN'S BONDS.
Morning Marriage SolemniIsd at (ente-