Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-08-12
AN IMPORTANT POINT
As to the Rights Of steam ana saflana
vesaela.

The ofiice of the local inspectors OF stearp-
boats Is In Baltimore. but the inspectors
keep a sharp lookout on the Potomss
steamers as well as those nearer home
Some time ago, II will be remembered, thsr
suspended two Potomac captains for rae
Ing their boats. Now they have sharpened
a stick for the captain OF the Macalestef.
who. they claim. has also violated the
regulations governing river trafnc They
have written a letter to him calling his as
tention to the matter and to the particular
rule which they think he has trodden On.
Inspector General Dumont said to q Ste
reporter this morning that it was necessary
to warn river pilots every once In q whils
and as this matter was one OF general I'm
portance he thought the letter should bs
given the fullest publicity.
BALTIMORE. No1. August Ii. ,sss.
Capt. Ross, Steamer Charles Macalesters
Washington. ID. c.
Sir-The attention of this Office has been
called TO a purported Interview with your
Star of the 18th uitimo. in which you ar.
reported as saying, whilst discoursing oa
the rights OF steam and sail vessels. that
you had trouble with two sail boats on
Motley Hall few days previous, that
They We're both on the same tack" ana
that you blew for the nearest one to Sc
them. The signal was misunderstood.and
;Sstv noth boats ~ went about This ser
,4asy compncsted matters. and the
she ran within a few yards of the offenGins
saller ana churned him up in great shape
This action OF yourself In regard to pass
scribed. is SO contrary to the laws gov
advisable to call your attention TO the laws
on the subject for your future guidance
which are quoted as follows and are en-.
the navy and mercantile marine of the
Sniteo states NAVIGATING the harbors,
lakes and inland waters OF the United
Treasury. circular No. Il. of March /
lss9." See copy inclosed. rule 20 q
which. entitled Steam and san vessels
which is a sail vessel and the other .
steam vessel. are proceeding In such di-
reetons & as to .% inyolye risk Of collision. the
the sail vessel" Rule q requires that
Every steam vessel when Approaching
sion shall siacken her speed. or, II neces-
sary. stop and reverse, and every steam
vessel shall, when in fog. go at mod
Steam vessels are always under control
and when steering on a track crossing the
course OF a sail vessel 30 near as 10 In
steamer to either alter her course 10 go
under the stern OF the sail vessel or slacken
the steamers speed or stop and reverse.
There is no law authorizing q pilot OF .
steam vessel 10 dictate by steam whistle
signal how a sail vessel shall be maneuv-
cred.
on the contrary. rule twenty. heretofors
quoted, gives the sail vessel the right to
keep her course" while the steamer shall
keep out of the way" This requirement
IL emphasized in rule twenty-three. 10 which
your attention is called in the enclosed cir
cular. page Z. In the case described by YOU
in the Star interview. had q collision oc-
CURED with the sail vessel. which was ex-
tremely imminent from your own descrip-
ton of the affair. the whole responsibility
thereof would have been yourp 'or vioiat-
ing the laws herein set forth. laws which
your long experience a pilot should have
made you familiar with.
Very respectfully.
(Siened) JOHN II. COOPER,
.. EDWIN r. WHITE,
Local inspectors OF steam vessels.
The rule referred TO is az follows:
Right of way.
Rule twenty-three Where, by rules
seventeen, nineteen. twenty and TWENTY-FIVE,
one of the vessels shall keep out Of the way,
the other shall keep her course. subject to
the qualifications of rule twenty-four.