The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-05-15
LOSS OF THE Los ANGELES
Result of the Inspectors
Investigation.
The Disaster Due to Careless
Navigation.
Capt. H. d. Leland and Third Officer
Censured.
Licenses OF Both Revoked for Neglect OF
Duty and Violation OF the
Steamboat Laws-Pacifa
Const News.

BY the Associated Press.
SAN Francisco, May 14-As q result
OF the investigation into the loss OF the
steamer Los Angeles, the inspectors, E..
I. Talbot and W. A. Phillips, have re-
voked the licenses Of Captain Leland
and Third Oficer Ryikoggel.
The inspectors in their report find
that the steamer Los Angeles was
wrecked ON a reef about one mile from
Point Sur and became q total loss, an d
that four passengers and one of the crew
lost their lives in the disaster.
The Los Angeles, they state, left San
Simeon at 2:30 p. M, April 21st, and
passed Piedras Blancss just outside the
buoy in that vicinity. The weather was
clear, the sea smooth and there was a
light wind. The report continues:
Captain Leland then shaped his
course NV. d N. to clear Point Sur,
and gave the course to the third officer,
who was in charge of the watch. Al
lowing fer the deviation of the comp ass,
which Captain Leland testities was
three-fouths of point westerly, the
course steered by coE,pass was N. W. q
w. Captain Leland retired to his room
to rest, leaving orders to the third officer
to call him whom Cooper's peint was
passed.
"At 500 pm, without informing
Captain Leland, the third officer hauled
the steamer out one-quarter point, and
it was on this course that the vessel was
running when she went on the rocks.
This procedure on the part of the third
officer, by his own testimony, was taken
to Offset any leeway to make his course
good on account of breeze which
sprung up from the southwest at s
O'Clock and which was freahening and
also because of his seeing that the Point
Sur light did not change as much 40 he
thought it should.
ut appears that the Los Angeles left
Cooper's point several miles astern
without Captain Leland being called
that the third officer, R. f. Ryfkogel.
did not know the locality OF said point.
but believed ne was nearly abreast OF II
just prior to the vessel striking, and he
was accordingly then preparing to re-
port the fact to the captain at the time
the steamer struck the rocks.
"The course laid down by Captain
Leland to clear Point Sur, if made good,
would not clear Cooper's point. Before
intrusting his steamer. navigating along
the coast as he was, to the third officer,
Captain Leland should have ascertained
If that officer was qualified to be lett in
charge of the deck, and if not 30 quail
fed to have given him the necessary in
etructions.
"When Mr.. Ryfkogel deemed it advis-
able to change the course ons-quarter
point more off shore, as he testified to,
it was his duty, as subordinate officer,
to have called the captain as q measure
of prudence he should have done 90,
and, moreover. in not doing so he dis
obeyed q standing and peremptory or
der OF the company in whose service he
was.
1.-The neglect OF duty by Ryfkogel is
still more csnsurable from the circum-
stance OF Captain McGinn, a passenger,
who is licensed master and pilot of
steamboats,, calling the attention of the
former to the fact that he, McGinn,
thought the course of the Los Angeles
was taking her too close to Point Sur.
For reason of unskillfulness and neg
lect as above stated, ON the part OF Capt.
H. d. Leland, in violation OF the ste am
boat laws, we have this date revoked
his license as master and pilot of steam
vessels.
''For reason OF negligence az above
stated, on the part Of R. F. Ryfkogel, in
violation of the same laws, we have this
date revoked his license as mate of
steam vessels.
I'm conclusion, we regret to state
that good discipline was not maintained
on board the steamer after she struck,
and there appears to have been an utter
disregard for the lives OF others by aoms
OF those who were in CHARGE"
The suspended officers have the right
of appealing from the decision within
80 days.