New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-09-15
WAS PROFESSOR WRIGHT MISQUOTED'
AN EMPHATIC DENIAL OF DRUNKENNESS ON THE
M1RANDA-THE REEF NOT MARKED ON

AN EMPHATIC DENIAL OF DRUNKENNESS ON THE
MIRANDA-THE REEF NOT MARKED ON
ENGLISH AMERICAN CHARTS
The statement which telegraphed here yester-
day that Professor f. F. Wright OF Oberlin College,
had charged that on the morning the Miranda sank
nearly the entire drunk that they had
to BE- helped from the vessel when she went down.
and that the reef which the vessel struck was
plainly marked on the chart shown to a rep
rosentative Of Bowring & Archibald. the agents of
the Miranda
In reply to the statement of the professor the rep
resentative of the shipping firm said: Il do not be-
lieve that Professor Wright has been properly
quoted He Is man of standing. and certainly
would not make statements which he could no,
substant:ate. The rock which the Miranda struck
Is not down the chart II 1t would l1
perfectly willing to admit H. for steamers con-
tlnualy striking on rocks which are clearly lai'
down In charts. 1t one OF those accidents which
all those who down to the in ships and all
those who deal with ships must be prepared for.
Captains not nfaiiibe. But. matter OF fact,
this reef laid down the chart. AS to
the of the Miranda being drunk when she
went down. 1t must be remembered that the pas
sengers of the Miranda had been transferred to
fishing schooner two days before, and that the
Miranda was towing the schooner. The crew. when
they finally abandoned the Miranda and went on
board the schooner were longer on duty. and If
some OF them had got drunk 1t would not be very
unusual a very horrible thing As a matter OF
fact the sailors the Miranda stuck to her nobiy.
and when in a terrific storm they were obliged To
abandon her. they able to pull their boats
through the tremendous and to get safely on
board the little fishing schooner. That certainly
does not look as II they were drunk. They helped
themselves from the Miranda to the schooner No,
body else there to help them. We have had full
and complete reports from the captain OF the
Miranda as to the minu,est details. and state EN-.
phaticaIy that the Of the Miranda were not
drunk when they abandoned the ship
Or. Cook, when shown the dispatch from Professor
Wright, said Il think | know Professor Wright
well ana | do not believe that he would willingly
dstort facts Furthermore | believe he has been
msquOted. Il is true that some OF the crew OF the
Miranda were intoxicated at times. When she
struck the rock nobody was intoxicated. When the
crew abandoned the Miranda some Of them broke
into the spirit locker and stuffed their pockets with
bottles OF liquor. When they reached the schooner
some Of them unquestionably showed that they mad
been drinking. In regard 10 the statement OF PRO
fessor Wright that the reef on which the Miranda
struck was plainly marked on the chart, | Will say
that he Is somewhat mistaken The only charts OF
the coast obtalnabe those Of the United states
photographic Once and the British Admiralty. ON
neither Of these charts is the position Of the reef
marked. The Danish charts. however. which are the
property OF the Danish Trading Company. give the
position Of the reef. Unfortunately We did not have
these Danish charts aboard"