The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-08-18
CAPT. WHITES ANSWER.
Insists That He Was in the Right in
the San Rafael-Tiburon
Controversy.

Captain White OF the steamer Tiburon
considers that he has been unfairly CEN
sured in the recent examination of the
San Rafael-Tiburon case by the Inspectors
of Hulls and Boilers. In presenting his
side of the matter he writes:
81 have been captain on all kinds of
steamers IN this bay for twenty-eight
years. have never cost my owners dol
lar for damage, and this was my first ex-
perience before Board of Inspectors.
He then goes on to explain the position
OF the two steamers, and asserts that the
only maneuvering he resorted to was the
stopping of his boat In order to allow the
San Rafael to pass, and that he had no
part in the filing of any complaint.
A quotation from the Sausalito News
and his answer follow:
Why did not Captain White file atcomplaint
with the local inspectors as it his duty to do
So If the san Rafael had put her helm to starboard
to cross his bow without giving the proper signal?
To this complaint will say that did not
know that the passengers held an Indignation
meeting or that there was any complaint
going to be filed until the day after it was fled
Then Inspector of Boilers w. s. Phillips told
me on his way home to Belvedere that our pas
sengers had filed com plant against Captain
Tr1bble. The next morning went to Captains
Talbot and Phillips, Inspectors of Hulls and
Boilers, and stated that, in my opinion, there
was no ground for complaint, as there was
no damage done nor any likelihood of COL
lision. Captain Talbot stated that as the com
plant had already been filed he would
hear two or three witnesses on each side, and
IL in his opinion there was not sufficient
cause he would throw out the complaint
In answer to ''Why did you not make com
plaint?' will state that didn't think there
was sufficient cause for a complaint. / failed
to notify the omplainants of their error, and
so precipitated the trouble that has been mn
necessarily brought about by this trial
He did not do so, but seemed to prefer tha
prosecution OF Tribble in the examination Of the
case, in which he acted as prosecuting attorney
geous 10 the prosecution.
In answer would state I have committed
no error and have no apology 10 make I
didn't bring on this trial, and had not been
summoned by Mr.. BermiI CHAM should never
have put my foot in the office. am accused
of acting as prosecuting attorney. distinctly
stated to the court that Twas only witness
did not contradict, namely, "Did the San
Rafael change her course?" My answer in nv
testimony was, Il don't know''
During the trial there seemed to me to be
only one point i'll controversy Did the San
Rafael change her course? The complaint filed
by the passengers OF the steamer Tiburon
charged Captain Tribble with changing his
course. That is the only point, I supposed,
they cared to bring out, as there is no other
mentioned in the decision of the court.
would state that the passengers filed the COM
side, such as Mr.. Gerstle, Lieutenant Hasson,
w. G. Morrow, Mr.. Sherwood. Mr.. Langrehr,
who is civil engineer, and many others who
were standing on the forward deck OF the
Tiburon, while going along the City front, and
looking ahead. They were thus in better
position to'judge how the Tiburon was head
Ing than the people on the stern of the San
Rafael while she was crossing our bow and
watching the wake of the San Rafael to see
that she did not change her course. All of our
frr>xr
$50 to 300 feet from the dock and ahead of the
San Rafael and their testimony, in my judg-
ment, has just as much weight as that of those
Some of them have travelled on the boat for
years.
In support Of his side of the case Cap
tain White quotes the testimony of some
of the witnesses and the s'rules of the
road" and concludes:
This is my side OF the story, which am con