The San Francisco call., 1896-04-02
CAP TAIN MORTON
IS UNDER FIRE,
Golden Gate Life-Saving
Station to Be Investi-
gated.
INCOMPETENCE CHARGED
Washington Authorities Order a
Rigid Inquiry Which
Begins To-Day.
THE BOAT WAS OVERTURNED.
The Present Keeper Charged With
Being Responsible for the Ac-
cident.
THE BOAT WAS OVERTURNED.

The United States Efe-saving service
will begin to-day an investigation of
Go lden Gate siation-the station on the
Ocean Beach on which vessels in distress
in the neighborhood of the Golden Gate
depend for succor in time of neeG.
Captain Harry Morton is in command
of the station, and it is his acts that are
under inquiry by the department.
Several months ago he displaced Ca plain
Henry Smith, who had been in charge for
a considerable period. The old crew re-
mained after Captain Smiths departure,
but it was not long before murmurs of dis
satisfaction arose and the men declined to
serve under the new commander of the
boat, on the ground that he was incom-
petent and that their lives were in danger.
Their places were soon filled by new men
more congenial TO Captain Morton.
The old crew were not satisfied with re-
signing their positions, but filed charges
against Captain Morton, alleging many
things to prove his INCOMPETENCE and ask
ing that for the safety not only of the crew
but for that of shipwrecked sailors who
might be driven on the coast he be re-
moved.
The matter was taken up by the local
Office of the service, of which Major Blake
ney is the head. and an investigation held.
The men were on hand to give their testi-
mony, and a great mass of evidence was
taken and considered by the Office. The
findings were far from satisfactory to the
complaining witnesses, and they at once
appealed the matter TO Washington, al
leging many acts of Captain Morton that
were not brought out at the original in
vestigation. Nothing was heard from the
department until a few days ago. when
orders were received from Washington to
have the entire matter reopened and a
strict investigation held.
Strange to say the local Office was not
consulted in the matter, and the whole
inquiry was placed in the hands of a naval
officer who will take the evidence and
transmit the same to headquarters at
Washington. This action of the National
authorities is regarded as somewhat in the
light of rebuff to Major Blakeney, in the
light of the refusal of the authorities to
accept his findings as final.
The main incident on which the old
crew bases the charges of incompetence
happened on November Is last and mar
rowly escaped causing the death of a num-
Der of the crew, among them Captain
Morton.
The small surfboat was ordered out with
the intention of taking her around into the
bay, either by orders of the service authori-
ties or for her regular practice. In the face
of breakers that were rolling in with about
their usual force the pretty craft was
showed into the water and the crew clam
bered in.
Before she had gone more than q few
feet from the beach something went wrong
and in twinkling she was upside down
in the treacherous waves with a portion of
the crew underneath. The undertow at
the point where the launch was attempted
is at all times dangerous even to men un-
incumbered with clothing, and those who
had witnessed the accident from the shore
soon saw that some of the men were in
serious difficulties and in danger of their
lives and rushed to the rescue.
Three of the crew, including Captain
Morton, had become entangled in the
ropes and tackle of the boat, and were in
great danger when the rescuers reached
the beach.
The first man to reach the scene was the
barkeeper OF a neighboring resort, who
with the instinct of his calling had seized
bottle of whisky as he rushed from the
house, to be handy in case OF need.
short, stout man was the first to
emerge from the breakers, and to him the
bottle was offered, but the sailor remarked
that he was already too full of salt water
to hold any more liquid, and dashed back
into the water to rescue his comrades.
The whisky came in handy when the half
drowned men were dragged ashore.
The members OF the old crew claim that
Captain Morton's lack of proper manage
ment caused the accident, and point to
the fact that few years ago several men
were hurt and one killed at the Point
Reyes station through similar upset.
All of the members of the old crew now
in this City will be present to-day when
the investigation is opened.
Captain Coulson, the Assistant Inspec-
tor of the United States Life saving Ser
vice stationed in this City, was reticent
about the matter, when asked regarding
the nature of the investigation last even
ing, but admitted that an inquiry would
be held to-day in regard TO certain charges
made against Captain Morton.
The names of the members of the old
crew-the complainants against Captain
Morton-with their boat numbers, are as
follows:
No. 1, Samuel Anderson; No. 2, William
Schuler; No. 3. Jonas Robinson; No. 4.
Henry Bell; No. 5, James Swan: No. 6,
William Cunningham; No. Z, James Rask
No. 8, John Connolly.
Captain Morton claims that the over
turning Of the boat was the result of a
conspiracy, the tackle having been pur-
posely disabled the night before. the men
hoping to have him ousted, on charges