The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-07-29
WERE WITHIN THE RULES
Officers of the Cromartyshire
Were Not to Blame.
WAS RUN AT HIGH SPEED
The court of Inquiry Places the Re-
sponsibility for the Disaster on
Ofiicers of the Inflated
Bourgogne.

Halifax, July 2s.-The decision OF the
court of inquiry given here to-day exon
crates Captain Henderson and the off,
GERS of the ship Cromartyshire from all
blame In the matter of the B%ourgogne
disaster. The report was made by Captain
Smith of the British royal naval reserve.
with whom were associated in the investi-
cation Captain Bloomfield Douglass and
Captain Lewis Anderson, nautical asses
sor.
Captain Smiths report draws special
attention TO the international regulations
for preventing collisions at sea. which the
report says SHOULD have been observed
by these vessels" The report says that
nothing can be absolutely and correctly
known as to the rate of speed of the
steamer. but from the sudden manner the
steamer first came in sight upon the port
bow of the sailing ship and her equally
quick disappearance in the fog Immediate
ly after the casualty, as shown by the ev-
idence, the court is forced to the con-
ciusion that the steamer was proceeding
at a very high rate of speed.
Article 20 states that when a steam
vessel and a sailing vessel are proceeding
in such directions as to involve risk of
collision the steam vessel shall keep out
of the way of the sailing vessel. For rea-
sons unknown to the court the latter did
not keep clear of the sailing vessel. Arti-
Gle q says: by these rules one of the
vessels is TO keep out of the way; the
other shall keep her course and speed"
The evidence upon this point is of a
clear and satisfactory character and con-
clusively proves that the sailing vessel I'M
der the circumstance did keep her
course and speed according to the provi-
sions of the act. The court is of the opin-
lon that her master would not have been
- r. ~
regulations unless he could have sheltered
himself under the conditions pointed out
In article q.
All the necessary duties were performed
on the sailing ship with proper caution
and due diligence was exercised in her
navigation by her captain when the
character OF the fog was taken into con-
sideration. Captain Henderson of the
Cromartyshire and the officers of the ship
are. therefore, exonerated from blame for
the collision and its consequences. Cap
tain Smith I'm his report says:
"It appears to me that La Bour-
gogne, as a mail ship starting from New
York. was not in the position at the time
of the collision as indicated by the steam
lines on the pilot chart of the North At
lantic. 1t also appears to me that II Is
highly desirable that the rules of follow
ing the steamer lanes should be made
more binding on all steamers navigating
the Atlantic when plying between New
York and European ports. Although In
this inquiry l have not been called upon
or empowered to make any investigation
as to the conduct of the master Ind OH
GERS of the La B%ourgogne, or as to thu
navigation of that shin. II is evident that
had the commander, Captain Deloncle
adopted the rules laid down his vesse
could not have been in the position indi
Gated by the disaster"
The report concludes with the recon-
mendation that new LAM routes be es
tablished for fast passenger steamers be
tween American and European routes.