The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-12-01
PILOTS HELD TO Be AT FAULT.
NEW REGULATIONS FOR SAFETY or
TRANSPORTS ADOPTED.


"InmentS Representatives agree
IpOn the Nerdict-PiIots Bliss and
c. 4. MarmeIStcin Debnrred From
Handling Government Transports
in Future-Both PilutS Held to De
in Fanlt for the Grounding of the
Chester in Not Having Exercised
Proper jude men5-Iieut. Col. }.
CARTS Guild'S suggestions Adopted
ny the PiIOtage commissioners.
No Question as To Depth OF Water
Necessary for the Chester.
The Investigation OF the grounding of the
transport Chester a short distance below
the city Monday morning and again Tues
Gay morning was completed yesterday The
blame for the first mishap is placed upon
the pilots of the two transports. the Ches-
ter and the Manitoba. The blame for the
second mishap is placed upon the pilot
of the Chester, but with mitigating cir
cumstances.
The investiga ton was held by the local
board of pilotage commissioners. acting
for the port, by Lieut.. Col. Curtis Guild
Jr, inspector general of the Seventh Army
Corps, for the war department, ana by
Capt. William Williams. quartermaster Of
the Chester, for the quartermasters de-
partment. Col. Guild and Capt. williams
sat with the board of pilotage commits
sioners and heard the evidence with them.
Their verdict agrees exactly with that
of the board, so that there is a unani-
nous verdict by the three authorizes rep
resented in the investigation.
The finding holds Pilots James S. Bliss
and c. A. Marmelstein responsible for the
grounding of the Chester and disbars them
from acting in this capacity with govern
ment transports in the future. All parties
interested in the investigation agreed that
the grounding of the Chester was not due
to any lack of water in the channel, but
10 the poor judgment displayed by the
pilots in attempting to pass the two YES
sells at a narrow point in the channel
The Investigation has resulted in the
adoption of regulations Intended 10 pre-
vent such occurrences in future. This ac-
ton was taken upon the suggestion of
Lieut.. Guild, inspector general. The find
ing of the board of pilotage commissioners
was furnished to Capt NJ. P. Usina, sec
rotary of the Pilots Association last night.
1t speaks for itself and is as follows:
Nov. SON. p. Usina. Esq. Secretary
Savannah Pilots Association. Dear Sir;
After a thorough investigation of tho
grounding of the government transport
Chester in the Savannah river on the
morning of Nov. IS. we find that Pilot
Bliss of the steamship Chester erred in
not giving a danger signal to warn the
steamship Manitoba against passing in the
extremely narrow part of the channel i'm
mediately ahead of him. Also that Pilot
c. A. Marmelstein erred in attempting to
pass the Chester where he did instead of
holding his ship back and allowing the
Chester to pass him In the blight. Our
reason for so finding is that when the
Manitoba blew one whistle to pass TO port
the pilot of the Chester answered one
whistle, thus asserting TO the passage OF
the Manitoba, whereas he should have
given a warning whistle TO the Manitoba,
protesting against this dangerous pas
ga sc.
In regard to Pilot c. A. Marmelsteln.
the evidence shows that his ship was
drawing but 10 feet inches, and he knew
that the Chester was much deeper draft
and needed all the water in the channel,
and when she was seen it was his duty
10 stop in the blight.
We further find that the dredge boat
which had been working in the channel
near the point of grounding, was moved
TO the north bank end out of the channel
in compliance with the request of the pilot
of the steamship Chester before the accl-
dent
We enclose a copy of a rule that we have
passed to-day regarding the notification
20 the pilots of the movement of govern
ment steamers hereafter. We also en-
close a copy of letter from Lieut.. Col.
Curtis Guild, Jr., inspector general, Sew
enth Army Corps, which suggestions we
wish carried out. namely, that neither
Pilots Bliss nor Marmelstein be again as
signed 10 service on government trans
ports.
In regard to the second grounding of
the Chester we find this TO have been On
error of judgment on the part
of Pilot Bliss in attempting 10
carry the ship down. after she foated
during heavy fog prevailing on the river
He was somewhat justified. however in
making the attempt TO get the ship down,
owing TO the earnest solicitation of the
government officers in charge. Very truly
yours, Jas. NJ. Barnard, Jr
Chairman Commissioners of Pilotage
The letter of Col. Guild, referred to in The
above communication. is as follows:
Headquarters Seventh Army Corps, Of
flee Inspector General, Savannah, Ga,
Nov &c. 1s9S.-J. M. Barnard, Esq, Chair
man of Commissioners of Pilotage, Savan-
nah, Ga, Sir; In view of the recent
grounding of the transport Chester and the
statement of the pilot of the Manitoba
that he had no official knowledge that so
large a vessel was bound out ana that he
was likely TO meet it, would respectfully
request that in future due notice having
been given you by the quartermas ter in
charge of the transport sailing, that such
information be Immediately telephoned to
the mouth of the Savannah river and car
ried TO the pilot boat al that station in
order that future meetings in awkward
passages be avoided.
Information of incoming vessels. I un-
derstand. Is posted here at the exchange.
so that there is no excuse of an outgoing
pilots ignorance of what vessels he has 10
meet.
The difference OF opinion between The
two pilots In this particular case appears
70 no of- r1arlra1 a ~.