The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-07-29
.BOURGOGNE OUT OF HER COURSE
COURT OF INQUIRY'S REPORT
ON THE DISASTER.
French Steamer Did Not Follow the
Course Laid Down On the Charts
--Cromartyshire Exonerated.

Halifax. n. s., July &.-The decision
of the Halifax court of inquiry exonerates
Captain Henderson and the officers of the
ship Cromartyshire from all blame in the
matter of the Bourgogne disaster.
Captain Smiths report draws special at
tention 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. her equally quick disappearance in
the fog Immediately after the casualty, as
shown by the evidence, the court IS forced
TO the conclusion that the steamer was
proceeding at very high rate OF speed.
Article 20 states that when a. steam YES
sci and 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
reasons unknown to the court. the latter
did not keep clear Of the sailing vessel
Article q says: Whereby 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
under the circumstances did keep her
course and speed, according to the pro-
visions of the act The court IS Of the
opinion that her master would not have
tory regulations unless he could have
sheltered himself under the conditions
pointed out in article p.
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-
Captain Henderson, of the
Cromartyshire, and the officers of his
snip are therefore eXonerated from blame
for the collision and its consequences.
Captain Smith in his report says: 1T
to me that La Bourgogne, as a
mail steamship 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
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
y ork and European ports. Although in
this inquiry l hive not been called upon
o. empowered 10 make any Investigation
as to the conduct of the master and off,
GERS of La BourgOgne, or as to the navi-
cation of that ship. il is evident that had
the commander. Captain DelOncle, adopted
the rules laid down his vessel could NOT
have been in a position indicated by the
Disaster The report concludes with the
recommendation that new lane routes be
established for fast passenger steamers
between American and European ports.
Paris, July 2S.-EdOuard Lockrey, minis
ter of marine, has decided to order a fresh
inquiry into the loss Of La BourgOgne.
If it is found that any Of the, crew failed
TO do their duty they will be punished.