The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-11-30
CHESTER CAUGHT IN A FOG.
GOT OFF OBSTRUCTION POINT, But
WENT ASHORE AGAIN.


Under Investigation by the Board
OF Pilot Commissioners and the
ouartcrmaster'S Dcpa rtment of the
Army and Also by Inspector GEN
traI Guild of gen. Lees Staff-The
InNeSti cation to he Thorough and
the Blame TO he Fixed, If Possible.
Some bird Of evil omen must have crossed
the track OF the transport Chester as she
mace her way TO sea Monday morning
with the Fifteenth United states Infantry
bound for Nuevitas. Cuba. Instead of be-
ing now wei on her way to her destination
the Chester is a few miles away from Sa-
vannah. She escaped from one unpleasant
position only 20 get jnto another
After getting off the bank at Obstruction
Point. where she was run by her pilot
Monday morning to avoid a collision with
Manitoba, the transport had the misfor
tune TO get her nose ashore a short DIS
lance further down the river. She was stiu
in this uncomfortable position last night,
though the indications were that she
would get back into the channel in posi-
ton to make her third attempt to go down
the river this morning.
The Chester has not suffered any damage
by her two mishaps and neither has
been at all serious TO the vessel or those
on board except for the delay and the con-
sequent Inconvenience.
The work TO get the Chester off the
bank where she was lodged in her effort
TO avoid the Manitoba, was begun early
yesterday morning and was entirely sue
cessfuL The space around the Chester on
the side next the channel had been dredged
out by the government dredge by order
of Capt. c. e. Gillette, the government
engineer. and the work was thus greatly
simpnfed. AS a matter of precaution the
soldiers on board to the number of about
1900, were taken off on lighters with
some of their baggage. This lightened the
vessel very perceptibly and she rose sever
al inches. The soldiers had very uncom-
Portable wait of it there in the raw morn
ing air without their breakfast.
Several of the towboat company's tugs
were on hand, and after they had gotten
all the lines fast the Chester was slowly
hauled back into the channel. The task
was not difficult one though it occupied
some little time. There was plenty of wa
ter in the channel for the Chester, and,
after getting there she was backed TO
the Five Fathom hole, where she drop
ped anchor. There was a very heavy fog
on the river, and Capt Bliss. the pilot,
did not care TO attempt to make the pas
sage until the fog lifted. Upon the in
sistence of the officers ON board however
who were anxious to avoid further loss
OF time, Capt. Bliss yielded, and attempted
to take the vessel down the river. The
"trip was of short duration. The vessel
had proceeded about LOCO yards from her
place of anchorage, when she ran into
the mud on the left side of the channel
and remained there. As the tide was then
falling, 1t was impossible to get her off
The general opinion of pilots and river men
Is that her position is not so difficult as
the one she occupied a few hours before,
and preparations were made TO get her
back into the channel at night.
thorough investigation of the two mis-
haps 10 the Chester has already been be-
gun. Lieut.. Col. Guild, inspector general
on Gen. Lees staff, is conducting the in
vestigation in behalf of the government,
while the board of pilot commissioners
is acting in behalf Of the port. The quar-
termaster's department is also conducting
an investigation, and will report to the
mead of the department at Washington.
Col. Guild will submit his report to Gen.
Lee, while the pilotage commissioners viii
doubtless submit theirs to the public
The pilotage commissioners began their
investigation in the afternoon at the Of
flee of Richardson & Barnard acting Of
heialiy upon the request of Capt. John
Damn of the Chester. For convenience the
army officers interested met with the
board by invitation of the latter The pi-
lotage commissioners present were
Messrs. ]. NJ Barnard, chairman; j. F.
Minis, Henry 7. Williams and Walter Co
ney. The army officers present were
Lieut.. Col Guild, inspector general Sew
enth Army Corps; Capt. Williams, quar-
termaster on board the Chester; Capt. AS
pinwall, quartermaster on the Manitoba,
and Lieut.. Woodring, assistant to the
chief quartermaster.
The board was in session over two hours
and examined a number of witnesses, in
Guiding the two pilots principally inter-
ested. Capt James Bliss, who was in
charge of the Chester on both occasions.
and Capt c. A. Marmestein, who was
IN charge of the Manitoba, were the prin-
cipal witnesses. Capt. Quick OF the Mani
toba and the captains of the tugs and
others who were present when the events
under investigation occurred, were also
examined. Several of the pilots who were
not witnesses of the events were also
called upon for their opinions upon vari-
GUS points bearing upon the matter
The hearing adjourned shortly after 6
O'Clock. Chairman Barnard when seen
about the matter, said the investigation
had only begun, and declined to discuss
the matter in any shape. Lieut.. Col Guild
also declined TO make any statement con.
corning the progress of the investigation
There is evidently an intention on the
part of all concerned to obtain all the light
possible on the subject, and to sift The
ascertain if the trouble could have beer
prevented. and to fix the blame. if any.
Gen. Lee has instituted an investigation
into the accident TO the transport Ches
ter. but so far no conclusion has beer
reached. Gen. Lee would not discuss tn,
matter last night. and would say nothfns
beyond the fact that an investigation hai
been begun.
Col Edward Moale of the Fifteenth In
fantry received orders from Washington
yesterday TO put ashore three of the com
panies of his regiment to remain here un