The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-07-29

Routes fer Fast Passenger Steamers.
Halifax. -. s, July 2s.-The decision
OF the court OF inquiry exonerates Cap
tain Henderson and the officers OF the
ship Cromartyshire from all blame in
the matter Of the Bourgogne disaster.
The report was made by Captain w. II.
Smith Of the British royal navy re-
serve, with whom was associated in
the investigation Captain Bloomfield
Douglass, II. y. r., and Captain Lewis
Anderson, nautical assessor. Captain
Smith refers briefly 10 the voyage Of
the Cromartyshire up 10 the night Of
July and dwells at length on the in
cidents OF the collision as described by
the master and crew Of the sailing ves-
sells and says then:
AT the time the two ships came into
collision the conclusion was so violent
and the blow inflicted so heavy that
the sailing vessel was driven apparent
~ considerably from the course she was
heading. although the number of points
She was caused 70 deviate is not exact
ly stated, but the effect Of the blow
caused her Roadway to be stopped and
made her unmanageab.e.
Jib Boom and Bowsprit Broken
The jib boom and bowsprit OF the
Cromartyshire passed over the side Of
the steamer and was broken and torn
away from the starbOard side OF the
sailing ship with all of the gear at
tached and cast over the lee side. The
foremost was also broken and came
down from aloft and fell over the same
side Of the ship. The collision bulk
head remained intact, which saved the
ship from fundering. The damage
the steamer sustained was not knownto
those on board the sailing ship and
could not be, as the evidence shows she
passed quickly out Of sight across the
bow 10 starboard. Only one man on
board the sailing vessel noticed any
person on the steamers deck. This was
William Healy, III. Lookout man. He
says: saw some y ople on the steam
er's deck forward and two men on the
bridge. The men shouted out in a for
eign language and could not tell what
they said. "
Heard the Whistle.
Captain Smiths report set forth the
= ldhfll DL the
to discover If there was loss Of life on
the steamship and special attention is
drawn to the international regulations
for preventing collisions at sea, which
the report says should have been OBJ
served by these vessels" There can
be no doubt, IL is added, that the
steamer was supplied with an efficient
steam whistle, and that 1T was sounded
IL. -
the sailing ship and most of the crew
heard IL several minutes before the COL
lision. Abundant proof is also produced
that the sailing ship had an efficient
horn and was using IL according TO reg
ulations. From statements made by
witnesses in the case there is an indi-
cation that the calling ships horn was
heard on board the steamer and was
answered by her. With regard TO the
speed Of the steamer at the time OF
the collision, the report says nothing
can be absolutely and correctly known
as 10 its rate. except from the infer
cnces drawn from the various state
merits made in the evidence.
May Never BE known.
Perhaps her speed will never be &C
curately known. From the sudden
manner the steamer first came in sight
upon the port bow II the sailing ship
and her equally quick dissp pearance
in the fog Immediately after the cas-
ualty, as shown By the evidence, the
court Is forced 10 the conclusion that
the steamer was proceeding at a very
high rate e speed. Article 20 states
that when steam vessel and a sailing
vessel are proceeding in such directions
as 70 involve risk # collision, the steam
vessel shall keep out Of the way Of
the sailing vessel For reasons I'M
known 20 the court the steamer did not
keep clear Of the sailing vessel. Article
Il says whereby OF these rules one OF
the two 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 conclUsively proves that
the sailing ship under the circum-
stances did keep her course and speed,
according 10 the provisions Of the act.
Necessary Duties Performed.
The court is Of opinion that her mas
ter would not have been justified in
departing from the statutory regula-
tions 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 dill
gence was exercised in her navigation
by her captain when the character of
the fog was taken into consideration
Captain Henderson of the Cromarty-
shire and the officers of his ship are
therefore exonerated from blame for
the collision and its consequences"
Captain Smith in his report adds:
1T appears 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 lanes of the pilot chart OF the
north Atlantic.
Should BE More Binding.
1T also appears to me that II is high
ly desirable the rules of following in
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 / have not been called
upon OF empowered to make any inves-
tigation as to the conduct of the mas
n