The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-07-28
HELD BLAMELESS.
Cromartyshire Not Responsible for
La BOurgogne Disaster.

Halifax, N. s., July 28.-The decision
of the court of inquiry here today ex-
onerates Captain Henderson and the Of
ncers Of the ship Cromartyshire from
all blame in the matter of the Bour-
SOgne disaster
The report was made nv C,a0+air w
Il smith of the British Royal navy
reserve with whom was associated in
the me investigation Captain Bloomfield
douglass, R. N. R., and Captain Lewis
anderson, nautical assessor.
captain Smith refers briefly to the
voyage of the Cromartyshire up to the
night OF July 3, and dwells at length on
the incidents of the collision as des-
cribed by the master and crew of the
sailing vessel and says them: "At the
time the two ships came into collision
the cohcusSlOn was so violent and the
oIoW ln1llcted so heavy that the sailing
vessel was driven apparently consider
ably from the course she was heading.
although the number of points she was
caused 10 deVlate is not exactly stated
put the effect of the blow caused her
headWay to be stopped and made her
unmana geable.
The jibbOom and bowsprit of the
Cromartyshlre 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 attach
ed and cast over the lee side. The fore
mast was also broken and came down
from alOft and fell over the same side
OF the ship. The collision bulkhead re-
manned intact, which saved the ship
from laundering. The damage this
vessel sustained was not known to
those on board the sailing ship and
could not be as the evidence shows she
passed quickly out of sight across the
bow StarbOard.
only one man on board the sailing
vessel noticed any persons on the
steamers deck. This was Mr. HeaIy,
the lookout man. He says: I saw some
people on the steamers deck forward
and two the hTidora q SoO
ed out in a foreign language and I
could not tell what they said Captain
Smiths report sets forth the measures
taken on the CrOmartyshire to discover
if there was loss of life on the steam
ship and special attention is drawn to
the international relations for prevent
ing collisions at the sea, which the re-
port says should have been observed by
these vessels"
There can be no doubt, it is added,
that the steamer was supplied with an
efficient steam whistle and that it was
sounded at regular intervals. The Off
GERS of the sailing ship and most of the
crew heard it several minutes before
the collision. Abundant proof is also
produced that the sailing ship had an
efficient horn and was using it accord
ing to regulations.
From statements made by witnesses
in this case, there is an indication that
the sailing 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 absO-
lutely and correctly known as to it's
rate except from the differences drawn
from the various statements made in
the evidence. Perhaps her speed will
never be accurately known. From the
sudden manner the steamer first came
in sight upon the port bow of the sail
ing ship and her equally quick disap-
pearance 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 a
very high rate of speed.
Article 20 states that when a steam
vessel and a sailing vessel are proceed
ing 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 lat
ter did not keep clear of the sailing YES
sci.
Article 81 says: Whereby of 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 cOnclusively proves that
the sailing ship under the curcumstan-
ces did keep her course and speed ac-
cOrding to the provisions of the act.
The court is of the opinion that her
master would not have been justified in
departing from the statutory regula-
tions, unless he could have sheltered