Hutchinson gazette., 1899-07-13
HE BLAMES HIMSELF.
Tho Report or the Steamer of Paris
Disaster Made Public.
CAPT. WATKINS MAKESA STATEMENT
says Ho Made an Error In lAlS ReclI'
Oning. - The Board ReVOkoS
His Masters License
for Two Years.

New York, July 11.-rhe report Of
Captain Watltlns of the strandlng OF
the american steamship Paris has
been made public by the local board
OF steamship inspectors. Captain
Wlatklns makes no attempt to evade
responsibility for the accident, but,
ON the contrary, says frankly that
the stranding OF the ship was the re-
Oult OF an unaccountable error on
his part. The accident, he says, was
not due to any want OF thought or
@nxiety about his vessel, but resulted
from mistake ne made in calculat-
ing the position OF the ship,
The local inspectors have suspended
Captain Watkins license as master OF
ocean steamers for two years, Cap
tain Watkins Is still in charge Of the
Paris and Is acting In the interests
OF the underwriters, to whom the ship
was turned over by the American line
Officials.
The report OF Captain Watkins,
made under oath, Is as follows:
81 was master of the steamship
Paris when she left Southampton az
moon on May 20 last, bound for New
York via CherbouTg, but at 5:12
o'clock of the same day she arrived
at Cherbourg. Having taken on board
Porty-live more passengers and their
baggage we sailed for New York at
6;52 p. m. At 6:3S p, m. Cape La
Hogue was albeam and at 7:35 p. m.
the Casquets lighthouse was abeam,
'iAt 1:19 a. I'M 1f the 21st OF May
land was suddenly seen ahead and re-
ported. The helm was Immediately
put hard to starhoard and the port
engine was put full speed astern, but
directly afterwaTd the vessel struck
ON the rocks, which proved 10 be
about a cables length from the
beach. 1T was discovered to be thick
over the land, although there was no
fog at sea. st. Anthony's light, which
had not previously been seen, appear
ed bright and clear about thirty-fve
minutes after the vessel struck. We
reversed the engine full speed, but the
vessel remained fast and we then fired
distress signals and swung out the
boats. Assistance arrived and shortly
after daylight the passengers, mails
and baggage were sent ashore to Fal-
mouth. At daylight we ascertalned
che ships POSITION by cross bearings.
st. Anthony's light bearing northeast
by north buoy Off the Mana cles
rock northeast by north, one-quarter
north. During the day the vessel be-
gan to make water in various com.
partments and such water has in
creased until ii Is in every compart-
ment. Practically the whole OF the
cargo was discharged, a large portion
undamaged, and efforts by the under
writers and owners have been made
at great expense to get the vessel off,
but she is still on the rocks and is
full of water fore and aft. No lives
were lost or any personal injury
caused by the accident.
81 regret to say that the casualty
was owing to an unaccountable error
ON my part. 1t Is about 1871 miles
from Cape La Ilogue to the lizard.
and the run between these points
would, I calculated occupy six hours
and forty-iive minutes. Unfortunately,
i reckoped the time on this basis for
coming up with the Lizard from 1898
D. M, when abeam Of the Casquets,
ipstead of from 6;SS p. M, when
abeam OF Cape Ia Hogue, and the ves'
sci was thus really eighteen miles
ahead OF the position ! was acting
upon, In addition, the thick weather
over the land had obscured the ldS'
ard lights, / attribute @hhee strandlDg
TO the above cause and take upon my
SELF the full responsibility for it,"
Captain Watkins makes state
ment of his service since 1861,
During which time he has crossed the
Atlantic nearly 500 times, and to his
record as navigating officer Of the
Paris (cruiser Yale) during the war
with Spain, and continues:
81 have thought 1t right to place
these particulars before you, in the
hope that you will take into consid
GRAFTON a long and responsible seafar
Ing career, during which believe
have throughout held the perfect con
tidence Of my employers The acci.
dent was not due to any want Of
Thought or anxiety about my vessel
or her safety, but rose purely from
the mistake 1 made in making my cal.
culations above described. / should
add that can only speak in terms
OF the highest praise Of the discipline
which under trying circumstances
was admirably sustained by my off.
GERS and crew.
"NIDDBRNCK WATKINS,
Master S. S. Paris"
The report Of the United States 10
cal inspectors is as follows:
1--WE have carefully read the report
made by Captain Watkins in which
Captain Watkins takes the entire re-
Sponsibillity OF the disaster upon him,
s0f In making mistake in the time
when he passed the Casquets ani
thereby over-running distance.
I'VE find that the report is very
meager in details, inasmuch as he
merely states that he made a mistake
*alvipg. his departure from Cape 10