Omaha daily bee., 1899-07-11
Confesses that the Steamer Was Eighteen
Miles Out of In Bearings,
CALCULATIONS BASED ON WRONG PREMISES
Local Inspectors Cancel the Captains s
License for Two Years
FURTHER MlcTAKes OF NAVIGATOR SHOWN
Due Attention to influence of Tides
Was Apparently Lacking and
Omission to Observe Fog on
Land il Also DweIt Upon.

NEW YORK. July 1o.-The report of
Captain Watkins of the stranding Of the
Paris was made public today by the local
Board OF Steamboat Inspectors Captain
Watkins makes no attempt TO evade re-
sponsibiity for the accident. but says the
stranding OF the ship was due to an unac-
countable error made by himself. The ac-
cident. he says, was due to no lack of
thought on his part but resulted from a
mistake he made in calculating the posi-
sion Of the ship.
The local inspectors have SUSPENDED Cap
tain Watkins license as master of ocean
steamers for two years. Captain Watkins
is still in charge OF the Paris and is act
ing 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:
II was master OF the steamship Paris
when she left Southampton at noon on
May 20 last, bound for New York via Cher
bourg, and at 5:21 o'clock p. m. of the
Same day she arrived at Cherbourg. Hav-
ing taken on board forty five more pas
sengers and their baggage. we sailed for
New York at 5:52 p. m. At 6:33 p. m. Cape
La ffOSue was dDedln ana dt 40 u. n
the Casauets lighthouse was abeam.
''At so a. m. of May 81 land was sud
denly seen ahead and reported. The helm
was Immediately put hard to starboard and
the port engine was put full speed astern,
but directly afterward the vessel struck on
the rocks, which proved to be about
cables length from the beach. 1t was dis
covered to be thick over the land, al
though there was no fog at sea st. An
thongs light, which had not previously
been seen. appeared bright and clear about
thirty-five minutes after the vessel struck.
1--WE reversed the engines 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 Falmouth At day
light we ascertained the ships position by
cross bearings st. Anthony's light bearing
n. Il. by N, buoy off the Manacles rock
n. E. By n. Ia.
During the day the vessel began to
make water in various compartments and
such water has increased until 1t Is in
every compartment. Practically the whole
of the cargo was discharged, large portion
undamaged and efforts by the underwriters
and owners have been made at great eH-
pense to get the vessel Off but she is still
on the TOCkS ana is lull Ol WdteT
aft. No lives were lost or any personal in
jury caused by the accident.
watkins Shoulders the Blame.
/ regret to say that the casualty was
owing TO an unaccountable error on my
part. 1t is but 131 miles from Cape dialogue
to the Lizard and the run between these two
points would, calculated, occupy six hours
and forty-f Ave minutes. Unfortunately I
III t1r ,t,,nr
up with the Lizard from 7:3O a. m. when
abeam OF the Casquets instead of from 6:3s
p. m. when abeam OF Cape dialogue, and
the vessef was thus really eighteen miles
ahead of the position was acting upon. In
addition the thick weather over the land
had obscured the Lizard lights. / attribute
the stranding to the above cause and take
upon myself the full responsibility for it."
Captain Watkins makes a statement OF his
sea service since 1851, during which time
he had 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:
II have thought 1t right 10 place these
particulars before you in the hope that you
will take into consideration a long and re-
sponsible seafaring career during which
have throughout held the perfect confidence
pI my tulplOytIS. lHt dC-lutnl was not aus
TO any want of thought. or negligence about
my vessel, or her safety; the accident arose
purely from the mistake made in my caf-
culstion. | should add that can only speak
in terms OF the highest praise OF the disci-
pline which. under trying circumstances, was
admirably sustained by my orlcers and crew.
FREDERICK WATKINS,
Master Steamship Paris"
Other NtstaLen Pointed Ont
The report OF the United States local tn-
spectors is as follows:
I'VE have carefully read the report made
by Captain Watkins, in which Captain Wat
kns takes the entire responsibility OF the
disaster upon himself in making mistake
in the time when he passed the Casquets,
and thereby overrunning distance.
I'VE find that the report is very meager
in details, inasmuch he merely states
that he made a mistake in taking his de-
parture from Cape dialogue at 1885 p. m,
when he was actually abreast OF the
Casquets at that time. distance of about
sixteen and one-half miles. This, OF course.
would put him sixteen and one-h half miles
ahead OF his reckoning. but would not ac-
count for his being set into the northward OF
his course seven miles, allowing his inten-
tion to pass the Lizard at a distance OF
three miles. AS Captain Watkins does not
make any mention OF making any allowance
for tide, We are OF the opinion he had not
taken that matter into consideration.
whereas when he approached the English
coast he must have encountered the flood
tide on his port bow. setting him in to-
ward the land, In addition to this he
makes no mention OF having used his lead
and he only discovered 1t was thick over
the land when the ship was ashore.
"GiVing all due consideration TO these mat
tiers We are of the opinion that Captain
Watkins has not acted with the necessary
care and attention requisite in the naviga-
tion OF his vessel which a master should have
used and We therefore suspend his license
as master Of ocean steamers for a period
Of two years.
THOMAS II. BARSETT
PETER c. PETRIE.
United States Local Inspectors"