The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-07-11
WRECK OF The PARIS
REPORT OF CAPT. WATKINS MADE
PUBLIC BY NEW YORK BOARD
OF INSPECTORS
SKIPPER HAS BEEN SUSPENDED

tiles Contend That He Failed to
Exercise the Requisite Caution
in the Discharge of His RespOn-
sibie Duties as a Ship Master.
NEW YORK, July 10-The report of
Capt. Watkins of the stranding of the
American liner steamship Paris was made
public today by the local board of steam
ship inspectors. Capt. Watkins makes
no attempt to evade responsibility for tho
accident. but. on the contrary, saws
frankly that the stranding of the ship
was the result of an unaccountable error
on his part. The accident, he says, was
not due to any want of thought or anx-
1ety about his vessel but resulted from a
mistake he made in calculating the DO
sition of the ship.
The local inspectors nave suspended
Capt. Watkins license as master of ocean
steamers for two years. Capt Watkins is
still in charge of the Paris, and is acting
in the interest of the underwriters, to
whom the ship was turned over by the
American line officials
The report of Capt. Watkins, made I'M
der oath, Is as follows:
Il was master of the steamship Paris
when she left Southampton at noon on
May 20 last, bound for New York, via
Cherbourg, and at 5:21 o'clock D. m. of the
same day she arrived at Cherbourg. HaV-
ing taken on forty-tive more passengers
and their baggage we sailed for New
York at 552 p. m. At 6:9S m. Cape La
Hogue was abeam, and at 1885 p. m. the
Casquets lighthouse was abeam. At 1:19
a m. of the 21st of May land was sud
denly seen ahead and reported. The helm
was Immediately put hard to starboard
and the port engine was put full speed
astearn, but directly afterwards the YES
sci struck on the rocks, which proved to
be about cables length from the beach.
1t was discovered to be thick over the
land. although there was no fog at sea.
st. Anthonys light, which had not previ-
ously been seen. appeared bright and
clear about thirty-five 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
mouth.
AT daylight we ascertained the ships
position by cross bearings, ST. Anthony's
light bearing N. E. by N, a buoy off the
Manacles rock N. w. N. a by N. During
the day the vessel began to make water
on the various compartments, and such
water has increased until it is in every
compartment. Practically the whole of
the cargo was discharged, large portion
unchanged, and efforts by the underWrit-
ers 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 nor any personal in
jury caused by the accident.
ASSUMES ALL BLAME.
81 regret to say that the casualty was
owing to an unaccountable error on my
part. 1t is about 131 miles from Cape
la Hogue to the Lizard, and the run
between these points would. L calculated,
occupy six hours and forty minutes. I'm
fortunately l reckoned the time on this
basis, for coming up with the Lizard
from 1875 a.. m, when abeam of the Cas-
quets, instead Of from GAS p. m, when
abeam of Cape la Hogue, and the vessel
was thus really eighteen miles ahead Of
the position L was acting upon. In adj
dition, the thick weather over the land
had obscured the Lizard lights. L at
tributed the stranding to the above cause,
and take upon myself the full response
bility for it,
Capt. Watkins makes statement of his
sea service since 1851, during which time
he has crossed the Atlantic nearly 500
times, and to his record as navigating
officer of the Paris (cruiser YaIe) during
the war with Spain. and continues:
81 have thought it right to place these
,I-,,e 49,
you will take into consideration q long
and responsible seafaring career, during
which 1 believe I have throughout held
the perfect confidence of my employers
The accident was not due to any want Of
thought or anxiety about my vessel or
her safety, but arose purely from the
mistake I made In making my calcula-
lions above described. 1 should add that
can only speak in terms of the highest
ing circumstances, was admirably sus-
tanned by my officers and crew.
LICENSE SUSPENDED.
The report of the United States local
inspector is as follows:
I'VE have carefully read the report
made by Capt. Watkins, in which Capt.
Watkins takes the entire responsibility
for the disaster upon himself, in making
Casquets, and thereby overrunning dis
lance.
1--WE find that the report is very meager
in details, inasmuch as he merely states
he made a mistake in taking his depart
ure from Cape la Hogue at 7:35 p. m,
when he was actually abreast of the Cas-
quets at that time, distance of about
sixteen and one-half miles. This. of
course, would put him sixteen and one
half miles ahead Of his reckoning, but
would not account for his being set in to
the northward of his course seven miles,
allowing his intention to pass the Liz
ard at distance Of three miles. AS Capt.
Watkins does not make any mention of
making any allowance for tide, we are
of the opinion he had not taken that
matter into considera tion whereas, when
he approached the English coast, he must
have encountered the flood tide on his
port bow, setting him in towards the
land. In addition to this he makes no
mention Of having used his lead. and he
only discovered it was thick over the
land when the ship was ashore.
"Giving all due consideration to these
matters we are of the opinion that Capt.
Watkins has not acted with the neces-
sary care and attention requisite in the
navigation of his vessel, which master
should have used, and we therefore sus-
pend his license as master Of ocean
steamers for period of two years"