The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-09-28
CAPTAIN
BLAMES PILOT.
Angry Vessel Owner Will
Take Steps to Obtain
Redress for Injury.

Captain Mackenzie master and sole
owner Of the schooner Sateite, which WAS
lost On Joe Flogger shoai, thirty miles
north Of the Delaware Break water, while
outward bound for Halifax on Tuesday
morning. bitterly critcises Pilot H. f.
Virdn, who was in charge Of the vessel,
and to whose carelessness he attributes
her loss.
According to the captain. there is no
reasonable explanation for the grounding
of.the schooner. 1t was broad daylight,
the weather was fine and the Sateite was
under five knot breeze. As her draught
is but ten feet Captain Mackenzie Is satis-
fled that she must havs been far ous Of
her course.
The loss of the Satellite practically do.
prives her owner of livelihood. She was
valued at 5000 and carried but 1900 in-
surance. Her cargo Of 147 tons Of coal
was valued al $3.50 and will DO total loss.
Captain Mackenzie contemplates action
against Pilot Virdn saying that report
of the disaster and the charges will be
submitted to tho Board Of Port Wardens.
1t is said, however, that the latter have
no jurisdiction over the affairs as Virdin
Is not Pennsylvania pilot buta Della
warean. Much sympathy is expressed for
the young man by his friends, who seek to
find extenuating circumstances for what
appears now to be u serious mistake.
1t Is said that under wind the Satellite
was beating down stream Had she had
fair wind it would have been almost i'm
possible to get out OF the course. Pilot
Virdin had completed his apprenticeship
and received his twelve-foot certificate al
lowing him to handle boats Of that
drGught.
Much adverse criticism has been regis
tered against the Delaware Bay and river
pilots Association of late. The Phladel-
phia pilots are being brought up with
round turns by steamer agents and Others
who have had alleged grievances against
them.
The Earn Line Steamship Company
agent for the British steamer Sutherland
have instituted vigorous protest. Their
steamer, 1t is claimed was detained many
hours at the Delaware Breakwater
through the ignorance Of tho pilot In re-
gard to the quarantine regulations.
A week ago last Monday the steamer
City Of Dundee was run into aud damaged
off Lombard street by the ferry boat City
Of Reading. In the subsequent protest
made by the agents of the vessel it was
pointed out that during tho fog that pre-
vailed at that time the steamer, at the in
stigaton of the pilot dropped anchor out
side the limit Of the regular anchorage
ground. This incident has made tho oc-
caslon for demand for damages.
At the meeting of the board Of Directors
Of the Maritime Exchange on Monday last
a communication was received from Thco.
dore Ruger g. Co., complaining that or
ders sent to the pilots directing that The
German bark Marie at Breakwater from
London:last week bo sent to New York
were neglected and the vessel went to
Philadelphia causing an extra expense es-
timated at $500.
This curious jumble Is regarded sinex.
plicable by those interested in that vessel.
When vessel arrives at the Delaware
Capes from foreign port undor instruc-
tions to await orders regarding her destin-
alton the duty Of delivering the same to
her captain Is undertaken by the pilot
boat which cruises in that vicinity. For
this service the Pilots Association is paid
the ordinary rate for pilotage Of vessel Of
that draught up the Delaware.
In the case of the Marie, notwithstand.
ing the fact that the captain Of the pilot
boat had the orders for that ship In his
pocket, he simply put pilot on board the
latter and steamed away without deliver
ing his orders. The pilot nor the captain.
not knowing tho difference, brought the
vessel to Philadelphia.
In view Of the fact that the association
would have received the pilotage fee weth.
or the Marie came up here or not, the in
cident. in tho opinion of the complainants
Is characterized by gross oarslessnes,.