New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-10-02
CAPTAIN WATKINS BACK.
COMMANDER OF THE PARIS HERE TO
FIGHT HIS SENTENCE.
a4E FEELS THAT TWO YEARS SUSPENSION
is TOO MUCH FOR THE STRAND

ING OF his VESSEL.
captajn Frederick Watkins. who was COM
wander II the American Line steamship Paris
when she wen, ashore on the Manaces near
Falmouth on Nav 81 arrived here yesterday
from Southampton in the steamship New YORK
He is the same genial bronzed. sturdy sea dog
as Of yore and looks younger than he did Wheh
ne last left here Vigor and determination
marked hts utterance when he said on the pier
yesterday:
I have come here to fight the decision re-
eardine me made by the local Board OF Onl'eu
States inspectors Of Steam Vessels Every one
Of nv friends say that ! should do so. l ADMIT
that the Paris went on the rocks through
mistake Of mine. but that mstake does nov
merit the severity Of the Board of Inspectors
They seem not to have accepted my statements
but 10 have come TO their finding through some
process Of arbitrary reasoning Because dla
not mention tides in my report. the Board seems
tc have conc'"8ed that took no account OF
tides
SEVENTEEN NILES OUT OF THE WAY.
When " left Cherbourg one Of my officers
ente~~" in tire log book that we passed la
Hague = O'Clock Some time afterward the
second officer entered the time Of passing the
Castenets. or The island Of Jersey. as 80
O'clock The last entry was written i'm hand
more prominent THAI the other When picking
out my course the light being dim. read the
prominent figures and made my calculations on
them. This threw me seventeen miles out Of my
course. I had calculated 20 pass two miles off
the Lizard When we Vere approaching the
Manaces the tide was stronc. and cav that
were bound 20 90 ashore. 7 have always
been in the habit IN thick weather ot submitting
my calculations 90 nay chief officer
The Paris now is In the CrNdock at Milford
Haven. She is all right 90 within six feet Of
her keel Even the lower tier Of sfatero9Ins ls
all right The Paris viii undoubtedly return ~
the American Line. Under English law the un-
derwriters can compel the line TO take her back.
1t ali deDends UpOn what is known as con-
structive total loss--that is whether salvage
and repairs exceed the vessels present value.
II they d. not. She win 60 back 10 the com
pany"
He DENOUNCTS HIS SUSPENSION
Reverting 20 the matter Of his suspension,
Captain Watkins said.
"Tha COMPOUNDED impudence Of the British
Board Of Trade made it put its nose into my
business. Il sent a communication TO Ambas-
sador Choate asking If there was 10 be an in
vestigation. The Ambassador wrote to the
Secretary Of the Treasury. and he commune
Gated with the local Board OF Inspectors Of
Steam Vessels NJ friends wrote 10 James A.
Dumont the general supervising inspector ask
3ne him not 70 be too severe Win me Ihey
nrged that two months suspension would ne
enough ] got two years. NJ. Dumont said was
more than seventy years old 1N. ne rs more
than seventy-fve. and was never sailor. he
should have known J was not seventy years
old for when J applied for my license was
Obliged to give my age. ] am determined 10
make q fight against the inspectors decision