The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-07-21
SEA MATHEMATICS.
rho Lesson Of Capt. wn.kins's Case.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Sir:' Less than
a fortnight nRo and for more than onth the
magnificent ocean steamer Par y lay on the
rocks at the mercy Of the winds and waves
Only by the greatest good fortune was terri
bile disaster. with loss of life and property and
lifelong sorrow to thousands OF men AMI
women. escaped. A scapeRoat il made OF the
Captain, Watkins. n careful. experienced and
universally respected commander. and that is
the ED Of tho matter apparently.
Yet Capt. Walk inss ingenious and manly eS-
PLANTATION OF the cause OF the di aster shows so
appalling menace for the future that II Is n
marvel that no moro notice has boon called to
It, for he says that through an error In mis- cal
culations the steamer was an hour. more or
less. ahead OF where he supposed her TO be.
and this. too, in narrow waterway surrounded
by dangers OF oil kinds for through IL pours
continually large percentage Of the worlds
commerce and for 500 years Its rocky reefs and
shoals have not ceased to demand an annual
tribute Of human life and treasure like some
tabled monster or tho hdeous god OF mid
No merchant or banker fails to have his ac-
counts checked and counter checked. and inn
BE This ~ do not balance r' and The r re
suit Is not known to a cent Yet here are thou
sands OF lives and millions of property made
dependent on the calculations Of n man who
by his training and occupation ia necessarily
inexpert and unreliable at It. and there Is no
EXPERT and experienced in tn. matter OF
figures. is liable to error. but the result Ia
capable OF absolute accuracy. and II Is simply
criminal neglect OF the worst kind which per-
mtts 80 terri hle penalty to hang on an error
in Judgment oil. one man. even admitting him
to be tho best OF his kind.
There is too much responsibility thrown on
the Captain OF an Atlantic liner under the best
| conditions The writer happened to be on
steamer. Of the North German Lloyd line.
OF safety there Is no better service the ocean.
when one oil the first stoppaRes was made at
Sherbourg, landing passengers and mail for
Paris and the Continent. and then crossing to
clear but before, we reached Cherbourg u
storm began which delayed us some three or
four hours. and we crossed to Southampton in
driving rain and lay Off the Isle OF Wight all
because the lights could not lie found. The
writer was the more impressed with the dan
ger Of the situation by the awful anxiety OF
the Captain and officers. who never left the
c deck al night. and by the Captains statement
Cherbourg and crossing the Channel afterward
Il would have to find some one to All his
place. although he had spent his life in the ser
vice and was one OF the oldest and ablest offl-
GERS in its employ. SO much for the common
and natural burden. OF responsibility that rests
on the Captains shoulders--heavy enough in
| all conscience-but what shall we say when, in
| addition. the lives and fortunes Of all on board
are left dependent on the accuracy OF his cal
est and best men in the service to be an hour
ahead OF where he supposed the ship was?
In what other field OF ordinary business. in
| volving only few dollars. are the results left
one man.? It is simply q scandaloms and an
pallinR disclosure. and appeal to THE Sun to
let 1t be known. g. Z. H.
New YORK. July 10.