Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-07-11

NEW YORK, July 10.-The report of
captain watkins of the stranding of
the American line steamship Paris was
mace public to-day by the local board
or steamboat inspectors. Captain Wat
kins makes no attempt TO evade re-
sponsibility for the accident, but on
the contrary, says frankly that the
s~trandlng 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 anxiety about
his vessel. but resulted from a mistake
he made In calculating the position of
the ship.
The local inspectors have suspended
Captain Watkins's license as master OF
ocean steamers for two years. Captain
Watkins is still in charge of the Paris,
and is acting in the interests of the
underwriters to whom the ship was
turned over by the American line off,
Gals.
The report of Captain Watkins, made
under oath, is as follows:
Il was master of the steamship Paris
when she left Southampton at noon on
May goth last, bound for New York
via C~herbourg, and at 5:21 o'clock D IN.
of the same day she arrived at Cher
bourg. Having taken on board forty
five more passengers and their baggage,
we sailed for New York at $3.50. At
6:3S p. m. Cape La Hogue was abeam
and at 1885 p. m. the Casquets light
house was abeam. At 1:19 a. m. of the
21st of May, land was suddenly seen
ahead and reported. The helm was Inn
mediately put hard to starboard and
the port engine was put full speed
astern, but directly arcerward the ves-
sci struck on the rocks which proved
to be about a cables length from the
beach.
1T was then discovered to be thick
over the land.
81 have thought 1t right to place these
particulars before you in the hope that
you will take into consideration a long
and responsible seafaring career during
which | believe l 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 | made in making my calcuia-
tons above described. ! should add
that | can only speak in terms OF the
highest praise of the discipline which
under trying circumstances was admir-
ably sustained by my officers and crew.
(Signed)
FREDERICK WATKINS.
Master Steamship Paris"
The report of the United States local
inspectors is as follows:
I'VE have carefully read the report
made by Captain Watkins in which
Captain Watkins takes the entire re-
sponsibility of the disaster upon him
self in making a mistake in the time
when he passed the Casquets, and
thereby o%verrunning his distance.
I'VE find that the report Is very
meagre in details, inasmuch as he
merely states that he made a mistake
in taking his departure from Cape lie
Hogue at 1898. when he was actually
abreast Of the Casquets az that time, a
distance of about sixteen and a 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 sever miles, allowing his
intention to pass the Lizard at a dis
lance of three miles. As Captain Wat
kins does not make any mention or
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 food
tide on his port bow, setting him In to-
ward land. In addition to this. he
makes no mention Of having used his
lead, and he only discovered II was
thick over the land when the ship was
ashore.
Giving all due consideration 10
these matters. we are OF the opinion
that Captain Watkins has not acted
with the necessary care and attention
requisite in the navigation OF his yes-
sci which a master should have used.
and we therefore suspend his icenss
as master OF ocean steamers Cor a
period Of two years.
(Signed)
THOMAS II. BARRETT,
PETER c. PETRIE.
United States Local Inspectors