Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-03-30
BARNET CENSURED
By Inquiry Court for Loss
Of the Castilian.
Captain and First Officer Took toe
Much fer Granted.
Both Officers censured But Loss Of Certifi
Gates Not Recommended.

Halifax. N. S., March 29.-The de-
cision of the court of inquiry which in
steamer Castilian on Gannet Rock
lodges near Yarmouth. was delivered,
at l o'clock today, being read by the
chairman of the board, Commander o.
V. Spain. f. N. r.
1t condemns Captain Barnet and
First officer McAffer, of the Castilian,
as chiefly responsible for the disaster,
but the verdict of censure which is
passed upon these officers is lightened
by the decision of the court to refrain
from recommending that their certifi-
Gates be suspended.
There is also some consolation for
them in the statement that the unusual
current which was running into the
Bay of Fundy on the night
of the wreck may have had
ing carried out Of her course, though it
could not be the cause of her going SO
far astray.
The censure falls especially heavy on
Captain Barnet, whose errors Of judy
ment are considered especially blame
worthy. The first blunder seems to
have occurred when hours and 40
minutes before the wreck the sound
ings showed 81 fathoms of water at a
place where so fathoms or Whereabouts
ought to be expected. This discovery
causing no change to be made the
course which the ship was steering.
The decision Of the court reads as fol-
lows:
THE court having most carefully and
completely enquired into and investi-
gated the circumstances attending the
stranding and total loss of the Allan
steamship Castilian on Cannot dry
ledge off the coast of Nova Scotia, at
$40 A. NJ, on the 18th of March. 1899.
and having fully considered all the evil
dence that it was possible to obtain.
has come to the conclusion that the
disaster is attributed to the following
causes:
Not taking into sufficient considera-
ton the first sounding of 62 fathoms at
l y. NJ, which naturally should have
pointed out that the vessel was not in
the position which she was supposed
to be: not accurately noting the dis
lance run by the log when the different
soundings We're taken: and running
the ship at too high rate of speed after
finding the water was shoaling rapidly:
when the cast of SO fathoms was OBJ
tanned the ships speed should have
been at once reduced and constant
soundings taken. Instead of this hav-
ing been done no soundings after that
of 36 fathoms was obtained for about
an hour. namely at o'clock, when II
fathOmS were found
although similar depth is to be
obtained about 10Is miles southeast by
south half south from Seal island and
the master states he considered he had
overrun his distance and was on Seal
Island bank. he merely altered the
ships course from southeast by east
half east to southeast, or one and
half points and kept on at full speed
for nearly half an hour. when a cast
of 10 fathOms was taken after which
the ship almost Immediately took the
ground.
There can be no doubt. indeed it
was admitted by the master. that had
he stopped the engines and reversed
them when the II fathoms cast was
made, he would have saved the ship.
Probably the after knowledge derived
from the circumstances connected with
the course the vessel was steered and
the disaster which ensued Influenced
the master in cOnfessing his error and
in the same manner those circum-
abled the court to arrive at this opin-
ion.
THE court also considers taking the
evidence obtained from number of
and responsible masters
Of ships who were in the locality of
the catastrophe on the 18th of March
that there was some peculiar current
setting into the Bay of Fundy on that
day. which materially assisted in put
ting the ship to the northward Of her
course. But this does not account for
The long distance the vessel was out of
her position as assumed by the mas
ter. He appears to have placed too
much faith in his compasses, taking
into consideration that the Castilian
was new ship and it was the first oc
casion on which she was running on
an easterly course.
THE master, who is without doubt
a most experienced and well-known
navigator, having constantly navigat-
I'd vessels in the vicinity Of the disas-
.er in question for upwards Of 20 years.
n the opinion of the court, took his po-
sition too much for granted and al
though it refrains from dealing with
he certificates of either the master or
first officer. considers it their painful
1uty to censure them both. and the
master. Reginald Barrett, and the first
officer. Duncan McAffer, are hereby
accordingly"