The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-07-11

WATKINS
SUSPENDED
For two Years for strandIng the
Steamship Paris of the
American Line.
REPORT OF LOCAL INSPECTORS
States the Captain did not Act
With the necessary Care
and Attention.

NEW YORK, July 1O.-The report Of
Captain watkins OF the stranding OF the
American line steamship Paris, was
made public to-day by the local board
Of steamboat inspectors. Captain Wat
klns makes no attempt to evade respOn-
stbittty for the accident, but on the con-
trary says frankly that the strnnding
of the ship was the result Of an unac-
countable error on his part. The acci-
dent, he says, was not due to any want
Of thought or anxiety about his vessel,
but resulted from mistake he made In
calculating the position Of the ship.
The local inspectors have suspended
Captain Watkins 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 un-
derwriters, to whom the ship was turn
ed over by the American line officials.
The report Of Captain Watkins, made
under oath, is US follows:
"I was master Of the steamship Paris
when she left Southampton ut noon on
May Goth last, bound for New York via
Cherbourg, and at 5:2l o'clock p. M, of
the same day she arrived at Cherbourg.
Having taken on board forty-five more
passengers and their baggage. we sail
ed for New York at 5:52. At $3.50 p. M,
Cape La Hogue was abeam and at 7:s5
p. M. the Casquets lighthouse was
abeam. At 1913 a. M, Of the 21st of
May, land was suddenly seen ahead and
reported.
When the Vessel Struck.
The helm was Immediately put hard
to starboard and the port engine was
put full speed astern, but directly after
ward the vessel struck on the rocks,
which proved to be about a cables
length from the beach.
"It was then discovered to be thick
over the land.
II 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, dur
ing which 1 believe l have throughout
held the perfect confidence of my em-
ployers. The accident was not due to
any want OF thought or anxiety about
my vessel or her safety, but arose pure
ly from the mistake / made in making
my calculations above described. L
can only speak in terms of the highest
praise of the discipline which under try
Ing circumstances was admirably sus-
talned by my officers and crew."
(slgned)
FREDERICK WATKINS,
Master $. s. Paris"
The report of the United States local
inspectors Is as follows:
1--WE have carefully read the report
made by Captain Watkins, In which
Captain Watkins takes the entire re-
sponsiblllty OF the disaster upon himself
in making mistake in the time when
he passed the CasQuets. and thereby
over-running his distance.
Mengre IN Details.
1--WE find that the report Is very mea-
gre In details, lnasmuch as he merely
states that he made n mistake In taking
his departure from Cape lie Hogue at
1885 when he was actually abreast Of
the Casquets at that time, distance of
about sixteen and one.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 northwnrd of his course seven
miles. allowing his intention to pass the
Lizard nt distance Of three miles AS
Captain Watkins does not make any
mention Of making any allowance for
tide, we are of the opinion he had not
taken that matter Into consideration,
whereas, when he approached the Eng
lIsh coast, he must have encountered
the flood tide on hts port bow setting
him towards land. In addition to this
he makes no mention OF having used his
lead, and he only discovered 1t was
thick over the land when the ship was
ashore.
"GivIng all due consideration to these
matters we are OF the opinion that Cap-
tain Watkins has not acted with the
necessary care and attention requisite |
In the navigation OF his vessel which
master should have used. aud we there
fore suspend his license us master OF
ocean steamers for n period of two
years"
(slGned)
THOMAS II. BARRETT,
DLvrIHIl - DTNTnTUN