The Portland daily press., 1899-07-11
ADMITS HIS BLAME.
Capt, Watkins Report
on Loss of Paris.
Says Accident Occurred Through Mis-
calculation.
Pleads Long Service in
Extenuation.
Board Decides to Suspend Him
for Two Years.

Captain Watkins OF the strandinQ of the
American line steamship Paris was made
public today By the local board Of steam
boat Inspectors Captain Watkins makes
no ettsmpt to evade responsibility for
the accident but says frankly tn at the
stranding Of the ship was the result of an
unaccountabie error on his part. The
accident he says, was not due to any want
of shought or anxiety about his vessel but
resulted from mistake he made In cal
culating the position Of the ship. He Is
still In charge OF the Paris and is acting
in the interests Of the underwriters 10
whom the ship was turned over by the
American line officials.
Captain Watkins has had long and
honorable career on the sea. He entered
the service Of the Inman line In 1868 and
since 1876 has been continually in charge
of vessels Of the International Navigation
company. He has made nearly 500 voy-
ages across the Atlantic.
In fling the report With Supervising
Inspector Starbuck, the local inspectors
submit special report relative to Cap
tain Watkins's statement In which they
state that they suspend his license as
master Of ocean steamers fol New York.
The report OF Captain Watkins is as fol-
lows.
IT Frederick Watkins, master of the
American line steamship Paris, of 1. $3.50
tons register make oath and say as fol-
lows:
"I was master of tho st.amsh,, p.u,s
when she left Southampton at noon on
the 2oth of May last with passengers,
malls and general cargo, bound for New
YORK VIA Cnerbourg, and at 6.31 O'Clock
p. IN; Of the same day, she arrived at
Oherbourg. Having taken on board IS
more Passengers and their baggage, we
sailed for New York at 8 50 D. m. AT 9 3S
p. IN. Cape La Hogne was abeam and at
lbs p. m. the Casuuets lighthouse was
abeam. At i.1e a. m. of the 21st Of May
land was suddenly seen ahead and re-
ported. The helm was Immediately put
hard to star board and the porj engine
was put full speed astern, but directly az
which proved to be about q oable's length
| from the beach. 1t was then discovered
| to be thick over the land although there
| was NO fog at sea.
"Sh Anthony's light which had not
previously been seen, appeared bright and
| clear about 10 minutes after the vessel
struck. We reversed the engine full speed
but the vessel remained fast and we then
fired distress signals and swung out the
boats. Assistance arrived and shortly
after daylight, the passengers, mails and
baggage were sent ashore to Falmouth.
At daylight we ascertained the ships
position BY crossbearings. ST., Anthony's
light bearing NE by N, buoy OF the
Manecles rock, k by N, quarter N, Dur
ing the day, the vessel began TO make
water In various compartments and such
water has increased until 1t is In every
| compartment. Practically the whole OF
the cargo was discharged, "a large portion
undamaged and efforts by the under
| writers and owners have teen made az
great expense to get the vessel on but she
Is still on the rocks and Is full of water
fore and aft. No lives were lost or any
| personal In jury caused By the accident,
II regret to say that the casualty was
| owing to an unaccountable error on my
part 1t is about lSi miles from Cape La,
Hogue to the Lizard and ffty-tour min
utes. Unfortunately, lreckoned the time
on this basis for coming up with the
Lizard from 7.35 p. M, when absam OF
the Casquets instead of from Q. SO D. M,
| when aoeam of Cape La Hogue, and the
vessel was thus really Is miles ahead of
the position was acting upon. In addi-
ton, the thick weather over the land had
obscured the Lizard lights.
II attribute the stranding to the
| above cause and take upon myself full
| responsibili for it. have followed the
sea as my profession since the year 1851
and have held British masters certifl-
| cate since the year 1866 and an American
masters certificate since the year 1898, in
which year became an American citi-
| zen. 5sa
81 entered the service of the Inman
Steamship company In the year 1858 and
after serving as officer In various grades
was promoted to be master in 1867 and
have since 1875 been continuously master
| In command In the Inman, international
and American line passenger and mail
! steamships and have in that capacity
crossed the Atlantic nearly 500 times.
Il was during the war between the
United States and Spain, the navigating
officer OF the u. s. cruiser Yale; holding
commission as commander in the u. s.
navy and on the termination OF the war
received honorable discharge with the
thanks of the government. have
thought 1t right to place these particulars
before you in the hope that you will take
into consideration long and responsible
sea-faring career during which l believe
! have throughout held the perfect conf.
dencs or my employers. The accident
was not due to any want of thought OF
anxiety about my vessel or her safety but
| arose purely from the mistake made in
making my calculations above described.
should add that l can only speak In
terms of this highest praise of the diaci