The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-10-02
TO FIGHT SUSPENSION
CAPT. WATKINS, OF THE PARIS,
READY To LOOK AFTER nIs CASE.
Says the Sentence In Unjust and the
English Board of Trade Took an
Unwarrantable Action.

NEW YORK. Oct. Capt. Frederick
Watkins, recently captain of the American
line steamship Paris. and who was on the
bridge of that vessel when she went on
the Manacle rocks, was a passenger on
the New York. Which arrived here to-day.
Captain Watkins said he came back to
fight the United States board of steam
vessel inspectors, who suspended him for
two years in consequence Of the accident.
He talked freely Of the affair and acknowi-
edged, as he did in his official report, that
the grounding of the Paris was due to q
mistake on his part. He left a. once for
Long Branch, and he expects in a few days
to be in Washington. He freely criticised
the English Board Of Trade for what he
termed "a COMPOUNDED impudent action"
II am here he said, ito fight against
the board for suspending me for two years.
1t was not right, and my friends here
urged me to take action in the matter.
They are of opinion that ] should have
been suspended for a much shorter period.
1t is because the Board of Trade put its
nose in the matter that, / believe, the term
of suspension is so long. The Board OF
Trade wrote to Ambassador Choate, ask
ing if the American authorities were go>
ing to investigate, and saying If they did
not the Board of Trade would do so. This
they could do, as / had an English license.
Ambassador ChOate wrote TO the secretary
of the treaeusy about the matter.
MY friends went to General Dumont, who
is at the head of the inspectors, and asked
why the term of suspension was to be for
so long a period. He replied that / was
over seventy years of age anyhow. 1t was
pointed out to him that / was not that old,
and then he said that the American line had
requested that the investigation be followed
by suspension. This the line denied, and
then General Dumont fell back on the sec
rotary of the treasury. The proper course
for the Board of Trade to nave taken was
to nave written to me and stated that IL no
other Investigation was to be held, they
would investigate me in regard to my Eng
lish license.
1.-THE Paris is now in dry dock at Milford
Haven, Wales. She looks in fine condition
until one gets near her, and then 1t can be
seen that her keel is badly damaged. Some
Of the plates are badly bent and sprung.
Others will have to be taken off. They are
now debating whether they will have to
raise one of her engines. 1t can be done,
but it will be a great undertaking. / believe
that the Paris will undoubtedly return to
America, but the question Is one which must
be settled by the underwriters and the line.
By English law the owners can be COM
PEELED to take back the ship, even though
she flies an American flag. 1t depends on
what is known as the constructive total loss
that is, whether salvage, cost of repairs
and other expenses do or do not exceed the
present value of the ship.
Il % quite know my position with the
line. After the accident the agent of the
line on the other side told me that my con-
nection with the line was at an end. but /
have never heard from this end whether 1
am still with them or not. / have been
deeply touched by the kindness and the de-
votioa shown me by my friends and the
press OH this side of the water. Everybody
has treated me well and I nave a number
of letters from people expressing good will
toward me-"