The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-03-08
Pilot Also Partially
Blamed.
Current and Gale Took Steamer
OFF Her Course.

Yesterday forenoon In the Board of
Trade rooms occurred the naval court Of
inq ujry into the wreck Of the Allan liner
| Californian. British Vice Consul John
| b. Heating, by whose order the court was
convened re the order under which the
court was assemble d, and then swore In
as member of the court, Captain Robin
son of the Tynedals and Captain Hughes
of the King Edgar. Mr.. Ridge was sworn
in as clerk OF the court. Horace g.
Allen, Esq, Of Boston. was the attorney
for Captain France, and there was
large crowd Of ship masters, English
steamship employees and other spectators
present.
Aftsr the evidence Of Captain France
AID his ofiicers, the court called upon
Capt. Parsons the pilot who made q
very short statement in reply to ques-
tions. The court then rendered its de-
ciaiou in the case oensuring Capt France
but not holding him blameworthy TO the
extent that he should lose his certificate
The pilot Is also blamed.
Capt John France, master of the Cali
master of the Californian the last seven
voyages, been master for the Allan line
IA gears, and been to sea IS years. On
Sunday we left the dock at Is minutes
past midnight, In charge Of Pilot Par
sons. We swung ths ship around and
proceeded slowly down the harbor. There
was then moderate breeze, eAst-south-
east; 1t was a dark night and showers
were falling when we left.
As we proceeded slowly the wind in
dressed, and the showers became more
frequent. But the light at Portland
Head ana Bug light were visible. We
steered the usual channel course. keep
ing Portland Head light little on the
starboard bow. The pilot had engaged the
tug Warren to take him of when he had
finished his pilOtage; the tug aocompan-
led us assern.
When nearing the buoy off Cushing's
island the tug whistled, which we oen-
sidered q signal that he wished US to stop.
I told the pilot to pay no heed to that
signal, and said II the sea was too rough,
he had better go to Halifax with ms.
While he didn't say positively shat he
wouldn't go, could see by his manner
that he didn't want to 60. A second
time the tugboat whistled. II seemed to
make the pilot more anxious to stop. A
third time the tug blew her whistle and
turned around, as II to return. ! then
ssid to the pilot: "Mr. Parsons, you
will be paid for going to Halifax. why
not go?" he then stopped the ship dead
and he said 1t would give the tugboat
chance to get up to Us.
Directly aftsrward we saw light
dancing in dory, coming astsrn. The
pilot said that was all right, and he would
have = chance to get of. We were then q
little past the. ball buoy off Cushing's
island. and the pilot remarked
that the dory would catch up with us. l
asked the pilot II he had got his note.
and he said he had.
l took him into the chart room and
explained the course. He gave me
east, southeast-which he wanted
me to steer to take us between Witch
rock and jordan reef. said / had
never used that channel, and
that on such night didn't like to go
that way, having always used the channel
between Witch rock and ham island ledge
ever since l had been on the Allan line.
de said southeast half-east, would be a
safe course for me to steer. The ship was
slowly forging ahead and nearing Fort
land Head light, heading southeast, half
east.
By this time the dory ahad come up,
the pilot babe me "Good-by" and left
the ship When he left judged the ship
to be about halfway between the bell
buoy and Portland Head light. During
the time betwean the pilob eating m the