The San Francisco call., 1901-12-15

PUNISH BOTH
THE MASTERS
McKenzie's License Is
Revoked and Trlb-
ble's Suspended.
North Pacific Coast Railroad
Comes in for Severe
Censure.
Decision Is Founded on Facts Which
Show Violation of Sec
tions Of the Pilot
Laws.

The local United States Inspectors Of
Steam Vessels, John K. Bulger and Cap
tain o. F. Bolles, have sent their decision
on the San Rafael wreck to Supervising
Inspector Captain John Birmingham Ac-
cording to their findings the license of
Captain Mckenzie, which expires on jan
uary 2, 1902, is revoked. A punishment
equal in duration of time is meted out to
Captain Tribble of the Sausalito. The
North Pacific Coast Railroad Company is
severely censured for running it's boats
unaer the conoluons existing on the night
OF the collision.
1t was lucky thing for both ferry-boat
masters that Captain Mckenzie's license
expires within such a short time The
tion of the license. Tribble's license has
a year or more to run, so he also benefits
by the time limitation Of McKenzies
license. Trlbbles license is suspended
for thirty days, beginning December II.
Under the ordinary course Captain Nc
KenzIe's license would be renewed with
to continue his pilot occupation he must
pass another examination. His only ap-
peal lies with Captain Birmingham.
The decision follows in FULL:
Steamboat Inspection Service. Office Of Local
Inspectors. San francisco District San
csfai francesca. CO. Cal, Al, Dec: IA. 1901.
spector, First District san Francisco CAL
Sir: In the matter of collision between the
d
dense fog on the bay Of San Francisco about
G:40 p. M. November 30, 1901. upon investlga-
ton thereof, from tetimony taken, find as
follows:
Official Details of Accident.
The San Rafael, j. 7. Mckenzie, master and
pilot in charge, ielt her slip in San ranclsco
at o:25 p ~ or that date. The tog was very
thick, weather calm, with strong ebb tide.
Inc vessel was running slow, sounding her
log whistles, and passed Lombard-srreet wharf
at G:J6 Her course was then set NV by
w. for lhe bell at east end of AIcatraz Island
E Captain Mckenzie heading his steamer more
to westward than usual on account OF L
vessel that he thought might be anchored near
Blossom Rock buoy. A lew minules after
ward he heard a steamers whistle apparently
nearer CAPTAIN Mckenzie blew two whistles
put his helm to starboard; he then stopped
and backed the engines full speed and blew
three whistles. which were answered by the
other boat. After making about four revolu-
tIons backing he stopped her engines. but she
had swung ABOUT a pGlnt TO port and at this
time the two vessels came tolseIher, the Sau-
salltos bow striking the San Rafael on the
starbosrd side. The guard of the Sausal1to
coming over the deck CT the San Rafael, broke
in its sdehouse where the restaurant was. and
the rudder of the Sausalito cut through the
hull OF the San Rafael, causing her to NIL and
sink about fifteen minutes atterward
The ferry steamer Sausi.lito, w. T. Tribble
master and pilot IN charge M left sausalito slip
cisco. The weather was a thick fog. calm, and
strong ebb tide running. The Sarsalito was
at ordinary speed until or the bell at the
east end of Alcatraz Island which passed
at distance of 500 to 1000 feet at 6:36 p. m.
At this time the steamer was put under slow
bell and the course set SE u E., which Cap
tain Tribble thought would bring the Sausalito
to San Francisco to the NV. of Lombard pier.
After passing Alcatraz bell, fog whistle was
heard several times. apparently off the port
bow: then two whistles. Captain Tribble an
swered these two whistles, ordered the helm
hard-a-starboard. stopped and backed the en-
answer to the San Rafael. The Sausalto
swung 11a points to the port, and before she
lost her headway she struck the San Rafael
vessels
saiito then came ahead slow, and through the
prompt action of both captains and crew. the
vessels were made fast together by strong
lines. The passengers were then got on board
ing through the window and some over the up
ger deck of the San Rafael Boats of both
of the passengers got in them and were taken
to the Sausalito. Others jumped overheard
Msh be boa and hrs pulled up With lines
by the passengers and crew of the Sausalito.
Mckenzie Last to Leave San Rafael
AS before stated the San Rafael sank about
fifteen minutes after the collision, the lines
that held the two vessels together parting as
she went down Captain Mckenzie, after look
ing through the cabin of the San Rafael was
the last leave her and says there was
no one board as he looked all around the
main deck and had just time to get off as
she went down. During the time the vessels
were lashed together they were drifting with
the tide and the whistle of the Sausalito was
kept blowing. %The lifeboats from both of the
passengers and continued in that service for
about an hour These vessels were fully
equipped with all life saving appliances re-
quired by law 1t is in evidence that there
were plenty of life preservers. the water be-
tween the two steamers being covered with
them
The boats of the Sausalito were lowered
promptly and two boats of the San Rafael
but it is in evidence that two plugs with
lanyards were found in this boat. One of the
crew of the San Rafael, a waiter, was fatally
crushed by the breaking in of the house on
the San Rafael at the time of the collision and
a boy and one man were drowned in this cas-
uaty. 1t was the opinion given in evidence
that had the San Rafael been bulkheaded she
After careful consideration of the testi-
mony .in this Of the opinion that
both Captain Mckenzie and Captain Tribble
negligent in navigating these steamers
in violation of rule TX Of the rules and regu-.
lations and article 16 of the pilot rules for
scribed for their governance pilots of steam
vessels (Act of Congress. approved June Z.
1919
Censure Railroad Company.
For the reason that Captain Mckenzie failed
to observe rule TX, which says:
..The whistle signals provided in the rules
under this article for steam vessels meeting
passing or overtaking are never to be used
except when steamers are in sight of each
other and the course and position of each can
vessel itself. or by night by seeing its signal
lights. In fog, mist. falling or heavy
transforms, when vessels cannot SO see each
other. fog signals only must be given
Ard article 16, which says:
Every vessel SHALL In fog, mist. falling
snow or heavy rainstorm, go at moderate
speed. having careful regard to the existing
circumstances and conditions. steam vessel
hearing apparently forward of her beam TIM
fog signal of a vessel. the position of which
Is not ascertained. shall. so far as the cir
cumstances of the admit stop her en-
gines and then navigate with caution until
danger of collision is over His license is
this date revoked
Captain McKenzie's license, issued
for term Of five years, expires on
january 2, 1909, and as this revoca-
tion cannot extend beyond the term
for which the license was issued,
hence we have exhausted our author
ity in his case.
For the reason that Captain Trib-
BILE likewise failed to observe the