New-York tribune., 1902-07-15
MUCH HISM4N4GEMENT.
OF CONDUCT OF AFFAIRS AFTER
THE ACCIDENT.

To the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir; Having been a passenger the Priscilla the
night Of the collision with the Powhatan wish
10 call your attention TO some facts in connection
with the accident.
Frrst-The Priscilla started ahead Immediately
upon the withdrawal Of the Powhatan from the
impact, before It was yet ascertained how badly
she hurt. This forcing of the boat through
the water. IT'S pressure being exerted against
her proper structure bat against the exposed col
hsion bulkhead, itself wounded, was in a high de-
gree dangerous.
Second-Within three minutes OF the impact the
iiErts OF the Priscilla went out her dynamos icing
all located at place close behind the collision
bulkhead where they likely suffer from
any accident TO her bow her most vulnerable part
II would seem necessary these great boats
(almost always crowded. 20 provide against being
thrown into complete darkness when accident
occurs. I suggest that the dynamos should either
be- (a) Separated that single local injury could
put everything: Oh Placed in a less
posed position; or Cc) OIL or other independent
lights should be used for signal lights and should
be placed at all stairs and gangways
Third-The accident occurred about Il o'clock Al
though lay among other steamers. right IN
the course Of traffic the Priscilla showed no lights
whatever until 12:45 when a double lantern
placed the bow flagstaff Later red and green
side lights we're shown. We Jay thus for nearly
two hours. four blasts upon the whistle being
continuously answered by number Of vessels.
without being found by but one, and this vessel.
being guided only by our whistle (Which always
answered after considerable delay unable 10
get alongside her hail asking the direction in
which We were heading not being answered until
she had drifted away in the fog
Fourth-Our whistle was NOT blown urgently
more than four blasts until just. previous to the
Puritan's arrival when hve. six or more blasts
were sounded rapidly and promptly and (as have
said before lights displayed
FIfth-More than hour was spent in breaking
the boats. none Of them were swung out on
nd rlTr7a fg gevff
" unknown whether the falls would have run or
whether the freight handlers and roustabouts who
had displayed so much ignorance In getting the
boats ready by candelght. would have been able
to get them overheard without spilng I think
boat drills are practised by the crews Of the Fan
River Line and whether these drills are ever in
spected II is certainly OF as much Importance
as that they should be in good condition them
sixth-Three hours were wasted by the Puritan
before she got under way, towing us stern first
taGt Two hawsers Wer then pasped sSon u as
no better as the Priscilla was wholly unman-
ropes unequally and Immediately breaking one Of
II had been obvious for hours that four lines
would have to be used. when at o'clock they
finally employed. This was seven hours after the
PGrtan ana 'hTee hours after the arrival Of the
seventh-At Newport we were safe. but it still
remained to increase discomfort No nforra-
ton whatever was given US. We allowed 10
in search OF transportation or rooms Finally we
told II went hack 10 the boat We
could exchange our tickets for train tickets. and
some three hundred lined up for another hour to
make an exchange which should have been made
quilted the boat. Our tickets read by Wick
ford. but told where the boat would land
so many people took carriage and drove TO the
boats usual landing.
Others had started TO walk wher we were met
at the head Of the wharf by a passenger who said
the Wexford boat would land at the Priscilla 50
We all went back Every wharf was
taken aboard again and allowed to stand fno-
mentartly expecting the officer on guard al the
further Eangway TO open the Katej. o'clock
(more than an hour. when saw the Wexford
boat passing on her nor pier. and knew
that We had time 10 go ashore and sit down again
before she could get Lack TO take US on.
Eighth-From Wexford IN
towE by a train Of common tthe one Pull
ever being made for eating or comfort on the
boat had been given food at S O'Clock and now
at New-Ilondon the long train stopped several hun
dTed yards past the station, and the hundreds of
passengers who dared leave II had 10 run hack
and push at a twenty foot lunch counter feU
sandwiches and dishes OF fruit
AS a nnal touch. cabs awaited weary
crowd of women and children when they arrived ar
the Grand Central. / ask you suggest where
any opportunity for mtsmanagement
In conclusion, | would say that the potential
crimnality Of avoiding refusing assistance under
such circumst tances as the Priscilas is none the
no loss. The Sound will be more and more crowded
each year, the danger of accident greater and
greater. and such chances were taken by the
Prfsctllas officers cannot always result as we'll
A CONSTANT TRAVELLER BY THE LINE
New-York. July Il, 1907.