The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-09-01
Publication Laying Respon-
sibility for Mishap to the
Massachusetts, at Its Doors
SaidtoHave Been Inspired
Statements by Naval Off
GERS and Survey Official.
Accident Due to Manau-
Vering of Vessels in Fog.

a. - III ~ NlcllI~O
vering of Vessels in Fog.
In commenting upon the Injuries the
battleship Massachusetts, and the torpedo
boat Decatur recently sustained on reefs
of Bar Harbor, The American Siren
and Shipping criticises the charts fur
nished by the Coast Survey and de-
ncUnces the navy for not employing
coast pilots.
The following is an extract from the
article in The American Siren and
Shipping" on this subject:
Nobody in maritime circles was sur
prised TO learn that the battleship
Massachusetts and the torpedo boat De-
catur ran ashore on the rocks off Bar
Harbor recently while under way in
dense fog, bound for Oyster Bay for
review of the North Atlantic Squadron by
the President. So long as our naval Off
GERS are obliged TO depend upon inaecu-
rate charts accidents of this sort may be
locked for all along our Atlantic and Pa
cific coasts. Some years ago. when naval
officers were permitted to employ local
pilots. OF when pilots were not 70 be had 4
they engaged fishermen or alongshore
coEstermen. running ashore accidents TO
men-of-war we're few and far between.
las it is popularity believed in nautical
services that our Coast Survey hardly
ever puts an accurate marking of rocks
and reefs that was not in the first in
stance the scene OF a dozen or more
wrecks OF vessels, it can be readily be-
liked that the passage of the rule that
our navaE,ofhcers should not employ pi-
lots on our coasts meant that whatsoever
a naval vessel struck a rock or reef that
the site could be accurately located by
the Coast Survey within a year or two
after the accident
Employment OF Pilots.
The blowing rule relating 70 a cap
tain's duties is taken from the regula-
tions of the Navy Department: He shall
pilot the ship under his command under
all ordinary circumstances, but may in
accordance with the provisions of ar
ticle 1916 employ a pilot when neces-
sary.''
Article 1916 makes the following pro-
vision concerning the employment Of
coast pilots: Coast pilots shall not be
employed except by special authority
from the Navy Department. and when
employed are not to be paid local pilot
axe"
4 At the time the Massachusetts and De
katur came 10 grief they had no civilian
pilots on board In fact. the naval yes
tseIs seldom employ civilian pilots except
when entering harbors which are known
TO be dangerous. or foreign harbors
where there are rules not known to the
American officers.
1t has been the practice Of the Navy
Department for about twenty five years
20 hire civilian pilots as little as pos
sibIe. Pilots pretending to know whole
coast are said by Navy Department Off
cssls to have only an imperfect knowl
edge of the coast in most cases and sell
dom have licenses to work in all the
harsors which are to be visited.
No Survey Absolutely Correct.
.When officers enter dangerous har-
bcrs with a naval vessel they usually
employ a pilot" said an officer of the
Bureau
been so much criticism OF officers who
venture into dangerous harbors without
local pilots that il is a common practice
20 hire men who are thoroughly familiar
with the harbor But in travel along
the coast II is different.
IF vessels do strike rocks occasion
ally of bad coasts it is not strange.
no survey can be abolutely perfect. It
is impossible 10 drop a piummet on ey-
cry foot OF the coast, and consequently
dangerous rocks are often not discovered
until some vessel strikes them. Where
there Is little heavy shipping reefs RAY
go undiscovered for years"
Rocks Clearly Charted.
F. ". Perkins. assistant superin-
tendent Of the Coast and Geodetic Sur
vey. says that abe paragraph from the
american siren and shipping. % already
quoted. was undoubtedly inspired. In
the first place. he says, the rocks upon
which the Massachusetts and Decatur
ran we're plainly marked on the chart
and part OF the rock upon which the
Massachusetts, went ashore is out of
water.
Mr.. Perkins attributes the accident TO
the difficulty OF maneuvering in a thick
fog. Had the Massachusetts, merely en-
deavored TO get out of the harbor. fol-
lowing the chart. she could have done
so with comparatively little difnculty
But il is easy 10 lose bearings when
maneuvering in fog TO keep al a Ger
tain distance from other vessels.
A Costly Regulation.
The rule preventing naval officers from
engaging the services OF a local pilot
while. doing coast work was made in
order to give these officers a chance TO
learn how 10 handle their vessels IN
coast and shoal waters. Such. privilege
Is considered vitality necessary in case
Of war with a foreign power, ia which
he American navy might have 10 ap-
proach the enemy's coast, and would
then not be able 10 obtain the services
of a local pilot.
This coast practice has proved costly
Ia a great many cases. For while naval