The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-08-08
Preferred Against Capt. Herbert Ward,
Marine Engineer.
Investigation of Charges Yesterday by
Steamboat INSPECTORS Rice and Bor-
dcn-lI,c Charges are Drunkenness
While on Duty. Going to Sea IN
CAPACITY of Marine Engineer With
out Proper Papers and InsubOrdi-
nation.

united states local StedLlUOdL lnSpSc-
tors Fred b.. Rice and J. T. Borden,
sitting as a board Of inquiry investiga5-
ed on Yesterday certain charges which
had beer preferred against Captain
Herbert Ward, 4 local pilot and marine
engineer. There were three charges
against Captain Ward-being under the
influence of whiskey while ON duty, 60
ing to sea as an engineer without the
necessary papers. and INSTRUMENTATION.
The inspectors examined a numebr CT
witnesses and the evidence was taken
down by Il st~erographer and will be
typewriter for them so that they can
go over it before rendering their decis-
ion in the case.
By far the most serious of .he
charges against Ward is insubordina-
ton. At the tiTle he is charged with
committing this offense he was OH
board the tug boat Alexander Jones IN
the capacity of engineer, the oat I'M
ming between Wilmington and South
port and at this time had passengers
on board. The affair occurred on July
.24th on the Cape Fear river just be-
low the fisheries. The evidence show
ed that Ward had had some difficulty
with a negro ard when the boat stop
ped at the fisheries the negro wen
ashore. Ward nal his pistol and start
ed after the negro but was prevailed
upon to remain upon the boat. He went
hack Tn tho nntTIna room on6 cfQrtoI
the engines, according to the witnesses,
and the boat, preceded on her course
for a few hundred yards. In the mean
time, Captain M. I. Craig was remon-
strating with Ward about his conduct
when he suddenly stopped the engines
and refused to allow the boat to pro-
coed further, saying he wished to be
put ashore OF to bring the boat back
to Wilmington. During this converse
ton, it was stated that he had a pistol
in his hand, but made no effort to Use
it. Wards lawyer claims that he only
picked up the pistol to show the cap
tain what he intended to use On the
negro if he had got up with him.
Captain Craig could do nothing with
Ward n got a passenger who knew
him well to see what he could do with
him. After urging him for a short time
he agreed to start up the engines.
Ward went to sea on July 9th as an
gineer on the steamer Compton, which
carried a party of excursionists to the
1ightship. On this occasion he had 10
license as marine engineer that would
allow him to act in this capacity On
vessels outside OF the bar. He does
moi deny that he had no license at this
time but claims that at the worst it
was only a technical violation Of the
law. He says he formerly had a license
as marine engineer, which was secured
from the inspectors at Savannah SOM
years ago, but the law requires that a
license of this kind shall be renewed
. every few years. At the time Ward
went to sea on July 9th he says he had
sent his former license to the inspec-
tors at Charleston requesting them q
endorse it which would be equivalent
70 q renewal of his license. He says
that the inspectors at Charleston re-
turned his license without endorsing
it, with the accompanying Information
that Wilmington was without their j1r-
isdiction and that he would have 70
refer his papers to the local inspectors
at Charleston.
AS to his being drunk m the Comp
ton, Captain Jacobs testified that he
had never seen Ward drunk while CT
his boat.
Captain Harper testified that early
in July Ward left Wilmington as en-.
gineer on the steamer Wilmington am
that when some distance down the rlv'
er his attention was called to the lac
that Ward was lying in he engine
room either sick or drunk. He went tt
the engine room and found Ward II
fainti1Ig condition and could not tel
positively whether he was drunk o
sick. He stated that on his return t.
Wilmington he discharged him.
Ward claims Lnat he was taken Yer!
i'll at the time in question and are
returning home he was sick for som
days. He produced a certificate from
DR.. Bullock showing that he was sic
after returning nome.
The inspectors will probably max
known their decision in the csae with
in the next week.