Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1906-10-31
INVESTIGATING ACCIDENT.
How Steamer Sappho Ran Down Boat
on Pretty Marsh Last Summer.

How Steamer Sappho Ran Down Boat
on Pretty Marsh Last Summer.
hearing was held before U. 8. Steam
boat Inspectors Capt. Charles o. Cousins
and Capt. Walter L. Blaisdelt at the Ban
gor custom house Wednesday forenoon,
for the purpose OF taking testimony rela-
tive to the accident that occurred in
Frenchman's bay waters July Is, whereby
George Liscomb was drowned and W. NJ.
Bunker and w. II. Davis were run down
in their sail boat by the steamer Sappho,
Capt. Joseph Norton.
Mr.. Bunker and Mr.. Davis and the re!a-
tives OF Liscomb were represented at the
hearing by Hon. L. B. Deasy, OF Bar Har-
Dor, while County Attorney Charles NJ.
Wood, was also present. The inspectors
held the hearing to see IL Capt. Norton
should be exonerated from blame In the
accident, or whether charges should be
preferred against him.
w. II. Bunker was the first witness and
told the story OF the affair as he under
stood it. He said that, together with Mr..
Davis and Mr.. Liscomb, he was coming in
from fishing and making for Seal Harbor.
There was but little wind and they were
aiding the progress OF the boat with their
oars. They saw the Ssppho when she was
from a quarter to half mile away, but
kept on their way believing that, as they
had the right of way, the steamer would
look out for them.
Mr.. Bunker said that the steamer kept
on coming until it seemed to them that
they were certain of being run down and
that they then pulled the bow of the boat
around so that they would be struck a
glancing blow rather than in the middle
steamer and he and Davis were later
picked up while Liscomb was drowned.
He said that there had been fog but that
they had run out of 1t and were able to see
the shore and for some distance.
D. Everett Kimball, of Northeast Har-
Dor, who was a passenger on the Sappho,
was the next witness. He was in the bow
OF the steamer when the accident occurred
and was looking right down on the small
boat when it was struck. Mr.. Kimball
gave it as his opinion that the men on the
steamer were in no way to blame.
Rudolph B. Ladd, quartermaster Of the
Sappho, the next witness, said that it was
considerably less than minute from the
time that the small boat was seen that
| the Sappho struck it. He said that the
| course OF the steamer was changed at once
| when the fishing boat was seen. No fog
| whistles were blown by the steamer.
Quartermaster Ladd said that the
Sappho Is a hard steamer to steer. Austin
Marston, mate of the Sappho, testified
along similar lines as the preceding wit
ness, while c. Porter Smith, the chief en-
gineer, stated that everything was done as
rapidly and efficiently as possible toward
stopping the steamer and picking up the
men.
| The inspectors on Saturday announced
their finding, generating Capt. Norton.
The decision follows:
BANGOR, Me-, Oct. 81, 1906
| Collision and loss of life the result of vio-
lation of Rule 81. Rules OF the Road" on the
| part of the sail boat.
There would have been no collision If the
sail boat had continued her "course and
speed, as is required by the rule.
| Capt Joseph L. Norton is exonerated.
| (Signed) CHARLES 0. COUSINS,
WALTER L. BLAIsDLL,
U. 8. Local Inspectors.