The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1907-11-13
CAPTAIN FRANcKE's APPEAL


It viii be remembered that Captain
Emil Francke. late master of the
steamer Dakota. wrecked on Kiukone
Reef on March 5, 1907. appealed from
the decision Of the local inspectors Of
the e. s. Steamboat Inspection Ser
vice. The issue of shipping Illustrated.
New York, for September Is states that
the decision Of the Supervising Inspee-
tor has now been given, and is as fol-
lows: After reviewing the testimony
taken before the local board in this
case. and consulting the charts placed
in evidence, I ind that the Dakota was
being personally navigated by the ap-
peIlant: that she was going fourteen
knots and drawing over twenty-nine
feet of water at the time she took the
bottom on Kiukone Reef, which Is
charted and located about one mile off
the coast of Japan, about one and one
eight miles from Molina Zaki Light
and about forty-two miles from Yo-
kohama, to which port she was bound.
The weather was clear and there was
plenty of sea room. The ship was, ac-
cording to the testimony of the
appellant. shaping close courses
against a two-knot current to avoid a
stronger one. and fishing boats. of
shore. No cross bearings appear TO
have been taken in order to determine
the ships actual distance from the
land. which the appellant testified to
be one and one-half miles on his star
board beam. The ship was steering
about s. 81 w when she struck the
reef, and was abandoned TO her utter
destruction, fortunately without loss
of life, about an hour later. The value
of the ship and her lost cargo was
more than $4,000 undoubtedly the
greatest financial loss by the wreck Of
a vessel that ever before occurred any
where. 1t seems to me that such un-
paraIleled negligence and unskllful-
ness on the part Of the appellant in
navigating the Dakota on that occasion
evinces a degree of mentality bordering
on insanity. He states in his appeal
that '.the humiliation I have endured,
as well as the deep regret that in con-
sequence has been felt by me. surely is
in itself sufficient torture for an error
in judgment imputed 10 me. Since
years ago 1 have been in command of
some Of the finest vessels afloat, and
have never met with any mishap until
this accident occurred The owners
Of the lost Dakota and her cargo are
entitled at least 10 some commisera-
ton. Capt. Francke's case is an ex-
traordinary one. and. 50 far as know,
without precedent. There is an alb
sence Of any mitigating circumstances
whatever in his case. and he IS de-
serving of some measure Of punish
ment. 1t would appear unjust 70 let
MIN escape. when the master Of a
Coasting steamer who hugs the land 10
avoid currents or strong winds during
a fog. and comes n grief by grounding
or losing his vessel. is therefore sub
jeCted n d suspension or revocation oE
his license. Therefore. I hereby decree
that no local board Of inspectors Of
steam vessels VIII be justified in re-
newing The license as master Of Emil
Francke inside Of eighteen months
from May Is. 1907. Meantime. in lieu
thereof, in order that he may not be
iebarred from earning MS living by
following the sea. 7 am OF the opinion
that any local board would be justified
in issuing 70 him q license as chief
mate of ocean steamers