The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1908-01-16
PILOT ANSON BLAMED.
M'vAY NOT COMMENDED

All the papers and findings in the in
JOY Line steamer Larchmont and the
schooner Harry Knowlton I'm Block ISL
and sound, on the night OF Feb. IL. 1907
have been transmitted to congress and
referred to the committee on merchant
marine and fisheries.
The findings OF William f. Withey and
John Stewart. constituting the local
board OF United States Steamboat In
spectors at New London. are sustained
by "A special board OF naval officers APP
pointed 10 review the report. The loss OF
the two vessels is attributed to careless
and unskilled navigation on the part of
the first pilot OF the Larchmont, John H.
Anson." The findings further say con-
cerning Capt. George w McYay, cap
tain OF the Larchmont:
THE conduct OF Capt. George w. Nc
Way after the collision. we find not COM
mendable. The judgment he displayed In
his efforts to save the lives OF his pas
sengers and crew by endeavoring TO ma
noeuvre his boat TO the leeward side of
the Larchmont, in the hope OF taking
them off from the damaged side, we cam
not approve Of for the reason that he
should have known, with the rough sea
then running and a i0-mile gale blowing.
tbat II was impossible to accomplish this
this move. Evidence is wanting. how
ever. to warrant our charging him with
incompetency or misconduct
Accompanying the findings OF the In
spectors are all the papers I'm the case,
among them being several which are
made public for the first time. Among the
papers are copy OF the protest OF Capt
Luther Il. Dow, representing the Ameri-
can Association OF Masters. Mates and
Pilots, against the conclusions OF the in
spectors: the report of the board OF naval
officers convened by the secretary OF the
navy at the request OF the department OF
commerce and labor, to pass upon
these conclusions and copies OF the vari-
ous requests and orders In connection
herewith.
MORE EFFICIENCY NEEDED.
Secretary straus. In his letter Of trans
INITIAL calls attention To the efforts that
he has made since assuming the office TO
improve the efficiency OF the steamboat
inspection service. 10 tho end that trans
portation by water may be made safer.
After the findings OF the New London
inspectors had been rendered, a protest
against the findings was made by Luther
B. Dow, general counsel for the American
Association or Masters. Mates and Pilots.
with a request that three navigators OF
the navy department be designated 10
neur the pIoleSl ana 10 ItNlcW Nuc ttSu-
mony and findings.
In accordance with this request. the
department OF navy appointed Capt. Ed
ward Il. Qualtrough. commandant at
Washington navy yard: Commander
Charles &. Rogers and Lieut.. Commander
George w. Logan.
After holding several meetings and
hearing arguments by Capt. Dow and
George uhler. supervising inspector gen.
eral OF the steamboat inspection service.
the naval board reported that IL ''specin-
cally concurs with the finding as TO blame
expressed I'm the findings OF the local i'm
spectors and records its opinion that said
findings should he sustained"
In part the report says.
Notwithstanding the fact that boat
drills were held each week regularly un-
der the supervision OF the master. the net
results OF the efforts put forth in olsen
gagins hfeboats and life RATS were not
~atiefact tory. "a result ChsrEeable. we
think. TO a system which II allowed 10
prevail OF employing men. unfamiliar with
the work. 90 man. lower and manage
life-saving appliances carried on sound
steamers. for while foreigners. who are
unable TO comprehend cor understand the
rudimentafy principles OF the English