Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1909-03-20
SANDERS ESCAPES
WITH SUSPENSION
Board OF Inquiry FlIei
Report On Logan
Accident

'u the lIbuNUufi Logan on NNNlI'.
island Iaft Saturday night. has boon
suspended by Superintendent uf ruH.
lie Works Marslon Campbell. uu.
May I.
Considering the circumstance sur.
rounding the grounding at tha Lu-
gan, together with the previously un
blemished record Of Captain Saudc...
Campbell followed out the rccOmmDu
dalton Of the Board OF investigate
regarding lenienCy
Captain Stiusou uf the Logan was
completely cXUneratcd from any
blame.
Captain Sanders in his testimony
before the BOARD. stated that he had
received orders to dock the transpOv'
at the Matson Navigation wharf.-the
night was dark and rainy. making 60
difficult to see the outline of "a,
wharyes, or anything along the wa
terfrOnt. lie said that when he wa
about to turn toward the Kiuau
wharf. he saw Il white schooner
WhlfN showed no liHntS.
Captain Stinson cOrroborated the
story as to the lack Of lights On the
schooner Captain Sanders Tut no
blame on Captain StinsOn or any Of
the officers Of the Logan. lie aaij
that his orders We're complied with.
that the steering gear was in splea-
did condition, and that the helm was
used rs directed.
The sfollowing Is the finding Of
the board appointed by Marston
Campbell
The board finds that the ground
Ing of the transport was caused by
an error OF Judgment ON the part of
Pilot NJ. n. Sanders, who was pilot
Ing the ship into the h1rbo. ut the
time she grounded.
After consider ;Cn OF Tie trsti-
mony of the witnesses the board be.
lieves that the following extenuating
circumstances existed:
First: The weather. II was dark.
thick and rainy; the overhanging
clouds probably increasing the glare
Iof lights along the waterfront and
adding to the liability of confusion
Second: The white schooner re-
ferred to showed no lights, and this
fact was doubly misleading because
It's color made IL easily distinguish
able; and the absence of lights ON
the schooner made the pilot believe
the schooner was alongside n wharf
Third: A reference to Honolulu
harbor chart will show that n vessel
Of the Logans size need Overrun her
proper distance by only 400 feet or
less In order to pass from a position
OF perfect safety to one of grave
danger.
Fourth: This investigation has
called attention for the first time ia
a serious defect in the navigatIonal
aids In Honolulu harbor. in the abb
sence of turning mark on the west
ern side of the harbOr between quar-
antine wharf and the railroad
wharves.
The board recommends as pun
ishment adequate to the offensc of
Pllot NJ. n. Sanders, suspension from
duty for a period of three months:
but In view of the extenuating cir
cumstances cited, and also in consld-
Grafton of the long and able service
In this port of Pilot Sanders. as
known to all the members of this
board, we unanimously recommend
him to the clemency of the conven-
ing authority.
While beyond the scope of its in
vestigation, the board wishes TO in
vite attention to the necessity for
correcting the defects referred to in
the lighting of Honolulu harbor, and
recommends the following changes:
First; Abolish the green rear
range light and install a green pile
light in the vicinity of Summers Isl,
and near the harbor line.
Second: Install a red light on the
northwestern end of Kekuanaou
wharf where the eastern harbor line
turns to the north.
The board found no evidence OF
negligence or incapability on tn,
part of the officers of the Logan.
| The report was signed by Com
mander Moses, Captain Peter John
son, and Captain Willett.