Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-04-18
BAD LUCK OF COMMANDER
Had Escaped Nishnp till lie Took the
Olympic nnd Titanic.

Olympic nnd Titanic.
No greater tragedy can bcfal mas
ter mariner than the loss Of his ship,
for IL means the end of his sea career.
For many long year in command and
plotting his charges safely from port
to port and with no accident or mishlp
to mar his record. Capt E. j. Smith. who
commanded the Titanic, has OF late been
pursued by ill-luck
The captain first fell upon evil DAYS
when he was in command of the Olym-
pic and that vessel was run into by
the British cruiser Hawke. Although the
admiralty court exonerated the Hawke
from all blame, and although the
Olympic was compelled to go into dry
dock at heavy expense to her owners,
Captain Smith WAS retained as the
Olympics commander, to the amazement
of officers in the service of the merchan Mt
marine of all countries, for the rule that
the steamship captain whose vessel suf-
fers serious damage Is ipso facto a captain
out Of employment. is harder and faster
in the British marine service than under
any other flag.
Captain Smith has been in the White
Star service for more than - years. His
first important command was the
Majestic. In 1892. He has commanded
every large steamship Of the line since
then being put in charge of each one as
soon as she went into commission 1t was
said n month ago that he would retire af-
ter he had commanded the Titanic for n
single voyage. At the Offices OF the White
Star line in New York last week # was
said. on the contrary. that he would re-
main commander Of the Titanic until the
White Star line builds a bigger and finer
vessel.
THESE WENT DOWN WITH SHIP
In nearly every one Of the great trag-
edies of the sea, the masters have always
invariably subscribed to the merclless
rule that the captain who loses his shin
must not himself survive. Deloncle, of the
Bourgogne. stood with folded arms upon
the bridge of the French liner as she
sank. Won Goessel of the Elbe did like
wise Captain Griffith of the Mohegan
held to the bridge until the waters en-
quilted him. Many who have lost their
ships committed suicide subsequently,
Some few others have lost only their
certificates.
One Of these was Capt. Inman Sealby.
who commanded the Republic at the time
she was sunk 10y the Florida. Although
no blame was attached to him for faulty
navigation or seamanship. he was dis
missed from the service and is now study
ing admiralty law In the University of
Michigan. All of his career had been
with the White Star line and he had been
IL years in command.
Ono of the biggest vessels in the PENN
sular and Oriental company was the
China. In 1897 Captain lie Horn, the for
mer commodore of the line. ran the big
steamship ashore on an island in the Red
sea.
At the inquiry 1t was proved that the
second officer, who had been on the
bridge at the time. had despatched two
notes to the captain, then at dinner the
notes warning him the ship was nearing
Il certain course and that the course
should be changed.
II was the birthday anniversary OF
Lady Brassey. one of the passengers. She
was seated at the captains table and he
was so absorbed I'm her conversation he
was that the ship was ashore before the
passengers had finished dinner. 1t not
only ended the captains sea career. but
also led to an order which prohibited
officers Of that company from associatinp
with passengers except in a formal and
official way, The same rule now generally
applies to almost all of the big liners in
the transatlantic service.