New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-06-12
URGES MUSTER ON STEAMERS
Engineer Says Full Dress Requirement
Should Be Abolished.

To the Editor OF The Tribune
Sir: In his testimony at the Titanic in
quiry in London Harold Sanderson, d.
rector Of the White Star Line, startled the
court by announcing that II was impossible
for the line to enforce its orders for mus
ter and fire drill. He went on to say that
because of the refusal of the fremSn TO
obey orders for muster tho line had found
Il necessary tn modify its regulations. for
the reason that condgn punishment of the
firemen for mutiny would leave the steam
ships without efficient service.
As an engineer with many years expert
ence especially IN Pacific waters IN the
Far East ] can say that Mr.. Sanderson is
entirely right IN the bald statement lie
makes. but I think that, In the interest OF
safety Of life on the ocean, the half truth
which he told should he called To the at
tention OF the public. Tho half truth con-
sisted I'm this: An order 10 muster for lire
drill has by custom grown TO mean m APP
pearance In full dress uniform, as you
might say. When an order To muster Is
given the flremcn and seamen are oblige1
TO wash up change their clothes ard appear
spick and span before the officers. This Is
what they object "a rather than the call
itself. II steamship lines would abandon
tho old-fashioned convention OF requiring
the cleaning UP and changing of clothes as
part OF the muster drill there would ne no
mutlny on the part OF the men.
As a matter OF fact, in case OF accident
the men would respond I'm tho clothes ana
condition they were In at the moment 30
a.. I'd In
affair as the actual practice would DeT
I would suggest that II the IRE gong
were sIgnalled on every ship the day before
sailing. bringing every man TO his post
Irrespective OF dress or condition OF clean
illness, Il would be "A great advantage IN
case OF accident know of only two or
three lines entering either American or
british ports which make this "A practice
and I know of none that does not insist Oh
tho full dress idea when the muster Is or
dcred-and that If the source OF all the
trouble
Mr. sanderson also says that a muster IN
the presence OF the passengers-that IT, the
large number OF passengers on modern
Iiner-would be Impractical. Even ut sea
Sunday has an atmosphere Of It's own. ana
from my own experience am sure ths'
there would be no difficulty In having
muster every Sunday morning at ii O'CLOCK
provided the requirement for fun dtess
were not enforced. 1t is merely an old con
yention. a bit OF red tape that should ana
could be done away with.
AS my personal experience has been
largely In the Far East. am not able TO
speak By the card for New York, but II Is
my strong impression that no steamship
line running out of the Port OF New YORK
holds any muster before sailing. THIS
should not be, and Senator Smith or ony
one else who is interested In the prooiens
brought to public attention by the Titanic
disaster would do service to humanity
bv enforcing q regulation that every steam
ship which leaves the Port Of New YORK
should be compelled to have muster be-
fore sailing. lihRHi a. "iHnSo'
No "a Marian Place, East Orange. n. J.