Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1913-01-30
NEWS OF THE OLD DOMINION.
BLAMEs CAPT. GILBERT.
CAPTAIN and Crew of the Indrakuala.
Commended.

Norfolk, Va, Jan. 30.-Holding Cap
tan Gilbert, the master. of the steamer
Julia Luckenbach, responsible the To-
cal steamboat inspectors, Tapley and
Bray. in their decision which, was lin
ished yesterday, not only exonerated
the master and pilot of the British
steamship Indrakuala from all blame,
but highly recommended the master
and crew for their conduct at the time
of the collision between the two YES
sells in Chesapeake Bay, which resulted
in the sinking of the Julia Luckenbach
and the drowning of IS people on the
morning of January 3, 1918.
The testimony in the case covered
2O3 typewriter sheets, together with
MANY letters and kilograms and the
inspectors consumed two weeks in
hearing it. The decision was given out
this morning and follows in full:
"After a careful review of the testi-
mony taken in the investigation of
the collision between the British
steamship Indrakuala and the Amer
lean steamship Julia Luckenbach,
which occurred in Chesapeake Bay on
January 3, 1913, south of Tangier
Lump Gas Buoy, causing the sinking
OF the steamship Julia Luckenbach
and the loss of 16 lives, we find as
follows:
"First-At the time CT the collision
there was dense fog and strong
breeze from about south southwest.
"Second-The British steamship In
drakuala was beng navigated with
caution, with due regard to existing
conditions, and at the time of the col
lision had little if any Roadway.
"Third-The steamship Julia Luck
enbach was being navigated without
complying with Article 16 Of the
pilot rules for certain inland waters
of the Atlantic and Pacific Coast, and
Of the Gulf of Mexico, in that when
hearing forward of her beam fog
signal from another vessel she failed
to stop her engines and navigate with
caution, but continued at full speed,
assuming that the fog signals were
from the steamship Essex, which had
previously overtaken and passed her,
and which signals, we believe from the
evidence, came from the Indrakuala.
we. m.ixr BpU hr hrtaohr hr hr hrd
"Fourth-The course of the Julia
Luckenbach was changed after enter
ing the fog and few minutes before
the collision from north, one-quarter
east to northwest, one-quarter north,
which, from the testimony, was done
in order to get over into shoal wafer
to anchor, and out of the course OF
vessels bound up and down the bay.
This maneuver made her the crossing
vessel, as the Indrakuala was on the
regular and proper course for vessels
bound down.
"Fffth.-We believe that the col
lision was due to the facts SCI: forth
above in regard to the navigation OF
the steamship Julia Luckenbach. and
the master and pilot of the steamship
Indrakuala are eXoncrated from ALI
blame.
"Sixth-The evidence further shows
that after the collision the master, OFF,
GERS and crew of the steamship Indra-
kpala did all that was in their power
to rescue the crew of the Julia Luck
enbach, and did succeed in saving SIX
men, one of whom afterward died
from exposure. These men were pick
ed up from the wreckage, which
drifted with the wind and tide, which
was so strong that the lifcboats sent
out by the Indrakuala, though we'll
manned, were unable to pull to wind
ward. Had the Danish ship Pennsyl-
yania not come along at that time
and been signalled by the master OF
the Indrakuala to proceed to the
wreck, those clinging to the masts,
which were only showing Is or 20 feet
above water, would undoubtedly have
been lost, as the Indrakuala was down
by the head and could not vancouver
back to the wreck, but, with the wheel
hard aport and wind on the port quar-
ter, which had increased to mode
rate gale, worked her way across to
the western shore and came to anchor
in about four and half fathoms of
water.
"The officers and crew OF the Brit
ISL steamship Indrakuala, having ac-
ted with credit to themselves and hon
or to their country, should receive our
highest commentator, which is here
by given. We also feel that the Sc