The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-02

! the declaration Of libel filed in Norfolk
| by the captain against the Nantucket
In substance, Capt johnson charges
that the Nantucket was miles on her
course. that the Monroe was on ner
course that the Nantucket was proceed
ing at full speed after hearing the fog
siren Of the Monroe and that Capt Barry
backed his ship from the Monroe after
hitting her instead Of keeping close
enough to save the passengers and crew
of the i'll fated steamer.
This deplorablc accident will point
the way for safer operation Of steamships
| In the future" said Gen. thler. Passing
signals speed and such matters ON the
high seas are governed by international
law. This collision occurred on the high
seas, but the United States has complete
Jurisdiction over the officers and crews
of both boats"
The only punishment that the Depart
ment OF Commerce can mete out after trial
| and conviction by a board is the revolving
or suspension of licenses The Revised
statutes, however. provide bith penit.u-
tiary sentence and heavy fine for crimi-
nal negligence as follows:
Every captain. engineer pilot or other
person employed on any steamboat or
vessel by whose misconduct. negligence or
inattention to his duties on such vessel
wv '''N VI tiiN I'lS'Al - u'StlbNtu. ana
every owner. charterer. inspector or other
public officer through whose fraud, n.gli.
gence. conniNanCe. misconduct or violation
OF law the life OF any person is DESTROYED
shall be deemed guilty OF the felony of
manslaughter and upon conviction thereof
before any Circuit Court of the United
states shall be sentenced to pay O, fine OF
not more than $4,000 or t. confinement
at hard labor for a period OF not more
than ten years. or either or both
provided. that when the owner or
chartercr Of any steamboat or vessel
shall he corporation any executive offi-
Ger OF such corporation for the time
being actually charged with the control
and management Of the operation. equip
ment or navigation OF such steamboat
or vessel who has knowingly and will.
fully caused or allowed such fraud, neg
lect. connivance, misconduct or violation
OF law by which the life Of any person
is destroyed shall be- deemed guilty OF
the felony Of manslaught.r and upon con-
victon thereof before any Circui, Court
OF the United States shall be sentenced
to confinement at hard labor for "A period
of not more than ten years"
1t will thus be seen that this statute
will cover any criminal responsibility OF
any person or persons connected with
either Of the two steamships as well as
all the officers who are licensed under the
, laws Of the United states and are clti-
zens Of this country.
Gen. Uher said that there have been
comparatively few fog accidents of "A
serious character. However. he cited the
case of the San Pedro. which sank the
Columbia of the Pacific coast several
years ago during "a thick fog, when 1870
lives Were lost. He also instanced the
case OF the Commonwealth, which sank
the Nolund in Long Island Sound about
six years ago. but no lives We're lost.
Gen. Chler called attention to tho fact
that the subject Of moderate speed was
"A difficult one 10 handle. He said the
Supreme Court OF the United States had
In "A case arising out of the sinking Of
the French steamer Bourgogne refused 10
define what moderate speed was. but held
that circumstances should always govern
IL.