The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-02-14
CAPT. BERRY ON TRIAL,
CAPT. JOHNSON TELLS HIS YER.
SION OF FATAL COLLISION.
Investigation Will Probably Result in
Change OF Navigation Lessenine
Danger Of Observation-Disclosures On.
orators Are Sometimes Careless.

Philadelphia, Feb. 11.--Capt. Osmyn
Berry, commander of the steamhsip
Nantucket, charged with negligence
in the recent collision with the steam
ship Monroe off the Virginia coast,
In which Al lives were lost, today
listened to Capt Edward E. Johnson
OF the sunken Monroe give his yer.
sion OF that disaster before the local
United States inspectors of steam ves-
sells who will determine who was re-
sponsible for the accident. Capt. john
son was on the stand all day.
AS in the Titanic disaster, the in
quiry will result in certain changes
in navigation Of vessels, at least in
coastwise vessels.
Capt. Berry, when confronted to-
day by the charges brought by the
government steamboat inspectors at
Norfolk, pleaded not guilty. He Is
charged with failure to reduce speed
of his vessel to avoid collision; with
failing to ascertain whether the wire
less operator was on duty and in
being careless in not asking the wire
less operator whether any other ves-
sells were close by in the fog.
One of the most important points
brought out in the examination of
Capt Johnson, who was the first wit
ness, was that ne navigated the Mon
roe with steering compass that de-
waited as much as two degrees from
the standard magnet compass. He
said the instrument was sufficiently
true to run the ship and that it was
the custom of masters in the coast
wise trade to use such compasses. His
steering compass, Capt. Johnson testi-
fed. had never been adjusted in the
one year he was master of the Mon
roe.
The MOnroe's captain told the story
Of the collision and was exhaustively
examined by the steamboat inspectors
He said the night of the collision was
alternately clear and foggy.
The collision occurred during a fog
The first knowledge he had that the
Nantucket was near him was when
he heard a whistle three points on
the starboard bow. He was running
at half speed nt the time and stop
ped his engine to locate the other
ship and blew his whistle twice to
let the vessel know he was steering
to port. He Judged the whistle was
about 375 feet away.
Capt. Johnson's second knowledge
Of the proximity Of a vessel was when
he saw a faint light four points to
starboard and about $40 feet away,
he said. He believed the other ves-
sci was going in the opposite direc-
tion to him on a parallel line. but a
moment later the ship came out Of
the fog almost at right angles and
struck the Monroe on the starboard
side aft Of the pilot house.
After he discovered the proximity
Of the Nantucket. Capt Johnson said.
he signaled full steam ahead and
turned his vessel to port in the hope
Of receiving only a glancing blow, as
he realized a collision could not be
avoided. Capt. Johnson said there
was lapse of only two minutes be-
tween the time he heard the Nan
tucket's first whistle and the collision.
Capt. Johnson detailed the duties
Of each member Of the crew. At the
time of the collision he had had no
sleep for 10 hours. He said he could
have gone to sleep before the Mon
roe left Norfolk for New York but
did not think it necessary. A mum.
ber Of times he testified, he had re.
mained in the pilot house all the way
from Norfolk to New York.
Questioned as to what action he
took to find out through the wireless
operator the proximity of other YES
sells. Capt. Johnson said he had in
structed the operator to ascertain the
location Of the steamer Hamilton
which he knew was coming down the
coast This vessel was located near
the Delaware capes.
The Nantucket must have been be-
tween the Hamilton and the Monroe.
Capt. Johnson said, but the operator
Of the Nantucket did not make his
presence known.
Capt. Johnson was asked his views
on the efficiency of the wireless in To-
eating vessels in fogs and said it was
q great help. He added, however,
that wireless operators do not bother
about messages they hear unless they
are directed to the ship. Some op-
orators. he said don't bother answer
ing questions about the location of
their ShiDS