The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-02-12
Captain johnson of
Monroe Tells Story
GRAPHIC ACCOUNT OF COLL
SION WITH THE
NANTUCKET
In Which Forty-one Lives We're
Lost Told to the Board
of Inquiry.

PHILADELPHIA, Feb. ii.-Captain
osmyn Berry, commander of tho
steamship Nantucket. charged with
negligence I'm the recent collision with
the steamship Monroe of the Virginia
coast. in which III lives were lost. to-
DAY listened TO Captain Edward r.
Johnson, OF the sunken Monroe give
his version OF that disaster before the
local United States inspectors OF
steam vessels. who will determine
who was responsible for the accident.
captain johnson was on the stand all
day.
As in the Titanic disaster. Il Is ex-
pected that the inquiry will result in
certain changes being made with re-
,ation TO the navigation OF vessels, at
least in the coastwise trade. While
primarily Captain Berry is on trial.
the board OF inspectors has instruc-
lions from the department OF com
merce to make thorough inquiry
into every phase OF the collision with
me view 10 the enactment OF federal
laws TO assist in preventing a recur-
renee OF similar disasters
Captain Berry. when confronted to-
uay by the charges brought by the
government steamboat INSPECTORS nj
Noriolk. pleaded not guilty. He is
charged with failing 10 reduce the
speed OF his ship 20 avoid the col
H'ANH. ldillUE lo ascertain whether
the wireless operator was on duty and
with being careless I'm not ascertain
ing through the wireless operator
whether any other vessels were close
by in the ice
Important Point.
one OF the most important points
brought out I'm the examination of
captain johnson. who was the first
witness. was that he navigated the
" d 90. .aasU..
deviated as much as two degrees from
the standard magnet compass. He
SAID the instrument was sufficiently
true TO run the ship and that IL was
the custom of masters I'm the coast.
wise trade TO use such compasses
His steering compass. Captain Jobp.
son testified had never been adjusted
Monroe. Va '"e
The Monroe's captain told the story
OF the collision in which he was nos.
nlNely eNonerated by the steamboat
lls,p,eGtors. lie said the night of the
colllslon was alternately clear and
loggy. The collision occurred during
a log, 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 run
stopped his engine TO locate the othar
snip and blew his whistle twice 10
let the vessel know he was steerips to
port He judged the whistle was
about 375 feet away.
Captain Johnson's second knovI.
edge OF the proximity OF n vessel was
When ne saw faint light four points
70 star board and about 34O feet away.
ne said; He believed the other vessel
Was going in the opposite direction 10
MN ana on a parellel line. but a NOM.
eht later the ship came out of the fog
almost at right angles and struck the
Mohroe on the starboard side aft of
the pilot house. Vi
Lapse Of Two Minute.
AFTER ne discovered the proximity
or the Nantucket. Captain Johnson
said he signaled full steam ahead
ana turned his vessel to port in the
rope OF receiving only a elancing
Glow; as he realized collision could
not be avoided. Captain johnson
said there was a lapse of only two
minutes between the time no heard
(Coufluued on pa0a sr.nN