The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-12
CAPTAIN Of !
G|VE:SHIS
D|SASTF
A.
A-a"t.
MAY W0PK CHANGES
IN SHIPPING LAWS
Captain Berry PLEADS Not Guilty 20
Charges-Thorough Inquiry TO
BE Made by Department
of Commerce

Philadelphia. February 1l.-CaDt. Os-
myn Berry, commander of the steamship
Nantucket CHARGED with negligenee In
the recent collision with the steamship
Monroe Off the Virginia coast. in which
II lives We're lost, today listened to Capt.
Edward L. 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 Cap
tain johnson was on the stand all day.
1t is expected that the inquiry will re-
suit in certain changes being made IN
coastwise navigation. While primarily
Captain Berry is on trial. the board OF
inspectors has instructions from the de-
pGrtment Of federal laws TO assist in pre-
venting recurrence of similar dsas-
tcrs.
Pleads Not Guilty
Captain Berry pleaded not guilty today
to charges brought by the government
steamboat inspectors AT Norfolk. lie Is
charged with failing to reduce the speed
of his ship to avoid the collision; failing
was ON duty and with being careless in
not ascertaining by wireless whether
other vessels were close by in lhe fog.
one of the most important points
brought out In the examination of Cap
tain Johnson, who was the first witness,
was that he navigated the Monroe with
a steering compass that deviated as much
as two degrees from the standard magnet
compass lie said the instrument was sur
ticiently true to run the ship, and that
II was the custom of masters in the
coastwlse trade to use such compasses.
His compass, he testified, had not been
adjusted in the one year he was master
of tue Monroe.
Collidcd in Fog
The Monroe's captain testified that the
night of the accident was alternately
clear and foggy. The collision occurred
during fog, The first knowledge he had
that the Nanmeket was near Inn Mas.
when he heard IA whistle three points on
the starhoard bow. lie was running at
half speed and stopped his engine TO To-
cate the former ship, and blew his whs-
tie to LET the vessel know he WAS steer
ing to port He Judged the whistle was
duoui 90 lttl away
A moment later he saw faint light
four points to starboard and about 3iO
feet away, the witness said He be-
lieved the other vessel was going in the
opposite direction to him a parallel
line. but almost Immediately the ship
came out of the fog almost at right
angles and struck the Monroe ON the star
board side.
After he discovered the proximity OF
the Nantucket, Captain Johnson said, he
signaled full steam ahead and turned his
vessel TO port in the hope of receiving
only gancing blow as he realized
collision could not be avoided. lie said
there was a lapse of only two minutes
between the time he heard the Nan
tucket's first whistle and the collision.
Took Precauti0n
Questioned as to what action he took
to find out by wireless the proximity OF
other vessels Captain Johnson said he
had instructed 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 eapes. The Nantucket must
have been between the Hamilton and tho
Monroe, Captain Johnson said, but the
operator of the Nantucket did not make
his presence known.
Captain johnson was asked his views
on the efficiency of the wireless In locat-
ing vessels In fogs, and said 1t was a
great help He added, however, that
some operators do not bother answering
questions about the location of their
ships.