The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-03-17
INSPECTORS UNABLE ID AGREE 0N CAUSE .0F MONROE WRECK
Hand Down Divided Decis- ion in Which Both Cap tains Are Blamed.
 Causes Surprise

Philadelphia, March 16.--Two United States local inspectors of steam yes- sels, who investigated the disaster off the Virginia coast on January 20, in which the steamship Nantucket rammed the steamer Monroe. causing the loss of fl lives. today rendered n divided opinion. One held the captain of the Nantucket was guilty of negli-
 gence and the other charged the com
 mander of the Monroe with responsi-
 biIity for the disaster.
 gether with the two decisionss, was for
 warded to Henry M. Seeley supervising inspector at New York. It is not known
 here what the next step in the case will
 be- but it is believed the supervising in- spector will consult the department of commerce at Washington before making any further move.
 The local inspectors who investigated the collision are Capt. R. A. Sargent, in
 spectors of hulls, and D. H. Howard. in- spector of boilers The department of commerce designated them to investi- gate the charges against Osmyn Berry, captain of the Nantucket, brought by the local inspector at Norfolk, after a preliminary examination. The charges against Captain Berry included negli- gence in not reducing the speed of his vessel in a fog and with neglecting to
 ascertain through the wireless operator the proximity of other vessels. No charges were brought against Capt. Edward E. Johnson of the Monroe.
 Twelve days were devoted to hearing wit nesses and after counsel for Captain Berry had argued his case today the board rendered it's decisions. The opinion filed by Inspector Sargent says that Captain Berry and all other licensed of fcers of the Monroe are exonerated from all blame. Ht
 Charges "Incompetency" 1 Captain Sargent's report then charges Captain Johnson with "incompetency, negligence and inattention to duty Cap I tain Johnson is charged with the violation of the international rules for preventing collisions in giving wrong whistle signal 1 in the fog; with negligence and inatten- l ton to duty because he took no action I to prevent the collision or to lessen it's i force when the vessels came in sight of 1 each other and with incompetency and unskilfulness because proper discipline or organization was not maintained among l the crew in an effort to protect the lives i of all persons on board and because no proper effort was promptly made to ob- 1 tain assistance from the Nantucket. l On the last specification Captain Sar-
 gent said:
 While we believe that Captain John 1 son, as an individual. did everything that was humanly possible to save the lives 1 of all. it is to be regretted that he did l not delegate certain duties which he at l tended to himself to some of the other :, members of his crew ana thus give him. 1 self more tiuie to devote to matters oi 1 greater importance.
 inspector Howard refused to sign thfs 1; report and rendered one of his own, ir l which he found Captain Berry guilty oi | failing to reduce speed in fog as /, charged, but not guilty of alleged fail 1 ure to use the wireless apparatus, and 1 recommended that his masters license
 be revoked.
 ] In reading his report Captain Sargent stated that he had been licensed mas ter and was experienced in navigation and that Inspector Howard was not [ ! ~~~>~>~>-~->~>-->~--
 (Csntinued on Page Eleven)