The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-03-17
DIVIDED REPORT MADE ON
RECENT STEAMER DISASTER
ONE HOLDS CAPTAIN OF NAN.
TUCkET ENTIRELY
BLAMEIESS
And Charges Monroe's Captain
With ineompetency. Negligence
ard Inattention to Duty.

PHILADELPHIA. March 1s-Tha
TWO United States local inspectors OF
steam vessels who Investigated tho
disaster on the Virginia coast on Ian.
uary 30 IN which the steamship Nan.
'uoAet rammed the steamer Monroe
causing the loss OF forty-one lives
rendered a divided opinion today. ono
holding the captain of the Nantucke,
euutl ~ neEligence and the other
charging the commander OF the Mon.
Toe with responsibility for the as.
aster 'N' '"' "'s-
The report OF the INVESTIGATES,
along with the two decisions were Tor.
wa, ,MaIueu 10 Henry NJ. Secley. supervis-
t,s I,,s,,l,, ,ns p,sclor az New York II is not
hhoWn here what the next stem I'm tho
case VIII be. but IL is believed the
supervising Inspector will consult m.
department OF commerce al Washinr-
"n before making any further move
o,iInlts local inspectors who investi.
Sa.eu me coliision are Captain n A
Satseht, inspector OF hulls, and ID n
tioMard, Inspector OF boilers
us department of commerce desfr-
mated Them To investigate the charges
,c,sl Osmyn Berry, captain of the
Spectors az Norfolk after a nrai,r,t
nary examination. The charges agains,
,aptaln Berry included negligence an
not reducing the speed OF his vessel
~ IoS and with neglecting TO as.
iba '"in tnroush the wireless operator
me proximity OF their vessels No
1narses were brought against Cantain
h1Mard T.. Johnson OF The Monroe
WE'VE days were devoted 10 bcar.
sns Witnesses and after counsel for
.aptain Berry had argued his case
eIiuay' the board rendered its deci.
Voluminous Repurt.
The opinion filed by Inspector sar.
gent was voiuminous. IL going into tha
CohaIucton OF the ships, the collision
ana the conduct of the crews after
me impact The report Conclude
that captain Berry and all other m.
oSnsed ',,.d oihcers of the Nantucket are
eAooheIated from all blame.
Captain Sargent's report tho,
charges Captain johnson with ''incom.
Beiehcy, negligence and inattention to
uuty. lie Is charged i'm the report with
Nlolauon OF the international rules for
pie.entlns I' collisions in giving a
Mrons Nhlstie signal in the fog: with
nesnssnce and inattention to duty hc-
cause be took no action 10 preyent fhe
'oIIislOh or TO lessen its force. when
me vessels came in sight OF each
other. and with incompetency and nm.
shilirIlness because proper discipIine
oI orsanlzanon was not Sustained
'AfW- III an tDOrt To prO-
tect the lives OF all persons on hoard
ana because no proper effort was
promptly made TO obtain Assistance
from the Nantucket.
Sharp Criticism.
On the last specification Captain
Sargent said: r'"
While we believe that Can,aip
Johnson as an individual did every.
thns that was humanity possible 10
save the lives of all. IL Is to he re-
gretted that he did not delegate Ger
tain duties which he attended 10 him.
sen 10 some OF the other members ~
MS crew and thus give himself more
tllne 10 devote TO matters of greater
Importance"
Inspector Howard refused 10 sign
this report and rendered one Of bis
own, IN which he found Captain Ber.
Iy guilty OF failing to reduce speed in
n log as charged. but not guilty Of
alleged failure TO use the Wireless
apparatus. and recommended thai MS
masters 8 license be revoked
In reading his report Captain Sar.
gent stated that ne had been a n.
Censed master and was experienced
IN navigation and that Inspector How
ard was not a licensed master and
had no practical experience as a nayl.
gator.