New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-04-02
Patton Reports
80 Boats Rot
Here; Loses Job
Port Captain for Shipping
Board Says Craft Worth
100000 ut Prall's
Island Are Breaking Up
Demands Public Inquiry
Director Calls 1t Mud
Singing in Announcing
Officials Retirement

lhlrty-eight united States Shipping
Board vessels, which cost the govern
nlent about 100000, arc being
ground to pieces. rusting and sinking in
the mud at Prall's Island, and all ef-
fort to induce the government to re-
claim the property has been futile, &C
cording to charges made yesterday in
letter addressed by J. N. Patton to
George ". Sterling. district director
CT the board.
Shipping Board, alleges that he has
repeatedly called to the attention of
Captain o. w. Parker, marine super
intendcnt, "the tteplorable condition Of
the Shipping Boards feet laid up at
Prall's Island" and that, although
photographs were taken TO show that
the vessels were being pounded by the
tides, that garbage and ashes had
gathered on the decks and that the
island afforded no suitable shelter for
the ships, no action had been taken.
public investigation of the condi-
ton Of the ships is asked by Mr.. Pat
ton.
Patton Loses Post
At the Office Of the Shipping Board,
45 Broadway, yesterday, it was said
that Mr.. Patton had been relieved of
his post as port captain Il: Tuesday
and that the writing Of his le1uel was
one of his last official acts. Mr.. Ster-
ling declined to discuss the charges.
Another official declared that the ships
miral Benson sis perfectly satisfied
with them Asked the value Of the
vessels, this official said:
Of you had q horse, which was eat
ing hay that cost $50 a ton, what value
would you set on the horse? Now, il
you ask me how much the vessels cost
can tell YOU between 4o,ooo,ooo and
$4,000 ,000.'
"If Mr. Patton's charges are true
why are the ships not moved away
from Prall's Island ~
"They are at Pralls Island because
that is the best place for them. The
Shipping Board is satisfied with them
and so is Admiral Benson. This is
just case Of mud-slinging.
Mr. Patton's letter to Mr.. Sterling
says, in part:
"a report was submitted by ME on
Dccember %, 1920, to Captain o. W
Parker, marine superintendent, setting
forth in detail the deplorable cond
ton of the Shipping Boards feet laid
up at Pralls Island. The report stated
that the ships were packed closely to-
gether, were grinding each other tc
pieces, resting on anchors, most OF
them grounding at half tide, and most
of them with hulls exposed at all times
I advised Captain Parker that if the
ships remained there any longer they
would deteroratc so rapidly that al
immense amount Of the taxpayers
money would have to be expended to re.
condition them.
apparently no notice was taken OF
this report, except that my assistant
Captain }. G. Parker, who had made
this report, received scathing de-
ANNEXATION from Captain 0. ". Parker
who branded him an incompetent
Demands Inquiry
"Captain George i. Nickerson, one OF
my assistants, then went TO Pra!l's
Island and spent several days in s
thorough investigation Of the fleet
edge, never went further than the ma
rine superintendent, but Captain Park
er denounced Captain Nickerson to me
in fierce tones, saying he was incom-
petent.
81 replied that had photographs TO
prove my statements that the vessels
were rising on top of one another
crushing in sterns and lying on top of
anchors. His answer to me was: 1T
seems to me- you are taking hell of an
interest in Prall's Island to take pic
lures of the vessels. replied that
was, and considered it was my duty to
axe an interest in the vessels.
II now demand, As a taxpayer and as
an American citizen, that a public IN
vestigation be held on the conditions
that existed and still exist at Prall's
Island and that sponsibility be placed
where it rightfully belongs"