New-York tribune., 1921-10-12
Captain Randall's S Case
The Master Of the Hudson and the
Traditions of the Sea

To the Editor oe The Tribune.
Sir: Recently readers of metropoll-
tan newspapers have been treated to a
liberal dissertation on 1.-The traditions
of the sea" The steamship Hudson.
Captain A. B. Randall, having arrived
immediately off the Port of New York,
inbound with mail, weather moderate,
time carly morning. passed a motor
boat containing no gasoline and three
very indignant amateur fishermen.
The lIudson's wireless operator, OF
his own volition, sent out an amazing
call for help for these distressed mo-
tor boaters on the high seas at the city
gate. OF course such signals are now
adays sent out without the knowledge
of the MASTER his advice, consent or
approval. Energetic reporters then
visioned the heartless brute OF 4 cap
tain deserting the sinking men,
When abesm of the motor boat, so
the master of the Hudson later on re-
ported, nc saw no signs Of distress and,
as the freighter Lackawanna was COM
ing in just astcrn, he called her and
suggested that she give aid, if needed
For some reason or other the Lacka-
wanna did not receive these signals,
nor did she pay any attention to the
motor boat bobbing on the waves. Later
on the men in the motor boat were
pickel up by the steamship Nantucket
and safely ferried to the shore
In the forefront of tornado of pub
Lefty we read the words of high Of
ficial Of the line. Risk Of life to save
life is one of the very oldest traditions
Of the sea- this gentleman is quoted
as saying. To back up this noble SEN
timent he suspended the master of the
steamship Hudson, at the same time
taking the case of The fuelless motor
boat to the United States local in
spectors.
The fact that the master OF the Hud-
son has d very honorable record as a
seaman, that he is a man Of courage
who during the war riskcd his life
while many of his critics of the mo-
ment sat safely ashore behind their
desks, seems to make no difference.
Many seamen who have made the AM
brose Channel Lightship after stormy
passage would feel safe if thrown over
board on plank, but the master of an
American steamer when he once en-
ters these pcrilous waters meets the
eagle eye Of the "hircr and firer," who
relieves him of his command without
a moments hesitation.
The purlieus of the port arc filled
with boats Of all descriptions. II is a
frequentcd fairway and not in any
sense the sea" Masters of important
vessels making their harbor have other
duties than those of supplying motor
boaters with gasoline or Of lifting them
out OF their helpless craft Had the
boat been laundering no one will ques-
tion the ready help that would have
come from the American steamship
Hudson, whether it involved "risk of
life" or not.
Millions OF people have read the
story of the heartless American cap
tain who has no respect for the "tla-
ditions Of the sea- SO is the cloth OF
tho sea besmirchcd.
His splendid war record is forgotten,
when for months he piled through
mines and in peril Of submarines while
the wife and children in Whitcstone
lay awake o nights praying for their
dad who did his bit that justice and
right might not perish from the world.
FELIX ROSENBERG.
Now York OCT 10 1901