The New York herald., 1921-10-08
CAPTAIN Loses ship
FOR VIOLATING SEAS
OLDUNWRITTENLAW
Failed to Go to Rescue OF
Three Fishermen in Leak
ing MotOrbOat.
SAW DISTRESS SIGNAL
SAW DISTRESS SIGNAL
Have Mail, Cannot Stop,
His Radio Message Calling
Other Assistance.
MAY LOSE HIS LICENSE
Capt. A. B. Randall Once Sum
moned IL Vessels to His Own
Leaking Steamship.

the United States Line steamship
Hudson, was suspended yesterday by
T. H. Rossbottom, general manager,
after he had been found guilty Of
violating an unwritten law of the sea
in failing to go to the aid early
Wednesday morning of three fisher
men in leaking motorboat five
miles east Of Ambrose Channel. Mr..
Rossbottom announced that he would
take the charges against Capt. Ran.
dali to the United States Steamboat
Inspectors of the port, and would not
reinstate him until the inspectors
had rendered verdict.
Mr.. Rossbottom quoted Capt. Ran
dali as having admitted he saw the
boats distress signals and had given
to c. j.. Carr, wireless operator
through, J. L. Cox, second officer, an
oral message to be sent to the Lack
awanna Valley, a Shipping Board
vessel. that was nearer the motor
boat. That was the extent of his aid
to the fishermen. Carr testified that
he called the Lackawanna Valley
thrice. and, falling to receive a reply
sent the message. which. while not
exactly that transmitted by Capt
Randall, conveyed notification OF
the flshermen's plight. The message
never was received by the Lacka
wanna Valley.
Risk . Life TO save a Life"
"Risk life to save life is one o.
the oldest traditions OF the sea-" Mr.
Rossbottorn said. THE least that car
be said for Capt. Randall is that h,
did not use good Judgment Despite
the fact that he saw the fishermen HI
proceeded to Quarantine instead Of
going to their assistance. He should
have lost no time in going to their
aid"
Capt. G. r. Charlton. commander o,
the United States steamboat inspect
ors of the port. said that so far as he
could recollect no marine officer be-
fore ever had charges Of such a ma
ture lodged against him. He said
there was no statute which compeIs a
skipper to aid vessel In distress, ex-
cept in the case of collisions. That a
marine officer always does so has been
considered one of the traditions of the
sea, and II accordingly had not been
found necessary to enact law on
the subject. All the steamboat In
spectors can do is to investigate the
charges and revoke or suspend Capt.
Randalrs license II he has violated a
statute. But Capt. Charlton said he
could not see where any law had been
violated.
Mr. Rossbottom had before him Capt
Randall. Chief Officer Cummings OF the
Hudson. the second officer. wireless
OPERATOR four deck attendants and the
three fishermen. Albert r. Tuveri. %. OF
l2A Lake avenue. sheepshead Bay his
brother. William F.. "a. of 34S South
Fourth street. Williamsburg. and their
uncle. Edward ID. Young. 3s, Of the same
address. 1t took less than an hour to
get their stories.
Capt. Randall said II was just day
break when he sighted the motorboat.
Two Of the fishermen were waving white
flags. Randall said he gave the follow
ing oral message for transmission to the
Lackawanna Valley:
Small dory sinking five miles east
Ambrose Channel TWO men waving
white rags. Want immediate assist
ance. Dory swamped. We have
mail cannot stop.
Plight Of the Fishermen.
Capt. Randall should have written
that message instead OF semling II
orally" Mr.. Rossbottom said. THE
operator tried to get the Lackawanna,
but could not and then sent n message
which stated the dory was in distress,
but that the Hudson could not go to her
assistance"
Albert r. Ttiveri. oae OF the fisher
men. said they left Sheepshead Bay at
10 A. NJ Tuesday morning and reached
the Lightship at IL 40. They fished until
p. NJ. and then started for home, az
storm was threatening. A gas line gave
way and the engine went dead. The
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