Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-08-24
Violation of 3 Sea Laws
Laid to Marvel Skipper
By CHARLES L. HOFFMAN
star stan Correspondent

Oy SUAMLCS Lie 1AVER NAfAN
star stan Correspondent
BALTIMORE, Aug. 24-Capt.
John H. Meckling, skipper Of the
Schooner Levin j. Marvel, which
sank August IL, today was &C
cused of violating three marine
laws by q member of a Coast
Guard board Of inquiry.
Capt. A. w. Kabernagel. cap
tain Of the Port Of Baltimore.
said that the evidence produced
during the hearing showed Mr..
Meckling had violated these
laws:
/. The rules Of the road in
that he did not post proper
lookouts.
2. Provisions Of the motorboat
act in that he did not have q
license for his motorized yawl.
3. Port security regulations
that require a port security card
for every crewman or operator
on any vessel Of over 100 tons.
Hearing Ended
The board Of inquiry wound
up its three days Of testimony
on the vessels sinking at 1910
pm. today but scheduled a trip
to Pier 4 here later this afternoon
to view wreckage reported re-
covered by Navy divers from the
Marvel.
Capt. H. c. Moore, chairman
Of the board, said that no action
would be taken as a result OF the
investigation except by the Coast
Guard commandant in Wash
ington. That would mean about
90 days hence, Capt. Moore said.
All three accusations made by
Capt. Kabernagel on the basis
Of testimony here come under the
jurisdiction Of the Coast Guard
regulations and are punishable
by fines, Capt. Moore said.
He said that if any other
charges are to be made in the
ease, such as negligence. the mat
ter would be referred by the
commandant to the United
States attorneys office for its
action.
Questions Anchorage
Capt. Kabernagel's statements
came shortly after Capt. Moore
had voiced the opinion that Capt.
Meckling in anchoring in Her.
ring Bay exposed the ship to the
most vicious winds that could
have been expected from Hurri-
cane Connie if she had proceeded
on her reported course that
would have taken her west OF
the anchorage point.
Capt. Moore questioned the
3s-year-old skipper about his
leaving Cambridge Thursday
afternoon when storm warning
flags were flying predicting
winds up to 10 miles an hour.
The board chairman also ques-
toned the skipper on the use
of lookouts and brought an adj
mission from Mr.. Meckling that
he was not certain of the pilot
rules on the same.
IA Lost Lives
The Marvel sailed August 8
out of Annapolis with % pas
sengers, a cook and a steward.
and Capt. Meckling and only one
full-time deckhand. Fourteen OF
the % passengers drowned when
the ship foundered in Herring
Bay of FaThaven in a storm
that preceded Hurricane Connie
up the Chesapeake Bay.
The captain made it clear he
was questioning the shippers de-
cision to head for Herring Bay,
which MIR. Meckling had said
would be a perfect harbor in
case the hurricane passed west
Of there because he would then
have been protected from south
westerly winds.
Capt. Moore said that in his
opinion If the hurricane had pro-
coded In such a direction the
strongest winds would have come
from the northeasterly and east
erly directions.
The board chairman said that
he believed that the skipper had
changed his course by necessity
because it was the only direc-
ton he could go.
Defends oman Crew
Capt. Meckling defended the
two-man crew and said that e
few years ago the Marvel made
a 1.2o0-mile voyage with only a
skipper, a seaman and a COOK
aboard.
Two men have sailed these
ships since they were built"
Capt. Meckling said.
with % passengers aboarc
whose lives depended on you"
Capt. E. H. Thiele, another mem.
Der of the board retorted.
Capt. Moore read to Mr.. Meek
ling Article 20 of the Inland
Rules which apply to all INLAND
vessels stating that nothing shall