Page images
PDF
EPUB

does not show who actually struck the first blow as the various witnesses gave conflicting evidence with regard to this fact. However, the evidence does show that Amundsen was beaten by Mr. Gower. The trouble was directly due to Amundsen being intoxicated, which fact was directly established by several of the witnesses and Amundsen himself admitted in his testimony that he was under the influence of liquor.

Bureau action: Having careful regard for the conflicting testimony and the fact that even though there had been bad feeling between the parties concerned in this assault and whether the actual assault occurred due to Amundsen's condition, the board was directed to close the case without further action.

SUMMARY OF "c" MARINE INVESTIGATION

Inquiry: Relative to the hoisting of a piece of red bunting on the flag staff of the S. S. West Ira.

Place and time: On board the S. S. West Ira on April 6, one day out of the Panama Canal bound for Baltimore.

"C" board: George Fried; Karl C. Neilsen, and James Smith.

Date of board's report: April 22, 1937.

Brief of report: Evidence of the completed investigation shows that the S. S. West Ira was on a voyage from San Francisco to New York, N. Y., via Panama Canal, stopping at intermediate ports. It appears that at about 2 p. m. on April 6, when the West Ira was one day out of the Canal Zone the officer on watch, C. B. Hamblett, second officer, observed a small red rag flying from the flag staff, aft. He immediately reported this to the master. The master had the red rag removed and endeavored to find the person responsible for the incident. He succeeded in placing the blame on an ordinary seaman, one Emile Waldteufel who had frankly admitted hoisting the red rag. The master also ascertained, as did the board, that the hoisting of this rag was a practical joke and in no way influenced the disrespect or sympathy of the crew.

Bureau action: The Bureau directed the board to dismiss this case without further action.

SUMMARY OF "C" MARINE INVESTIGATION

Irregularities: Certificate reports and counter reports made by the officers and crew of the S. S. West Mahwah.

Place and times: On board the S. S. West Mahwah while on a voyage to South America some time during the months of November and December 1936 and January 1937.

"C" board: S. A. Kennedy and Joseph A. Moody.

Board's report date: March 17, 1937.

Brief of report: Evidence of the completed investigation shows that the irregularities alleged were brought to the attention of the "C" marine investigation board in a written form by crew members, and it appears that certain officers of the ship were assumed to have been employed on vessels during the 1934 strike and that the complaints were preferred by the certificated personnel. Also, it was found that the second mate was asleep in the chart room while on watch, and that the third assistant engineer left the engine room while on watch to visit the second mate on the bridge. Both the second mate and the third assistant engineer admitted that they were guilty of the breaches of discipline and neglect of duty of which they were accused.

Bureau action: The Bureau suspended the license of Alfred C. Aitken, Jr., second mate, for a period of 30 days and the license of Donald A. Stanton, second assistant engineer, for a period of 10 days.

[merged small][ocr errors]
[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

Point Chico.

.Seatrain "New York".

Seatrain "Havana".
. Susan Luckenbach.
.President Coolidge...

President Hoover..
President Monroe..

West Nilus..

Shickssinny. Delrio..

Dixie Sword...........

Gotham..

Dow Chemical.

Losmar...

Complaint on conditions on board vessel. Alleged insubordination of crew.

Misconduct of unlicensed personnel who refused to prepare the vessel for sea while serving under articles. Misconduct of unlicensed personnel who refused to prepare the vessel for sea while serving under articles. Certain members of crew refused to allow the master to make the proper entries in their discharge books. Intoxication and insubordination against M. Wurtzweiler, seaman.

Various charges of negligence against master, preferred by crew.

Complaint on conditions on board vessel...

Mistreatment of M. Bernstein, seaman, by members of crew.

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

to

Misconduct of certain licensed and unlicensed personnel who refused to obey the master's lawful orders to put to sea.

9/27/37.

Officers employed by this company required to work overtime.

Assault on William Beggs, fireman, by T. Vance and S. Scyetta, oilers.

5/27/37.

Assault on W. D. Galvin, by King, third assistant engineer.

10/7/37.

7/16-17/37.

7/20-21-22.

SUMMARY OF "C" MARINE INVESTIGATION

Complaint: Letter addressed to the Secretary of State by the American Consul General at London, England, with reference to an assault on seaman George Doyle. Place and time: On board the Steamship American Shipper while that vessel was at London, England, on March 18, 1937.

"C" board: Karl C. Nielsen, James C. Smith.

Date of board's report: May 28, 1937.

Brief of report: Evidence of the completed investigation showed that there was certain friction among the licensed personnel on board this vessel and that on March 18, 1937, George Doyle, an oiler, was attacked by three other members of the crew while Doyle was on duty in the engine room. Doyle's injuries were so severe that he was hospitalized. On March 19, the C. I. D. inspector and three assistants from Scotland Yard visited the vessel and conducted an investigation. As a result of which three members of the crew were arrested. The assault was committed by the following members of the crew of the steamship American Shipper: William Burke, Julius Homan, and John Kozar. On April 5 in a British court, Kozar, Burke, and Homan were tried and all three men were dismissed; Burke and Homan because of lack of evidence and Kozar under the Probation of Offenders Act.

Bureau action: The Bureau is, at the present moment, trying to contact these men in order to bring them to trial.

SUMMARY OF "C" MARINE INVESTIGATION

Complaint: Panama Pacific complained that while the steamship California was on voyage orders were given to cast off line and seamen of that vessel refused to obey the lawful command of the master.

Place and time: S. S. California lying at Balboa, August 27, 1937. "C" board: George Fried, Karl Č. Nielsen, Howard C. Bridges.

Date of board's report: November 19, 1937.

Brief of report: Evidence of the completed investigation shows that certain members of the crew of the steamship California, while that vessel was at Cristobal on August 27, refused to let the lines go to free the vessel from the dock. The reason for this refusal as stated by the men was that the full crew was not called to take stations when the vessel was let go. Evidence shows, however, that there were no definite orders given by the chief officer to boatswain as to how many men should be called for letting go, and also that the boatswain decided to allow certain of the 12 to 4 watch to remain below, but that this fact was not brought to the attention of the chief officer. Further testimony introduced shows definitely that there was a sentiment aboard this vessel that the crew was entitled to the opinion as to what should be done, whether ordered by the officers or not. Investigation also showed that there was an intent to disobey the orders of the fire room engineer, although this disobedience was but short lived. It was also shown at the investigation that William Burke, the electrician, was in an intoxicated condition, and while that vessel was at sea, due to this condition on the 19th and 20th days of September, he failed to stand three watches.

Bureau action: Bureau action not taken pending a review of this case.

SUMMARY OF "c" MARINE INVESTIGATION

Report: Report by K. S. Patton, American Consul General with reference to the crew of the steamship Nashaba.

Place and time: Antwerp, Belgium, subsequent to the grounding of that vessel on October 3, 1937, on the French coast 18 miles from Cherbourg.

"C" board: This case assigned to a "B" marine investigation board to be named on the arrival of the Nashaba in the United States.

Date of report: No report as yet received.

Brief of report: The consular report shows that the delegates, deck, engine room, and stewards on board this vessel complained with regard to conditions on board the vessel, subsequent to its grounding, and complained of various conditions which were investigated by the consul and other conditions which they claim made it unsanitary for them to be on board this vessel. The entire con

sular report will be forwarded to the board which will investigate this case.

[ocr errors]

SUMMARY OF "c" MARINE INVESTIGATION

Complaint: Complaint made by Graham M. Brush, Seatrain Lines, Inc., licensed and unlicensed personnel refused duty.

Place and time: On July 14, 1937, at New Orleans and subsequently on board the S. S. Seatrain Havana.

"C" board: George Fried; Karl C. Nielsen, James Smith.

Date of board's report: September 10, 1937.

Brief of report: Evidence in completed investigation shows that at about 4:30 p. m. on July 13, when the vessel was ready for sea an order was given to stand by fore and aft, and the entire unlicensed personnel refused to take their stations. On July 16 an entire new unlicensed crew was placed on board the vessel. When this crew came on board the chief engineer and the three assistants refused to bring the vessel to sea. Again on August 18, when the vessel was this time in New York, a meeting was held by the unlicensed personnel, at which time it was decided the vessel should not sail from New York until certain conditions were carried out. The boatswain at this time was the spokesman for the crew and carried the demands of the crew to the chief officer and to the master, and thence to the shore staff, and the vessel was never ordered to leave the dock. Further complaints were made by the unlicensed personnel with regard to the bad food, unsanitary conditions, and other matters. The engineer claimed that the reason they left the vessel was because the men who were placed on board of her (New Orleans) were not competent. Evidence shows that the 8-hour law was continually violated. Much was said during the entire investigation with regard to company and union agreements. The board recommends that charges be preferred against the unlicensed personnel and against the licensed engineers who refused duty, and recommends also that the radio officer be tried. After the investigation the bord, upon consideration of the evidence recommended that the above mentioned men be tried and the Bureau subsequently received a request to transfer jurisdiction with respect to this trial, to New Orleans. The New Orleans Board has assumed jurisdiction and will conduct the trial some time in the near future.

« PreviousContinue »