Salt Lake Tribune | 1894-06-20 | Page 2 | Captain Sumner Censured

CAPTAIN SUJi aro sowa was at fault for the grounding of tho the columbia Columb dv washington june 19 secretary herbert has written the following letter to captain george NV sumner com madding inand liw the columbia lit in regard to the wounding grounding of that vessel N navy do department apartment part ment washington june Kill Sir I 1 transmit herewith for your information jl a copy of 0 the andings andenes and opinion of the court of inquiry which convened nl at the navy yard leacile island pa on oil the hie bill insl in pursuance of the departments order or of the fourth item tor for the purpose pu 0 of insulting into certain damage to the bottom of elie U united cited states steamer columbia toy by grounding round ln tho the extent of such damage and the time and place of 0 ane grounding ot of said vessel by which the damage dani aare referred to was caused the proceedings findings finding and opinion of the court have today to day buen been approved the department regrets that it 1 is compelled to fully concur in the opinion of the court that it was the duty of E the commanding officer to ro have been on oil 16 h badge when the vessel was vassina bulk shoals and ancl as also its hid duty to here hava eau caused secil the bedd of the ves biot to be i 1 at that tn t time the soend over tho the bd whole the ha in jarv Is found to inave occurred ought to have been slower and especially when the fact Is s considered that with the water she carried lit in her double bottom at the time there was it very small email margin of safety la in view lew however of the le commendation 0 of the court that no further proceedings be had the matter will be regarded as closed with your acknowledgment of 0 the receipt ot at this cominus communication I 1 cation re ke aDeeL fully IL II A HERBERT secretary of the xavy avy