Buffalo Evening News (Buffalo, NY), September 4, 1908

Capt. Frederick L. R. Pope and Joseph G. Schumacher of the united States Steamboat Inspection service in this district have completed their investigation of the collision of the steamers TITANIA and KINGSTON in Charlotte harbor, finding that the pilots of both boats were at fault. The license of Capt. Patrick Thorpe of the TITANIA, which is owned by Fix brothers of Buffalo, has been suspended for six months. The master of the steamer KINGSTON, being a British subject does not come under the jurisdiction of the inspectors.

In their decision the inspectors say, that on the night of August 11 the TITANIA and KINGSTON were entering the Charlotte harbor, the TITANIA bearing from the KINGSTON about four points on the port bow and the KINGSTON bearing from the TITANIA about three points on the starboard bow. Although the vessels were visible to each other when about three or four miles apart, the pilot of neither gave the signals covering a situation of this kind. The decision says in part:

MUST OBSERVE RULES.

The preservation of life and property depends largely upon a strict observance of the rules for the government of pilots, and those entrusted with the care of ships should understand that they must be enforced with uniform and absolute certainty.

"It also appears from the testimony that both these steamers entered the harbor at a rate of speed estimated at from 12 to 15 miles an hour, which was reckless and unskillful navigation in the circumstances and conditions surrounding this particular situation."