THE VENTNOR CASUALTY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIII, Issue 273, 17 November 1902, Page 7

THE VENTNOR CASUALTY.

MAGISTERIAL INQUIRY.

ALLEGATIONS OF . INSOBBiETY.

DECISION RESERVED

The Magisterial inquiry into th<T loss of the steamef Ventnor, which recently foundered ofEk the West Coast near Hokianga, was resumed at the S.M. Court this morning, before Mr W. 2t. Haselden, S.M., and Captains J. Jj. Clarke and Thos. Fernandez, nautical assessors. Mr Alex. Hose, Collector of Customs, conducted the prosecution, and Mr H. Campbell appeared for Messrs. J. Cameron and J. S. Ure, the first and third officers. THE STEWARD'S EVIDENCE. -—.- ~ Henry Mohr, steward on the vessel, said he joined the vessel on April 10th last year. In his experience Captain Ferry did not take freely of liquor, but took an occasional drop. He did not take intoxicants daily. To his knowledge the captain did not take more liquor than usual on the night the vessel struck. Mr Haselden: Did you see him the day you left Wellington?Witness: 'Yes. Did you see him take liquor that day? No; I did not. Witness said the liquor was kept in the locker in the cabin, which was not locked. The captain could get at it at any time that he wished. Captain Ferry had a bad cold, and looked very ill, and it was possible that this may have caiised him to appear to have been drinking-. He had never seen Captain Ferry under the influence of liquor. After the vessel, struck witness served out a drink to each of. the men, by the captain's instructions. The officers did not take any. Mr Campbell: What liquor had you on board? Witness: A case of whisky, taken, on board at Westport, and a case of whisky and a case of gin, taken aboard at Wellington. The two latter had not been opened. Witness, continuing, said a bottle and a-half of whisky had been used, chiefly by visitors at Westport. The captain was perfectly sober when lie came- on board at Wellington on the Sunday. From Sunday morning tin* til the vessel foundered on Tuesday the captain did not have aii hour's sleep, and did not come down to his meals. Mr Campbell: Did you see him g-p down to his cabin and take a tot?' WitneSs said the last liquor he saw the captain take was on Sunday morning at Wellington with the agent. Captain Ferry had a, red face, and witness put it down to his cold and want of rest. ■He was quite positive that the captain was quite sober when he came aboard at Wei' lington and up to the time of thft vessel striking, and that he must have taken very little liquor subsequently. By Mr Eose: Witness himself Lad some sleep subsequent to the vessel striking. A FIREMAN'S EVIDENCE. - n Alexander Fraser, fireman on the Ventnor, said he shipped at Wellifl-gl-ton. He was asleep at the time tfee vessel struck. On coming- aboard on the Sunday at Wellington he left the captain ,on the wharf. Mr Haselden: Did he show sigTis of having indulged in liquor? Witness said he did, but not to a severe extent. Mr Eose: During the time between the striking and the foundering Old you see any signs of drink on .the captain? Witness: Yes. Witness, continuing, said: that on the night the vessel foundered an order was given to hoist red lights for a danger signal. Everybody ■viras looking for the lights, but witness did not see them. This was about an hour and a half before the vessel foundered. ?f Mr Rose: How long "before the boats were put out did you see the captain? Witness: About half an houiv Mr Eose: Was he then to your mind the worse for liquor?l Witness: Yes. In' answer to Mr Haselden witness said that after the vessel struck the captain was on the bridge when wit>ness came up from the forecastle. Witness could smell drink on the captain. When the captain called th.3 crew together he made a little speech, and said he would beach the ship. Witness could see signs of drink on the captain then. He was "pretty staggery."

By Mr Campbell: When the captain was on the wharf at Wellington he was not drunk, but he had drink in him. Between two and three o'clock on Monday morning, when the boats were b"eing got ready, the captain was staggering about the deck.

The Albert-street Salvation Army Band intend to give a musical programme for an hour and a-half in the Albert Park to-night in aid of tfie Mayor's Elingamite Relief Fund.,