KIA ORA WRECK.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 164, 11 July 1907, Page 3

KIA ORA WRECK.

THE NAt-TICAE HiQIJIKT.

CHIEF OFFICEE SE-E__A____NEl_.

THE LAST OF THE CAPTAIN.

TWO "DOGS AND SOZ__E MORTALS. The nautical inquiry into the wreck of the s-s. Kia Ora was continued at the S.M. Court yesterday aiternoon. On Tuesdaj' afternoon his Worship said that the evidence of Mrs. Cavanagh as to the blanket incident would he valuable, and, on his suggestion, a telegram was sent to the constable at Kawhia, asking him to get a statement from her, and to telegraph a summary to ihe magistrate. The reply was received yesterday, and Mr. Kettie stated that after thinking the matter over, •he had decided not to open the telegram, but to hand it to counsel, leaving it to them to decide what should be done with it. The telegram was read by counsel, but was not put in, Mr. Earl objecting. Later ilr. Earl said that he did not see any necessity for calling Mrs. Cavanagh, as the Court could assume that her evidence would corroborate that of her husband.

Mr. Mays said that he had communicated the telegram to the Hon. J. A. Tole, K.C., who was of opinion that _3_s. Cavanagh's evidence should be taken, by affidavit if necessary. After discussion, Mr. Mays intimated that he would have an affidavit taken; he would not take the responsibility of bringing Mrs. Cavanagh down, and would rather give up the inquiry altogether. Hudson was then re-called by Mr. Earl ior farther cross-examination. He said that he saw de Wolfe under the influence of liquor the night the Muritai arrived from Kawhia after thg wreck, in the Royal Hotel, between 7 and 8 o'clock an the evening.

Mr. Kettle: Do you wish to modify your statement as to the condition of de Wolfe? —No, I am certain of what I saw.

BaTraclough, re-called by Mr. Earl, 6tate_ that he and other passengers gave their statements together to Mr. Langley at KawMa, but he did not ask Mr. Langley to read them over. __>. Earl: Did you say: "If the company do not treat mc properly, they wii get a rought time"?— No. Or that you could say things if you •R-ed?—Xo. Kd Langley say if you made another statement for the Press he would take it down, but that he regarded what you now said as a threat?—l don't remember iua saying that. EAWHIA AGENT.

Arthur Edward Langley, agent for the X.S.S. Co. at Kawhia, said that Hudson, Pratt, and Barraclough arrived in Kawiia after the wreck. He sent for them, and asked them for a narrative for the Press. Barraclough asked him to read the statements over, because he did not wish to see any contradictions in them. Their accounts were very much alike, and they made no complaints in anyway whatever. The following day Barraclough came to him, and said that he and Hudson wanted horses, both to go to Raglan, and hrn_s_l_ on to Auckland. Witness at first consented, but later he received a wire, stating that the Muritai would call in at KLawhia, and any of the passengers who wished to could come on to Auckland. This would save a day to Barraclough, and witness told him that it was no use putting the company to an additional expense of three or four pounds. Barraclough became very angry, and said that if he had liked ihe could give the company a bad time. He got a horse himself, and rode overland. Witness told him that he could ihave a ticket by the Muritai, and meantime he would make his name good at the boardinghouse. There was unpleasantness between them when witness refused the horse, and when Barraclough said that he would make things warm for the company, witness said that he would take it down if Barraclough had another statement.

_ Did he make any definite charges before leaving Kawhia?—No, only in general terms, and that was after I refused him the horse.

By Mr. Mays: He saw very little of Hudson; neither he nor Pratt made any complaints.

a\x. Kettle: Did you endeavour to find out what he meant when he used the threat?—l told him that if he had another statement I would take it down. He held out a vague threat, but would not etate it in definite terms. FIRST OFFICER RE-CALLED. T. B. de Wolfe, first officer of the Kia Ora, was recalled by Mr. Earl. He said that he had been at sea for about 30 years, and in the employ of the -Northern Company for 21 years. After leaving the Paeroa, he was mate of the ilcGregpr Company's steamer Claymore in January, 1905, the same month" as he le.t the Northern Company. He was in "._• Claymore till August of the same year. When he left he was given an excellent reference (produced). +-JP' Kettle: It is not suggested .nat he is not an efficient officer in his sober senses. AU that is suggested is that he was intoxicated. We will assume that h e is efficient. Mr. Earl: I wish to show that his general conduct was good and sober. Continuing, witness said that after leaving the McGregor S.S. Company, he was relieving- for some time, and on November 12 last was appointed mate of the -hJa o ra . On the last trip the Kia Ora reacned Waitara between 8.30 and 9 in the morning, and all day witness was supervising the work of loading and discargo. He had a heavy cold on him, nothing so bad that he could »°t do his work; a touch of influenza. ae was not feeling too good, but was as to go on with his work. He finished w» at about 5.30.

Up to that time had you had any alcoholic liquor?—Nohting more than at 11 o'clock I had a small shandy with Mr. Baggstrom in the hotel at Waitara. After tea he knocked about the ship a bit. and when the as;ent came down at about sis o'clock, went over to his omee. He had the boat notes, a list of the cargo, and labour orders to make out. He did all this in Mr. Stott's office, pushing up at about a ,j Uartei .

_,- i . r ., Earl: Wa3 anything then sugfnt i r - Stott h&d t0 g° to the Z«v ? et chan S e > ™ d ke sa id t0 m-Jr ,J c got a cold on J 011 ; come over and have some whisky." nell. you went to the hotel?— Yes: I 7? § ks s of rum and cloves ■ Via you have more than one drink?— ane only one. "___S_Zv U lea - ve the hotel after the < t?_ Yes ' Mr - Stott. V™ y °? Eee . aa y of the passengers?—. * aid not notice them. '

What time did you leave the hotel? Before seven; I was on board at seven by our clock.

Did you walk down to the ship?— Yes, with Mr. Stott. He paid the men, and we walked down together. Did you say anything to Stott?— No; he went to find the captain. I told him I was going to turn in.

After working all day you were fairly tired?—Oh, no; I wasn't very tired. He gave the fireman Dunning instructions to call him at 9 o'clock. He then turned in, and went to sleep. He was called at 9 o'clock by the second officer, Mr". Robertson, who asked if he should blow the first whistle. He replied yes, and then dressed. Hodgson, the fireman, also came in to tell him that it was nine o'clock. He went forward to the fore-deck, to see if the men were getting out, and he then had a look round aft and in the saloon. He had no refreshment in the saloon on that occasion. He went on deck and waited till the captain and engineer ca-me aboard. He had a chat with, ihe skipper, who asked him if the papers were ready, his reply being in the affirmative. After a few minutes' chat he gave orders to stand by the lines, and went forward by the headlines. The captain gave orders for the bowline and forward spring to be loosed, and witness saw that this was done. Stott asked him if he had a man to let go the lines. Witness replied yes. Stott said " Good night," and walked away. The ship swung away, and he remained on the fore deck till all the lines were coiled up, and everything secure. She would be under way in five minutes, and he was on the foredeck till she got well down the river. Then he went aft and met the chief steward', to whom he said that they would get the tickets at once. Witness went to his room, and got the ticket books, and they collected all the tickets. Everybody had tickets except Forbes, who could not find his. He said, " Never mind, I will give you a cheque in the morning," and witness knew from that that he had a ticket. He did not call Barraclough off the deck into the saloon and ask for his ticket; there would be no occasion for it when th© man had a ticket. It had never been a practice to do anything of the kind, and he could conceive of no necessity for so doing. In collecting the tickets of Pratt, Ross and Herdson, he went with t_ie steward and stood at the door of the smoking room. This was a small room with permanent settees and a round table in it.

Not n_u_h room io stagger about there?— You'd soon fetch up if you did.

As a matter of fact, did you go between the table and the settee?—No, I stood at the door while the steward went inside for the tickets. The boat was by this time just over the bar, at about ten minutes to ten.

Mr. Earl: A statement has been made that before you left Waitara you and the captain had a drink at the "hotel ? That's not so.

Where were you at half-past eight? In my bunk. I went in at seven o'clock and did not come out till nine. Have you ever had a drink with the captain ?—Xo.

What did j-ou do when the boat was over the bar?—l put the books away and went on the bridge. I-P till then had you any drink on the vessel?— None whatever.

When you went on the bridge did you have a talk with the captain?— Yes,"we talked about the cargo for Kawhia'and the tide at Kagian. We might have discussed the weather also.

How long were you on the bridge with the captain?— Fifteen or twenty minutes. He then went below, after givin" the course, and telling mc to ask the second officer to call him at half-past three or earlier if it got thick. Morris was then at the wheel and Chambers on the look out.

Were you bothered by anybody?—l wasn't bothered much. Forbes and Partridge came up at about half-past ten. and got talking there.

Talking sensibly?—Oh, no; they were a bit full; had a few drinks I thought.

Did Forbes make any suggestion?— Yes; he suggested we should go for a drink. I thought it was a good opportunity to get him off the bridge. I told the man on the look-out to Come up on the bridge. He was coming up when I was going down. I said it is too late to have a drink, Mr Forbes. They passed along the alleyway. I left them. They were making for the saloon. I went in aDd got my oilskin coat and muffler, and went back on the bridge.

How long were you off the bridge?— I was not over three minutes at the outside.

It is suggested that you went down with Forbes and Partridge and had a drink?—No, I did not.

Mr Partridge says so; he is the only one. —Mr Partridge is mistaken.

Did you have a drink anywhere before going back on to the bridge?— No.

When you returned was her head all right?— Yes. on her proper course. Chambers went, down to his post again. At about eleven o'clock the fireman came up to turn the ventilator. I continued on the bridge till twelve o'clock.

Positively, were you off the bridge at any time except for that two or three minutes?— That was tbe only time I was off the bridge.

Did you call out to the look out man? —Yes; I told him something about some dogs which were on the manifest, it being one of his duties to look after these. I meant that he was to see that they were paid for. Is it at all possible that you went to sleep?—Me. Yes, you?— No. Did you walk up and down on -hedeck? —Yes; I kept a strict watch. Mr Kettle: And were wide awake?— YesAttending to the compass? —Yes; every now and then I wiped the compass glass. At 12 o'clock I was relieved by the second officer. I gave him the course, and repeated the captain's orders.

You were in Court when Mr Cavanagh made his alarming statement about you and Baggstrom and the bottles of whisky; what do you say to that?—lt isi untrue, utterly false, utterly false. Mr Kettle: It is not true, then or any other time? —No, not true, it's enough to stagger humanity to hear such things. Where was the captain at 20 past ten? —I had just left him then. Has such a thing ever been done?— Never. Have you ever taken a bottle of whisky to your cabin? —N«ver. Mr Kettle: Did you see Baggstrom at all that night ?—Only when I was collecting the tickets. Did you enter the saloon at any time after collecting the tickets?—l did not. Did you speak to Cavanagh that night? —No, I did not. Is it posible that one glass of rum and cloves at 7 o'clock would make you stagger between 9 and 10?— No. Or thicken your voice?— No. Did you stagger?—No, and I don't recollect tripping over anything, o.r any,thing that caused mc ;to staggei_. .

When the vessel stroci? ' Mr Kettle: Are you going over that ground again?

Mr Earl: Just very roughly. To witness: You lowered the boat and put the women and children aboard? —Yes, and stood up with a big flare-up light in my hand, and held it till, daylight. Mr Kettle: I think we may say that immediately after the ship struck there is nothing whatever to show that this man did not do everything expected, or that he was intoxicated or muddled with drink.

Mr Earl: My object is to suggest that a man "boozing" all night would be in a fit condition to do all this.

Mr Kettle: That is a matter of comment. The Court is quite satisfied on the point.

Mr Earl: And as to taking Cavanagh in the boat?

Mr Kettle: Yes, we have evidence that he was taken aboard as s"oon as possible. Mr Earl (to witness): As to the dogs? —Well, one was taken in by its owner, and I did not see it. The other came swimming up to the boat; the women cried, "Save him, save him." One of the sailors, unknown to mc, lifted him in, and I let him stay there, knowing that I could turn the two out if anybody else was picked up.

Mr Kettle: We are satisfied as to what occurred from the wreck to the landing, what we want from de Wolfe is evidence as to organisation or consultation with the passengers on the beach, why he went off with Bagg3trom and left" the beach, why did he not remain on the beach to look after the survivors.

Witness: When we left there were nine men and an officer.

Mr Kettle: But you were in charge?— Yes, I got the provisions up and then left to look for assistance. It was an error, I must say, and I have thought of that since. I thought that there were enough men, two officers, five sailors, and three firemen: they could erect a shelter as well as I could. We did not know how far we would have to go; we might have found a hut in a few yards, or it might have been a long way off. I must say it was an error.

Would yon have gone if Baggstrom had not called you?— Yes, decidedly, I intended to go while Baggstrom was looking about. I was talking to the men and arranging to get the provisions up. It was decided that Baggstrom and I should go for assistance.

There was no consultation after you landed?— Nothing more than that Baggstrom and I should go for assistanceT

There was no inquiry made as to the drowned, and you did not call the people together?— Nothing more than I have stated. The only two officers lit to travel were myself and Baggstroru.

Mr. Earl: It has been suggested that you were the worse for liquor after the wreck at Raglan?— That's not true. I had one glass of whisky there. He was on the. Muritai that night at 9.30. and was on deck with the captain going in and out of Raglan. He had never been the worse for liquor since joining the Kia Ora.

Mr. Mays has spoken of the Kia Ora as a drunken ship?— There was nothing to justify it.

Would Captain Blacklock tolerate it? —Not for a moment; he was a strict man.

Can you tell why Cavanagh should tell this extraordinary storv?—l cannot.

By Mr. Mays: He had no complaint against Morris, and could not account for him saying to two people that he was off the bridge for two hours. Ho had not known him to lie about the officers before.

Do you admit that the deviation could have occurred within the first watch? — No. He would have to steer straight in for the full two hours.

Mr. Mays: Oh no, one point in wou.i do?— Well, I mean to say that it would have to be a very bad course.

Mr. Kettle: North-three-quarter-east would take you on to that rock.

Mr. Kettle: Mr. Robinson says that from the course he got the deviation did not occur in his watch, he is positiveWitness: And I am quite positive that it did not occur in mine.

Mr. Kettle: It must have occurred at some time.

Mr. Mays: Is a teetotaller a more reliable man as an officer of the watch than a non-teetotaller?—lt i 3 a very difficult question. I have seen men who take their drink as good as teetotallers. Mr. Kettle: It is absurd to lay down the principle that because a man is a teetotaller he must necessarily be a better officer.

Mr. Mays: I just want his experience at sea.

Witness: I do not think a teetotaller any better than a man who takes a glass. What promise did you make to Mr. Ranson when he took you back again? —He said he did not want mc to drink any more and I said I would not. There was nothing about being a teetotaller. You did not give a promise that you would not drink at all?— Well, "he gave mc a long lecture, and I said 1 would not drink.

Mr. Mays: Was there anything to prevent you sending one officer and a sailor or passenger for assistance?

Mr. 'Kettle: Oh, what more do you want about that? He candidly admits, looking back on it now, that he might have done better.

•Mr. Mays: Very well. Do you know the manner in which liquor is taken into the King Country?

Mr. Kettle: This is not a Royal Commission on sly-grog in probihited areas. It is an inquiry into the wreck and whether the witness was drunk when on duty.

Mr. Mays: It may have a bearing on the destination of those three bottles. Continuing, witness said that he had not taken whisky into the prohibited area, except as cargo, and had never seen it taken ashore off ships in bottles. He did not know that this was a method oi getting liquor ashore into the King Country.

Mr. Mays: If your alleged drunkenness or absence from the bridge did not a__.ou.nt for that deviation, what did?— • I cannot say.

No theory at all?—I can give none unless the compasses went wrong, were stiff or anything like that.

Mr. Kettle:—But was it stiff?—l did not notice it. There might have been a current, they have all proved that there was a set.

Did you hear the captain calling out in the water? —Yes, when the boat was lowered with the ladies and children. I pulled clear because I did not want to be drawn in with the suction, and I wanted to avoid a rush, knowing that there was only one boat and over thirtypeople on the ship. I backed her well clear, the night was dark and she disappeared from my view in two minutes. I pulled back, picking them up as I went along, one here, another there, another somewhere else. I picked them up to the best possible advantage, and heard the captain calling out: "Boat, Tom." The cabin boy was calling out and the women were screeching and screaming to mc to pick them. up. I heard the •captain sing out to pick' the. boy up. /The women and the boy. were crjruxg

out, the firemen were also calling, and I wient ipver and found them cm the for and aft of the hatchway. I got them into the boat and pulled towards the captain, but heard no more, and did not see him again.

Mr. Kettle: Do you feel now conscientiously that you did everything possible to save those in the ship?—l do, I did everything that mortal man could do. Much as is my regret for the loss of Captain Blacklock. I could do no more than I did.

The witness was then cross-examined as to a previous dismissal, and as to disrating, and' Mr. Mays further asked: Are you in any way related to Mr. •Ranson or any of the directors of the Northern Company?— None whatever. Do you deny that half a dozen people in the boat asked you to throw those dogs overboard?—l deny it. Can you tell us why it is in face of frequent lapses that you are taken back into the Northern Company? —No, Mr. Ranson can tell you that. Mr. Kettles Had you any influence behind you?— None whatever. Mr. Mays: Have most of the men on the coast as good a knowledge as you of those harbours?— No. I don't suppose so. Have the Northern Company plenty of men who know those harbours?— Plenty.

,Did your cold iaffe_i you on the bridge?—No, I had had it on mc for some time. I could do my work all right.

By Mr. Kettle: He had never seen drunkenness of any kind on the Kia Ora. Forbes and Partridge had had enough. When they asked him to join them in a drink, he did not think that they should have been served. He had known officers to have drinks with passengers just before leaving.

Mr. Kettle: Do you think that right? —Well it's a difficult question to answer.

Mr. Kettle: Very well, we will not press you. Do you swear that when you left the bridge you had no intention of having a drink, but simply wanted to get the passengers off?— Yes.

Have you been frequently drunk since you left the ra.ro-.i?—No, not onr__

Witness concluded his evidence by saying: "I would like to say cue thing, your Worship. I feel proud that I saved those dogs, because I think their lives were more honourable, more truthful, and probably will be more useful in the future than some of the lives I did save."

The enquiry was then adjourned till 2.15 p.m. on Fridaj' to secure the attendance of the witness James, with whom it was stated by Morrison that the seaman Morris conversed as to the cause of the wreck.