WRECK OF THE DORRIGO.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 95, 23 April 1926, Page 7

WRECK OF THE DORRIGO.

THE MARINE INQUIRY. EVIBENCE OF THE MASTER. SYDNEY, April.22. . At the marine inquiry into the loss of the Dorrigo off the coast of Queensland, Captain-Gray stated in evidence to-day that he was awakened at 5.50 a.m. by a seaman, There .was a. moderate easterly wind and sea. The Dorrigo had a heavy list to > port. Witness saw that the water was. flush with the bulwarks. He ordered some of the seamen to throw benzine cases overboard. He told the chief officer to get i the port boat ready. The men did their best to get the boat | out, but,the ship was heeling over too I rapidly. She got •on her beam ends and the-funnel was almost parallel with the water. ' • Then'the steamer settled down by/the stern. !.Witness counted 'everyone in. tlie water exc.ept one fireman.. -He admitted that his son had told him-the fireman j had sdidj>kere were twb ieet of water in the stokekdld. If "that" were true probably there would have been water in the engine-room arid that might have caused the vessel to. turn over, / ! Witnfess expressed the'opinion that if he ! had been called earlier they might bave saved the.ship or at least have got the boats away! He, was called at thi* • ordinary hour. : -'~~--y ! There '■fas a perfectly safe ; quantity of. 'deck cargo oh the vessel. The state-of the' sea; did not cause the wreck. xHe. i could form no. opinion as to the j{cause.— r- (A. and N.Z;} .. .-X \. X