THE EVEREST FIRE.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 8097, 13 February 1892, Page 3

THE EVEREST FIRE.

MAGISTERIAL INQUIRY.

ARREST OF THE COOK.

The magisterial enquiry into the fire which took place on board the ship Everest, early on the morning of January 30th, while the ship was lying in the Lyttelton dock, was commenced at 10.30 yesterday morning, in the Court-House, Lytteltou, before Mr R. Beetham, R.M., and a jury of six, of whom Mr W. H. Kiddey was chosen foreman. Sergeant O'Malley conducted the enquiry. Mr J. C. Martin, Crown Prosecutor, appeared on behalf of the Crown. The jury and one or two of the witnesses having paid a visit of inspection to the ship, which now lies at the Gladstone pier, Mr Martin, in opening the inquiry, pointed out to the jury that no person was charged with having set fire to the ship, but he detailed the positions of the various ports, &c., whereby it was possible that a person could unobserved have got to where the fire started.

William Baxter, tailor, Lyttelton, deposed that he did not see an advertisement in the paper that Captain Hibbert would not be responsible for his crew's debts. The captain himself told him not to trust the men. Some of the men told him they thought the ship would be condemned here. Witness trusted a few of the men. Hansen owed ' him about 18s, Peterson about £4, Madaon £1 10s, Danton £1153, Anderson about £1 10s 6d, Gannon £1 193, Matchan £1 10s 9d, Waatrum about 14a, Graham about 15s or £1, Font £5. Most of those sums were for goods, but there might be a shilling or two for cash. They dealt with him a little for cash at first and they said that the vessel would be condemned, in which case he would be paid. He was under the impression from the men she would be condemned. Knew the copper was being taken off for survey, but did not know the result of the survey and that sho was being repaired. Font got his clothes after the fire.

Charles Hibbert, captain of the Everest, said the ship belonged to Yarmouth; Nova Scotia, and was owned by VV. D. Lovitt. Did not know if she was insured, Had no share in her. She put into Lyttelton in distress, and was dry-docked on January 13th. On the night of January 29th witness left the ship at 5.30 p.m., -with Mrs Hibbert, and spent the evening a3hore with friends, returning on board aboub 11.15. The ship was connected with the shore by a gangway. That was the only meane of getting on board. Had a watchman on duty, and found him there when he went aboard. Saw nobody else about. Went into the cabin and locked, the door, and then smelt a strong smell of kerosene oil. He remarked this to his wife,, and then went up and opened the skylight. They retired, and just as they were falling asleep a slight shower woke them, and they both smelt tire. Witness got up and went, into the after cabin, when he found the ship was on fire. The smoke was coming through the port corner of the after cabin. No smoke was there when they went to bed. That was ten or fifteen minutes before he got Up. Went into the mate's room, called him, and gave the alarm. Ran up on deck and saw the men collecting, and some one ran aft and lifted the lazarette hatch, when the flame sprung up about 4ft. Witness also ran and looked down, and saw that the whole lazarette was in flames. It was, he thought, the cook who ran aft. Was on good terms with all hie officers. The mate was a. sober, steady man. The second mate had been in liquor once or twice since his arrival in port. Peterson, Danton, and Gannon had applied to be paid off at Lyttelton. The cook had been on the spree and wanted more money, but was refused ; he had then applied to be paid off, but witness .declined to discharge him. Witness lost nearly all his charts and a great deal of his property. The wind was blowing very light from the N.E., or aft. If the fire had been burning for some time the cabin must have had smoko in it, and the smoke would J also have gone forward alongside the waterways and out at the ports. The carpenter was a sober, respectable man. A considerable sum of money was owing to the crew. T. E. Corney, chief mate, deposed to being in charge of the ship on the night of the tire. No one could have gone down the fore or main hatches without a ladder or a rope. The after and lazarette hatches were both closed. On the port side was the donkey engine tank and some fenders. A person might have gone forward among these things and have got through the port on the port side without the watchman seeing him. Witness saw the watchman on duty at 8.30, when he went to bed. George Anderson and Peter Hansen had been working in the lazarttte that day, mending sails. Saw them at work at 4.45. They had evidently not been smoking, or he would have smelt it, the place was so confined. The lazarette hatch was put on at 5.30. There was a grating abaft the hatch. This was closed and covered over with old sails. A person could not have got down there. There were oaly two other ways of getting into the lazarette, namely, through the port or the cabin. Saw the second mate at 9.30 when he came on board. He was quite sober and went to bed at 9.50. Next thing witness remembered was the alarm of fire by the captain. He could form no opinion.as to bow the fire originated. As ' far as he knew none of the crew had a spite: against the captain, witness, or the* ship. To the foreman of the jury—The lazarette hatch disappeared during the fire and had not been found since.

John Graham, second mate on the ship, deposed to going on board, and going to bed about 10 p.m. He went to sleep about 11 p.m., and between coming on board and going to sleep saw no sign of fire. Did not speak to any person on deck that night except the watchman, and no person was near them. Noticed no smell of kerosene.

Robert Nordberg, A.8., stated that he was on duty on the night of the fire. His post was on deck on the starboard side, between the deckhouse and poop. The captain and wife were the last people to come on board. Remembered the second mate coming on board. The second mate and he were not talking with the carpenter on deck. Everybody went forward except the cook and Julias. They came on board about 11 o'clock, and were the last except the captain and his wife. The cook and Julius both went into the galley. Went to the galley while they were in there, and the cook gave Julins something to eat. The cook said to witness " Don't you look in here, you will get nothing from here." Witness then went away. Shortly after Julius came out, got some water, and went back again, aiterwarde putting the pot back and then going forward to torn in. A light was burning in the galley. Saw the cook a minute after Julius left. He went aft as witness walked forward. He went behind the donkey engine or the tank. Saw him again in about five or six minutes. He was just before the tank. He sang oat "Hi. you," witness answered him. He . started to walk from the tank to witness, who was; standing by thi carpenter's door. He asked: if ho ihould bring him some food. He' thenwent up on the poop and down into (he cabin and brought witness some bread and butter. He then went forward and toldj witness' to call him e>t four o'clock, and; went into the galley. Saw the captain and his wife coming. Went to theicook and told him the "old m*n" was coj»ngou board. The cook then blew on* the light, s but did no* turn in. The captain went on beard and went aft, and a couple of minutes *

after witness saw the cook sit down on tbo knee of the gailoy door to light his pipu, and shortly after light hie pipe again, l< or a time everything waa quiet, and tl">» witness went fqrward for his bread, and tha next thing he heard was the alarm of in c. Could give no reason., why the cook should go behind the tank apd donkey engine. Tho cook had only hie coat off when the alarm war given. Saw the coolt. take oif toe lazarette hatch.

Julius Mewieon, ordinary seaman on board the ship, said he had been on shore the evening of the fire, and met the cook at tho railway station and went urn board with him. The oook was the worse for liquor, caw the watchman as he went onboard. Witness corroborated the evidence of tao previous witness as to getting something to eatat the galley and a drink. Geo. Andereon, A.8., deposed to having been working in the iaiarett© with Hansen mending sails the day of the tire. When they left at 5.30 they put tUc hatch over, but did not fasten it. Mad not been smoking ail day, and there was no light, Would have seen a kerosene tiu if there had been one down therePeter Hansen, A. 8., gave eimilar cvi« deuce.

Albert Foote, a member of the LytteltoD Fire Brigade, deposed to being on board the ship at the tire. Was Holding the branch, aud remembered while down the hatch seeing a kerosene tin in the lazaretto before anyone could go iuto the UuareUe. The tin was juat below the hatch. John Denhani, cabin-boy of tho ship, had been ashore on the night of the tiro. Weiit on board at 10 o'clock, and turned in at 10.30. Recognised the keroseue tin (produced) as one lie had opened. Knew it by the iour holes he had made in the corner with a pair of scissors. The tin was kept in the starboard storeroom. Last saw it on the Thursday, and tho lire took place on tho Friday night. The tin ho was uaing was exactly like the one produced. It was three quarters full. Tho cook had chargo of the store-room keys, and kopt thorn in the galley. Waa present at a conversation between the coo«c and Sergeant O'Malley tho morning after the fire. The cook said he missed the tin on tho Friday night. Did not Say what time ; it must have been after six o'clock, because he (witness) wont at six to give the watchman oil for the aiding light, and emptied the oil feeder, and the cook took the feeder to get more oil and found the tin waa gone. Tho cook never told witness he missed it. Only the oook and witness had a right to enter the storeroom.

James O'Malley, Sergeant of Police In charge at Lyttoltou, deposed to going on Board on Saturday, January 30th, to make enquiries. Saw the cook among other men. He made a statement as follows :•— " I was on shore last night; retired about 11 p.m. When I came on board I aaw Graham, the second mate, the carpenter, and another whom I did not recognise. They were sitting down talking behind the engine. I went to bed. The watchman called mc when the alarm was given. I went down the cabin aud removed some things from there. The cabin was full of emoke. I went aft, took off the lazarette hatch, and saw flames coming up through. The tire was confined to the lazarette. There was a kerosene tin in the storeroom. I saw it there yesterday; I went thore again at 6 p.m. and missed it. The key of the storeroom usually hangs in the galley, and any* one could take it and pub it back again. After I went on board at 11 p.m. I went, down in the cabin for bodio bread for the night watchman. I theu smelt kerosene, but did not take much notice." After taking the cook's statement witness went to the lazaretto, and the cook accompanied him. Saw the kerosene tin produced amongst the debris. The witness Jfoote was present. Saw the cook again oil Sunday. He brought the carpenter and said he had an important statement to make re the fire. Took the carpenter into the station. He was very much under- th« influence of drink. He made an incoherent statement that he heard the second mate say on the voyage that he had as much dynamite on board as would blow up the ship. The next day the carpenter denied all he had said, and uaid the cook had induced him to nay it, and Rot him drunk for that purpose. Subsequently the cook said if ho had said he had seen the carpentet and Becond mate that night he must have been drunk. In witness a opinion the cook was sober when he made his statement. , '

John Peter Lawson, carpenter, eaid Tμ went to bed between eight and nine o'clock. Did not turn out till the mate gave the alarm. Was not talking to, the second mate and cook the night of the fire. Went to the police station on the Sunday. The cook waa talking about the second mate having put the lire in the ship, and said the police had promised to give them money. Witness waa' too drunk at the tiino to remember much about it.

Emanuel Font, cook oa board the vessel, was then placed in tho box, and before being sworn was warned by Mr Beetham' that h« need not give evidence unless he choee, bub whatever be did cay would be taken dowo» and might be used against him. ;

sworn.. He said he recollected the night ol the fire. Had been on shore and drinking just the same aa any other there. Clot the money from the tailor BaXtei that day. Sometimes he got 6s and sometimes lla. Only got one eu.it of clothes at £5, and was now iv debt to the amount of.£7, 14a. Had previously paid Baxter money back. Went to him the day after the fire and asked him if he would bo kind enough to let him have anything he wished. Baxter asked him if the vessei would be condemned, and witness saitS *'■ Yes." Witness thought she would be, as ha Heard everybody saying so. Went on board tho night of the tire with Julius. Was fairly drunk. Went to the galley first and had something to eat with Julius. Finished their supper, and Julius went forward and witness was left alone in the galley. Then made some yeaat and dough and stopped there for nearly twenty minutes. Came out, and after going behind the donkey engine went to bed. Was smoking that night. Was smoking in his bed. Went to the cabin that night and got some suppex for the man Julius. , The Coroner having reviewed the evidence, tho jury, after a short deliberation, found that the ship had been eofc on fire by some person or persona unknown te the jury. The cook of the ship, Emanuol Font, was then arrested on the charge of having set fire to the vessel, and, being brought before Mr Beetham, • was, on the application o/ Mr Martin, remanded till Wednesday nes&