STEAMER COLLISION.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 319, 5 October 1908, Page 8

STEAMER COLLISION.

THE CERTIE-PENCUIV'MISHAP. MAGISTERIAL INQUIRY. Tho magisterial inquiry into tho circumstances connected with the collision between the steamers Gertie and Penguin,' off Jackson's Head', Cook Strait, on September 3, was continued on Saturday morning, before Dr. A. M'Arthur, S.M. (president of the Court), and Captains Smith and Grey (assessors). Mr. Bell, K.C., appeared for the Marine Department, Mr. Herdman for Captain Rodgers (master of the Gertie), Mr. Young for the owners of the Gertie, Mr. Buddie for Mr. Gamble (second officer of the Penguin), and Mr. Wilford for Captain Stewart. Percy Edmondson, A.8., formerly of the Penguin, under examination by Mr. Bell, deposed that he took tho wheel on the Penguin at 2 p.m. on September 3, the date of tho accident. When approaching tho beacon, ho noticed the Gertie, about four points on his'port bow. He maintained hiscourse. The Gertie took a parallel course, and then turned in towards them, as if to cross the Penguin's bow. The vessels wore then from a mile to a mile and a half apart.

To Mr. Buddie: He was of opinion that had the Gertie not altered her course, both vessels would have safely negotiated tho passage. Ho remembered the second officer (Mr. Gamble) ringing up Captain Stewart, and that the latter answered the ring; this occurred not less than a mile from the point of collision—it might have been more. Tho captain appeared on the bridge about half a • minute after the second ring. The helm of tho Penguin was kard-a-port at the moment of impact. To Mr. Wilford: The alteration in the Gertie's course introduced the element of danger into the situation. When the vessels were parallel, there was no danger. He could see no reason for such alteration, which compelled tho Penguin to take the inside course between the beacon and tho headland. Tho Penguin was the faster vessel,. and was overhauling the other. • The courses were not parallel when the first ring was given. To Captain Smith: The Penguin was heading east and a quarter south. William Anderson, A.B. on the Penguin, deposed, to Mr. 8011, that he was on tho bridge at the time of the collision. He stood by the wheel about ten minutes before tho collision, the Gertie being then about ' 2J points on the port bow, on a'parallel course. He thought that the Gertie altered . her course by ■ about. a point five minutes, later, in towards the beacon. Shortly afterwards, he saw the Gertie's'helm ported— about, three or four minutes beforo the collision. . • To Mr. Young: Captain Stewart came on the bridge about three or four minutes after the first ring. When tho Gertie swerved in the second time —she swerved twice—the Penguin was half a mile behind. The Penguin was 1} miles behind when she swerved in the first time. When the Gertie swerved tho second time, she was then heading for tho inside passage and the Penguin for the outer passage. ■ To Mr. Buddie: The second sw.erve by tho Gertio placed the Penguin in danger. The latter vessel was kept on her course until the captain appeared on the bridge. To Mr. Wilford:. He admitted that the distance between the two vessels, at the timo the G-ertie swerved the' second time, was half a mile. ■■■ Mr. Wilford: According to the figures given, that, your Worship, is equivalent to ten longths of the Penguin. To Mr. Bell: There was only one man on tho bridge of the Gertie at the time. Captain Rodgers (master of tho Gertie), re-examined by Mr. Herdman, said that the wheel of the Gertie was for'ard of the deckhouse, the telegraph being on the port side. From the Penguin's position previous to tho accident, it would be an impossibility for anyone on that vessel to determine how many people were on the bridge. In addition to the man at tho wheel (Seaman Garrett),_ the mate and himself were also on the bridge. To Captain Grey: The Gertie took' about half a point in fairly fine steering. It was usual—owing to a peculiarity of tho Gortie —to put on a starboard as well as a port man at- tho wheel on thoso occasions. . Henry James Skelton, cook on board the Gertio, deposed, to Mr. Herdman, that ho was on deck when the Penguin camo out of. tho Sound. Tho captain was on tho: bridge up'till the time of the collision, with tho mate and the man at tho wheel. To Mr. Wilford: Ho did not seo the captain all the time. Ho admitted that the captain could have been absent from the bridge without his knowledge. Charles Fitzgerald Eager, in answer to Mr. Wilford, said that he was a passenger on tho Penguin on the day of the collision, and saw what happened. His attention was first drawn to tho possibility of danger, when ho saw the Gertie first swerve in. Ho thought that there were three men on tho bridge, and he saw the wheel being brought round towards tho Penguin—to port. To Mr. Herdman: The vessels were about fifty or sixty yards apart when tho Gertio first swerved. He would not swear that tho Penguin did not alter her course prior to tho accident. . . . ■ George Bush, commercial traveller (Kaiapoi Woollen Company), to Mr. Wilford, said that he was sitting at the stern of the Penguin on tho afternoon of tho accident —September 3. So far as ho,could see, the Gertie did not alter her course until she was about 200 yards from tho Penguin. He had no doubt that tho Gertie did swervo in. Thomas Cripps, chief stoward on the Penguin, examined by Mr. Wilford, said that ho was on the forehatch of the vessel at the time, just under tho , bridge, when tho accident occurred, and saw the Gertio swing in. . ,' Evidence was also given by William E. Thomas and Leonard Budd. The Court announced that it would take timo to consider its decision, and dolivor the same at 9.45 o'clock on Wednesday morning next. Tho certificates of Mr. J. Watson, chief officer of tho Gertie, and Captain Stewart of tho Penguin, were, on tho application of counsel, returned to their owners.