A TOTAL WRECK.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 457, 16 March 1909, Page 5

A TOTAL WRECK.

THE LOSS OF THE FOREST HALL NAUTICAL INQUIRY. STATEMENTS OF THE CAPTAIN AND OTHERS. SENSATIONAL EVIDENCE. tui TSLitonipn—rniss association.) Auckland, March 15. Tho inquiry into tho wreck of tho Forest Hall, which stranded on February 27 on tho west coast of this islnnd, twonty-fivo miles south of Capo Maria van Dieman, and afterwards became a total wreck, was begun this morning. Mr. S. Mays appeared for tho Marino Department, and Mr. F. G. Dunlop for Captain Collins. Mr. C. C. Kettlo and Captains Adamson and Reed constituted tho Court. John Fenn Collins, tho master of tho vessel, was the first witness. Ho stated that tho Forest Hall sailed from Newcastle on February 7 for Autofagasta, in Chili. Her cargo was 3113 tons of coal, Tho first officer was Wm. Glass, and there wero 25 souls on board all told. Tho chief officer was the only certificated officer aboard, this being all that was necessary by the Board of Trade's requirements. Land in Sight.

At daylight, probably about a quarter to five, his attention was first drawn to the fact that land was in sight. There was a light breeze, and they wero heading straight for tho land with all sails set. The chief officer was in charge from 4 o'clock to 8 o'clock. Iho atmosphere was clear and tho vessel was 14 or 15 miles off when the land was sighted. After 8 o'clock witness took charge. When ho came on deck at 5 o'clock ho told the chief officer to keep in as far as possible so as to make a favourable port tack. The hands wero ordered to stand by to put about at 8.30 or 8.45. She was then about four miles off. He kopt her on her courso, and at 9.30 she grazed when about a milo and a half off the shore, and ahout three miles inside the last lino of soundings. They immediately tried to put her about, hut she would not answer. About three minutes beforo sho struck tho mate told tho man at tho wheel to put his helm hard up. but witness countermanded tho order, and told him to keep straight on. Ho did not take soundings prior to striking, and trusted solely to his eyesight, as ho thought thoy were well outside tho line of danger. The intended course of the vessel wasthrough Coolr Strait, or round the south of Nfiw Zealand. Ho had been up north and lost four or five days, and was determined to go south after 'losing all that time. His health was bad after leaving Newcastle, and ho had suffered from fever and ague over three years ago.

An Epileptic Fit. Witness had an epileptic fit on Friday (26th) and another on the following Sunday. After stranding he only gave out ono drink'to each member of tho crew. Two bottles of rum wero taken from tho ship in his boat, but thoy were stolon. There was a keg of rum left on board, and ho heard afterwards that it was taken ashoro beforo lie loft on Sunday. Complaints were made to him that some of the crew wero destroying tho stores. Thev were _ throwing food over tho rock's and breaking chests of tea. They must have been mad and drunk. Complaint was made that a man 'named Ilamsay had chased one ot tho crew about tho beach brandishing a knife, and tlieatoning him. He saw Petersen with his head cut open. Witness was too ill that night to give instructions, even if they had como to him. The mate knew this, and should have acted. r lo Mr. Kettle: He attributed tho wreckto an error of judgment, and his judgment Xl' laVO 011 octocl by i]l ° stato of his

In Mr. Dunlop's cross-examination, it transpired that it was suggested that' the lust officer had had more liquor than was good for him, but that there was not the slightest suggestion that the captain had been drinking, or that ho was in tho habit or drinking.

Tho'Chief Officer's Evidence,

. The chief officer, William. Glass, was subjected to some very pointed questioning. A tew minutes before the sbip struck lie went on to the poop and said to the captain: Are you going to turn her round now? We aro getting close to the land." The captain answered, "I am tlio responsible man aboard this ship." Witness said: "Tho ships going ashore, sir," and then called out to tho man at the wheel, "Hard up the helm • and keep her awa.v." Tho master then said: "Iveep her full and bv. I tako nil the responsibility hero." ■ The captain then ordered witness off tho poop. Witness had only one glass of rum that morning and one in tho afternoon. Lhero was no justification for any person saying that ho had boon under tho'infiucrco of liquor from breakfast time onward.' He did not know till they got ashore that the second officer -and Tassmoro had been left aboard. Ho took no stops to have them brought ashore. Ho did not eoc any riot on Saturday night, but tho men were jolly when they wore getting the stores off the vessel. Ho had a "few words" with tho steward and struck him, and "a slight quarrel" and "a very slight struggle" with him in tho alley war, where the cook lifted an axe to him. Ho did not remember Ramsay assaulting tho stevard. Tho captain never complained during tho voyage about missing liquor from his room. The ship's log was taken from his room on Friday evening. It was made up to Thursday evening. The cantain was supposed to sini it,'but never did so since leaving Newcastle. He. told the captain the log was missing. After tho wrcck everybody packed up for themselves. No orders woro given to tho crow.

"Folt Slighted."

Ho went to l'arongarenga with tho captain because ho knew tho captain had been ill, and becauso ho felt slighted through the captain t-elling tho third officer to look after things in his absence. He did not force himself on to tho conveyance, and the captain did not tell Hm that he had better stay. He was not running ahout tho beach all Saturday night in a drunken state. The captain, recalled, swore that the mate never complained to him about the loss of tho log. On the shore lie asked the mato where tho log was, and ho replied that ho, did not know. Witness asked the second and the third officers if they knew whoro the log was, and either tho second mate or tho steward said that they had seen it in tho mate's room tho day they struck. After tho ship struck, ho gavo orders for tho boats to bo got ready for going aslioro and told the steward to provision them. Carlos Miller Collins, an A.8., (brother of Captain Collins), who was acting as third officer, said that on tho morning of the wreck ho told the mate that the captain was very ill, and that tho mato should keep an cyo on tilings as they wore getting near land. When he spoke thus to the mate tho latter was perfectly sober, but later on ho was drunk. Ou the beach on Sunday tho mato was very drunk, and was bohaving liko a madman. On Sunday ho saw that tlio provisions had been thrown about in all directions. Food had been thrown into tho firo at tho captain's hut. When tho captain was leaving for Parongarenga on Sunday Ramsay was "mad" (drunk). Tlio mato was never sober from Sunday morning till they got to Parongarenga.

Serious Allegations. Arthur Hughes, • steward and cook, said tlmt at 4 o'clock on the morning of the wreck the first ofiiccr was drunk. Ho was annoying tlio witness at tho galley, cursing and swearing at him. Later in tho morning the mate on two occasions assaulted him. Fully a month and a half's provisions were put in tho lwat-s. Witness passed what he took to lie tho mate's log into tho boat in which the mate went ashore. Before leaving he endeavoured to get tho second mato and l'assmoro, A.8., into tho boat, but they wore dead drunk. He dragged the second officer out of his bunk and pulled him to the rail, and ths offioor cuxsed aim when ho tried

to got him over the rail. When lie got ashoro Ramsay and tho raato wero drunk, and thoy continued so until midday next day. Ramsay was destroying stores on Ilia shore. Tho captain was ill ou tho voyago, and had not bad anything solid for ten days. Frank Hudson, A.D., who was at tho wheel when tho vessel grounded, stated that after tho vessel struck first sho sailed on for about two miles boforo sho touched again and grounded. In cross-examination, ho stuck to his statement saying that ho distinctly felt tho vessel touch tho first timo about an hour beforo grounding. It was stated that tho only information availahlo as to insurances was that tho vessel was partly insured at Homo. Tho Court held that tho inquiry should not bo closed until full particulars of insurances were available. Tho inquiry was accordingly adjourned tiU Friday.