THE ELINGAMITE ENQUIRY.

Evening Post, Volume LXIV, Issue 141, 11 December 1902, Page 6

THE ELINGAMITE ENQUIRY.

<• EVIDENCE OF CAPTAIN REID: [BY TELEGBAFH — FKESS ASSOCIATION.] -AUCKLAND, 10th December. The enquiry into the loss of the steamer Elingamite was continued to-day, before Mr. W. R. Haselden, S.M., and Captains Smith and Waddilove and Mr. Twigden, assessors. Halmond Hankinson, employed in the j engineer's • office of the Tramway Company, stated that he was certain the telegraph rang before the vessel grated, and believed that it was a minute or two 'before. The bell rang several times at short intervals. The vessel seemed to stop as soon as she grated. He could see a, wall of rock 15ft or 20ft from the ;side of the steamer, and she passed this just like a boat going alongside a wharf. Mr. Haselden: I understand that you have nothing to find fault with in the way the boats were launched? — No. It appeared to me that the officers and crew did all that was possible under the circumstances. , And there was no confusion?— A great deal less than I would have imagined under such circumstances, especially among women. You have-nothing to find fault with? — Nothing in jnrhat the ship's company did. William Douglas Reid, master mariner and superintendent of mercantile marine for the port of Auckland, stated that he knew nothing of the passage up to the Sunday morning. At about- 10 o'clock the vessel slowed down, the weather being then thick and foggy. A few minutes after 10 he heard the steering-gear moving suddenly, and then he heard the i!elegraph Jung. He said to Dr. Goldie, "Hallo 1 We must be up." He went over to the port side, and leaned against the rail, the engine stopping as he reached the rail. He saw land through the fog two good ship's lengths ahead of the ship. The engines did not seem to go astern, ■and he could hear a hissing sound in the engine-room. Witness said to Mr. Weth--jrilt, "All right; he'll back her off." They waited a reasonable time, and then witness said, "Goodness gracious ! Are they not going to give her the engines toiay?" and Mr. Wetherilt went and look2d through the engine-room skylight. Witness again heard tne telegraph riag. Mr. Wetherilt said, "How far are we pff ?" and witness replied, "Twenty yards.. There's plenty of time if they give her ?he engines." Mr. Wetherilt told witness jo look\ over the side and see if he could «cc the discharge pipe. Witness did not aotice it, and the vessel continued to go ihead, * losing her way. Witness said, "She's paying off to starboard. She's all right yet." He could hear some hammering going on in the engine-room. Mr. Wetherilt again asked witness how far they were off, and he replied, "Ten yards. Plenty, of time ; deep water close to." -He then saw it was no use, and seeing a number of passengers about the deck, he said, "Hold on while she bumps." • Witness had had experience of a bump before. The vessel struck forward and rose about eighteen inches, skidding up on a shelf and then striking against the cliff. " Witness said to Mr. Wetherilt tbat the vessel was still all right — that if they gave her the engines she would still come off, and 'that it was not a hard bump. Imediately she struck he heard something which seemed like a hammer thrown on the plates. Witness-* carkd out, "She's all clear aft; she'll come off yet." She swung gradually ' round, and he walked aft, the bow being still on the rock. There was little *wma and no sea — just a swell. The vessel's bow then ran into the rocks, and witness said, "This looks like a case," or words to that effect. Witness started to give a hand in No. 2 boat, but owing to the way it was being handled he went back, saying, "I am not going to be mixed up in this. This is where the loss of life is going to be." As the boat in which witness went was being lowered there was a fight going on on the lower deck. He could hear several people creating quite a disturbance, and this interfered with the lowering of the boat. While making for the land he saw the boat now missing ■with a mast up, and an attempt was being made by its occupants 10 hoist a sail. When the look-out man called "Breakers ahead !" the captain had already rung the telegraph. The propeller was not stuck in the rocks when the telegraph rang. If the engine had been in proper working order there appeared to be nothing to prevent the ship from going astern. The enquiry was then adjourned till Tuesday. (Received December 11, 10.29 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. , Two concerts on the steamer Paroo in , aid of the Elingamite fund resulted in over £15 being raised.