MOST PROBABLE CAUSE

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 139, 16 June 1930, Page 9

MOST PROBABLE CAUSE

BOAT HIT FLOATING-LOG

SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

British Official Wireless. (Received 16th June, 11 a.m.) RUGBY, 15th June. At the inquest on Sir Henry Scgrave, which was formally opened yesterday, counsel for Sir Henry Segrave 's father said that evidence as to the probable cause of the disaster was now available and would be produced at 'the appropriate time. After the inquest had been adjourned, Lord Brecknock, .on behalf of the Marine Motoring Association, issued a statement, signed by technical experts; who reported that they were agreed that the boat, engine, and transmission gear were all in perfect condition' for the first two laps and part of the third, when apparently something happened to cause the disaster. From an examination of the boat before it sank, it appeared that the front step on the port side- was torn away. Later, the missing portion of the step was recovered, and they furnished sufficient evidence to indicate the probable cause of the disaster, namely, that a floating obstacle was hit by the rear portion of the step, causing it to bo torn off. Subsequently it had been learned that twenty minutes after the disaster, a waterlogged branch of a tree approximately 20 feet long and' 3 inches in diameter was picked up 200 yards astern of the boat and as near as can be ascertained in the direction of its path.