MISHAP TO SCOW

Evening Star, Issue 21284, 13 December 1932, Page 3

MISHAP TO SCOW

THE ECHO INQUIRY [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, December 12. The magisterial inquiry intojdie capsizing of the scow Echo on November 25 was opened to-day before Mr E. Page, S.M., and Captains AVilkinson and Dewhnrst. Captain W. 0. Jarman said lie left Blenheim at 1 p.m. with about sixty tons of cargo in a light southerly wind and smooth seas. About 7.15 p.m. the wind increased, and continued increasing. Ho went forward himself and put the mate and a look-out on the port side to watch for lights inside the harbour. Just before striking he csti'mated that the ship was a quarter of a mile from the shore. Below Pencarrow light ho altered his course, but be was a few yards short, and the ship struck. She stuck for five or ten minutes. There was a moderate to heavy sea. The ship slewed off. but in the meantime the wheel chain carried away, and the ship could not bo steered, but with the engine he began to come up the harbour. The control was insufficient, however, and he dropped anchor about 10.30 p.m. The ship was making water and had a very heavy list to port. The mate sent an S.O.S. in Morse signals, and later asked lor a tug. Witness decided at 0.20 a.m. to abandon the ship, which was then well down in the water. He attributed the accident to the heavy rain coming on just as they were crossing the entrance and were trying to pick up the light. The rain shut out all "the inside lights and blurred Pen"carrow. Five men were looking out for the lights- and saw none. Frank Edward Puddick, who was on duty at the signal station at Beacon Hill when the Echo was making the harbour entrance, said that when he first saw the Echo she was about a mile outside. There was then a strong breeze to a moderate gale blowing, with heavy rain squalls. Witness called up the vessel, but got no reply, and it was not until 10.30 p.m. that he got a message saying that the vessel was sinking. He considered that the Echo struck on the Pillar Rock, Edward Alfred Rate, mate of the Echo, said that just after the ship had struck he was ordered to get in touch with Wellington by radio, but the aerial was clown, and before be could do anything water came into the cabin and put the set out of action. He then Morsed an S.O.S. and got a flash'in reply. Witness said that if the squall Had come ton minutes earlier or ten minutes later there would have been no need for the inquiry. •' In fact, anyone with a powered ship at the time would have turned round and gone out again,” added witness, in reference to the lack of visibility. Charles Alexander Eckford, managing director of Messrs T. Eckford and Co. Ltd., owners of the Echo, said the vessel was not insured. Of the cargo however', the wool, butter, cheese, and barley were insured by the owners. The estimated cost of the repairs to the hull would be about £6OO. Witness bad never had any doubt about Captain Jarman’s ability as master. Robert D, Anderson, an A.B. in the Echo, corroborated the evidence of the master and other members of the crew on the subject of the weather conditions.

Stafford Thomas William Adams, another A. 8.. who bad gone on watch at 8 p.m., gave details of the courses set This concluded the evidence. Mr Prendeville submitted the two following questions to the court: —(a) What was tbo '-anse of the accident ' 1 Was any blame attachable to the master y

Mr Foden. addressing the court, said the explanation of the accident was the nature of the weather and the fact that a squall had come just at the moment it had. It was clear that a particularly good look-out had been kept, and the very fact that not one of the men had been able to estimate the ship's position suggested that, there was a simple explanation. If any one of the inner or outer lisihts had been picked up the master would have altered his course suitably. In making sure that he would clear Barrett’s Reef the master had kept rather long on the course, which took him to the other side of the entrance. If the light could have boon seen all would have been well. His error, Mr Foden suggested, had been one of over-caution. He submitted that the* incident might reasonably he pul down to misadventure. From the evidence there was nothing which showed the master in a bad light. The Magistrate said the decision ol the court would he given to-morrow.