THE ELINGAMITE WRECK.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 804, 20 January 1903, Page 2

THE ELINGAMITE WRECK.

CAPTAIN ATWOOD'S CERTIFICATE SUSPENDED.

(Per Press Association). AUCKLAND, last night. Decision was given to-day by the EJingamite Enquiry Court. Mr Ilaselden, S.M., in delivering judgment, after going very fully into 'the circumstances of the wreck, went

on lo say •• Tim Court is of opinion that there was no grounding astern until alter the vessel struck forward. No one on board outside the engine-room perceived any touching or bumping such as deposed to by the engineers, whose story was at variance with the known conditions existing at the rime. The eng ncors all told the same story, advanced the same theory, and siiowed the same reluctance to speak candidly about the engines. It was clear that owing lo some defect in the engines the reversing gear would not aci, and the chance thus of stopping the vessel was consequently lost. Unsatisiaetory as the testimony of the engineers was as to the dangerous condition of the engines, the Court could not hold the surviving engineers responsible for what happened. They were at their posts and obeyed the orders. “ Although possibly the vessel could have been extracted from the danger had the engines been in perfect order, the captain was none the less responsible lor having so lost lhe ship. “ The Court found Captain Atwood had been guilty of grossly negligent navigation in driving full speed through a fog to 10 a.m. on Sunday, when he must have known lie was near the land ; in neglecting to sound before and after 10 a.m. ; in altering the course without sullicient reason in proceeding at U -knots or over without sounding ; in not carefully ascertaining his speed when going ahead ; in guessing Ids speed at noon on Saturday at 12 knots, when everything pointed ui a higher speed. “ The Court found that after the wreck a grave error of judgment was committed by the master in allowing No- t lifeboat to leave the ship with only half the complement she was able to carry. No sullicient excuse had been urged either by the master or Captain Keid for leaving the wreck. “ The master and first, oflieer were to blame for not having all the boats properly equipped and the tackle in proper order, and the crew efficiently exercised in boat drill. Those in the boats should have stood by the rafts as long as possible. The master and officers should have kept both boats and rafts together until at least a concerted plait of action was arrived at.

“ While the certificates of the first and second officers nmsl, he returned to them, tlieir conduct was not commendable, either in handling the boats at the time of the wreck or in leaving passengers adrift on rafts. “ The Court ordered Captain Atwood’s cert ificate to be suspended for one year, and also ordered him to pay £SO towards the costs of the enquiry. The certificates of the other officers were returned.” Referring to the experiences of those on the large raft, the Court expressed an opinion that there was no foundation for any charge of unnatural conduct, though the survivors had gone through as much as men could do and live.