Wreck of the Australia

Hastings Standard, Volume VIII, Issue 4630, 30 June 1904, Page 4

Wreck of the Australia

l.Per United Press Asso.—Copyright). meceived June 29, at 10.54 p.m. Melbourne, June z J. Tlie marine inquiry into the loss of the Australia opened to-day. Counsel ior the Alarine hioard referred to the suggestion made in Kngiand that a menace to navigation existed at Port i'!i !.-;i /,iu .;.,. ine court refused to hear e.uk.nee on this point, holding that- a uoy m a navigation class could see his way by means of the h'nglish Admiralty chart. Pilot Dennis was examined. 11a Was much .r.ereome by the shock of the wreck. His memory was inriistinct on many things. lie said tn a t when he found the lights ujc'inie_ i 0 westward he ported \\w helm, tifin'-:-irig the tide was ihe vessel in. As the ship <:o( closer the lights did not appear to him to he a; terina;. lie ported i.-jain. and ; j ; , lights assumed ;; tl appearance they had never done before. ,;,;v were blurred instead of slui:>. • .'<■ ir.eejved all possible help from the ameers of the vessel. With the position the sSiip got in, it would have been impossible for the captain to save her. Tie took the whole responsibility on his own shoulders for the loss of the vessel.