LOSS OF RIPPLE

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 11 September 1924, Page 5

LOSS OF RIPPLE

MAGISTERIAL INQUIRY.

CONFIDENCE OF THE CAPTAIN.

STORY BY LIGHTHOUSE-KEEPER

(BY TELEGRAPH— PRESS ASSOCIATION.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 10. The magisterial inquiry into the loss of the steamer Ripple was continued yesterday, Mr Riddell, S.M., presiding, with Captains F. W. Brown and W. Muir as assessors.

Henry • Charles Guthrie, foreman stevedore for Richardson and Co., said the Ripple had a full cargo, which was stowed evenly. There were about 13 tons of deck cargo. The vessel had no list. She was upright when she left. He remarked to the captain that he was likely to get a bit of a southerly “dusting” that night. The captain said that with good stowage of the vessel and her excellent trim he would go anywhere in her. The trim could not have been better. 11 Personally, ” said witness, “I would have gone to sea on that occasion without hesitation.

Frank Edward Puddick, signalman, said the Ripple went out of the Heads quite dry. George Roberts, assistant at Pencarrow Lighthouse, said considering the solid . sea the Ripple was making good • weather of it. She was throwing her propellor out of the water now and again. It was not an exceptionally heavy sea. He could not say that he had seen a small vessel go out in worse weather. He had seen them come in, but that w r as Hobson’s choice.

Captain Irwin, of the ferry Maori, said he would have had no hesitation in taking out the Ripple under the circumstances. A master had an absolute right to use his own judgment as to whether or not lie put to sea. The evidence of the lighthouse-keeper at Cape Palliser was that he saw the Ripple making slow progress against a very heavy southerly gale. She flashed the S.O.S. frequently and asked that a tug be sent, as she was in difficulty. The keeper immediately ’phoned Wellington and was informed that a steamer would be sent out as soon as possible. After he sent that message he answered back, but suddenly he missed the ship. Other said that when the Ripple left the wind was strong, but they thought the worse part would be at the heads, which the steamer passed safely.