OFFICIAL INQUIRY.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7743, 14 May 1887, Page 3

OFFICIAL INQUIRY.

ship was a little closer to the I'etane beacli than on the previous occasion, but in a very good position, and had the same draught of water as she had in the old position. The pilot also remarked that he had some difficulty in picking up the buoy, as the evening was so dark. It settled into a fresh, steady breeze up to midnight, veering to N. 15. by E. The sea remained comparatively smooth during the whole of Monday. In the morning the sky had a dirty Appearance, and a fresh breeze was blowing, the glass being high. A second anchor was let go, and 45 fathoms of cable was paid out on the other anchor. The breeze continued to freshen, and at 10 o'clock at night there was a heavy gale and sea. Took all possible precautions to avoid accident, but the ship was riding very heavily and shipping water ovev the forecastle. The wind and sea continued to get worse, and at 3 o'clock on Tuesdoy morning witness was afraid that the windlass would break. He therefore had the steel hawser made fast to the mainmast and lashed to the starboard cable. At 10.30 o'clock the ship was straining heavily, and the carpenter reported that a link of the cable showed signs of breaking. While steps wore being taken to make fast the hawser below the defective link the cable parted, a terrific sea breaking over the vessel at the same time. The port cable was paid out to 120 fathoms, and the coir spl'ing was secured to the port side also. As the ship dragged signals of distress were hoisted, and Hie third bower anchor was got ready, being let go at 5.30 o'clock in the evening. The gale moderated as the night came on, and in the morning the sea was smoother, but some time after 3 o'clock the vessel struck slightly. Soundings were taken, and 5£ fathoms found under the stern. At 10.43 o'clock the wind blew with great violence, and the sea rolled in heavily. At 11.15 o'clock, just as the s.s. Weka came alongside, the steel hawser parted. Signals for assistance were made, and six small steimers afterwards c.tnic out. A line was passed to the Weka for a hawser, but in steaming to keep her head to sea the line parted. The Northumberland was dragging slowly in and striking frequently. It was evident that the steamers could render no assistance, and as there was great danger of the masts coming down he decided to try and get his crew into the boats. They succeeded in lowering one boat, with about twelve men. They proceeded to pull to one of the steamers, the Baojum, endeavoring to come down to pick up this boat, having to cross the ship's bow, and got broadside on to the sea. Before she could straighten herself again a huge breaker turned her completely 'over. The vessels would then have been between two and three hundred yards from the shore. Two men were ahead of his vessel floating on some grat in<rs or wreckage, and he called to his boat's crew to pull fast ahead and try and pick them up. As the Boojuin floated towards the ship he observed a man hanging to the belting of the Boojum, and ordered the second officer to run forward and throw the man a line. Saw the line thrown, and the man caught it, but while they were preparing a bowline to slipover him he let go his hold and disappeared under the ship's bottom, seemingly sucked down by the sea. The boat picked up one, the engineer. One of the steamers took the men out of bis boat and they all proceeded back to port. They let the boat go and it drifted oh the beach. The vessel was by this time ashore and striking heavily. He observed the rocket apparatus being got ready on shore, and ordered the men to go forward. The rockets and line fell short, and he ordered the port cable to be slipped to allow the ship's head to get furtlier in to the shore. After several attempts n line was got on shore, and a hawser was lashed on board and secured to the forestay, and the crow were landed by it. The vessel was valued at £30,000, and was now a total wreck. The cargo he estimated to be worth £50,000. Did not know whether it was insured. Of the original cargo from London she had 710 tons for Napier. She carried 600 tons of wheat, oats, and beans from Lyttolton for London, and also 750 tons of coal for the ship's use. Did not think that if the steamers had been out on the early morning of the 11th they could hayed towed the Northumberland, owing to the heavy swell. At that time the weather had every appearance of becoming finer and changing, Had visited the port of Napier with the Northumberland four times, never experienced so heavy a gale or one of such long duration at Napier tv the one of the 9th, 10th, and 11th. This voyage the vessel was a little closer in shore than on the other trips. The cause of the vessel being wrecked was owing to the force of the gale and the heavy seas, and the ship being in an open roadstead. The cables and anchors had been surveyed twice during the last three and a half years by the Board of Trade surveyors. In reply to Captain Gleadow witness said that lie did not think the vessel would have ridden any easier if he had got the topgallant yards down. There were no means of getting them down except by cutting them away, and the men were employed constantly in securing thecables. It was thought also that there was a probability of the wind shifting off shore, when the topgallant sails would have been of service in getting them an oiling to a better anchorage. Byron Broadway, chief officer of the Northumberland, gave very similar evidence, and the inquiry was adjourned till 10 o'clock this morning.

An official inquiry into the circumstances in connection with the wreck of the Northumberland was commenced at the Customs offices yesterday, before Mr E. Patten, Commissioner of Customs, and Captain Gleadow, nautical assessor. Captiiin Todd deposed that the North - nmhuiliind was a full-rigged and wellfound iron ship, having a crow of 45 all told. She carried three bower anchors, one chain anchor, two kedge anchors, two 2-iuch chain cables of 150 fathoms each, mooring chains, Sin steel haw&er, and a 12in coir spring. The vessel arrived in the roadstead at 5 o'clock on the evening of Sunday, May Bth, and was given in charge of the pilot, who brought her to anchorage at 5.40 o'clock in seven fathoms of water. There was a fresh breeze from E.N.B. when they arrived, and it commenced to freshen with gusts ninl heavy showers of rain when tl icy let go the anchor. The pilot left as_ soon ns the anchor was dropped, considering thnt Uie vessel was safely moored for the amount of wind they had. Witness asked the pilot to moor him as near as he could to tlie position he was in when in the bay the previous year. In reply to «, remark by witness the pilot said that the