WRECK OF THE OXUS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13925, 5 December 1908, Page 2 (Supplement)

WRECK OF THE OXUS.

MAN WHO SPECULATED IN THE . ■•/' "LIVES" OF SHIPS.

Some remarkable evidence was given when Mr.. Dickinson, metropolitan stipendiaryv magistrate, sitting at the Caxton Hall, Westminster, with nautical .': assessors, resumed the inquiry into the mysterious foundering of the steamship Oxus, of London, on August 5, when on a journey from Cadez to Iceland. /

Mr Emmanuel, an insurance broker, oi Cornhill, proved he had effected insurances to the amount of £3150 on the Oxus.

' Mr. M. Valentine, an insurance broker, of London and Cardiff, stated that he effected insurances on the Oxus to the extent of ' £2100. He mentioned the names of his clients.

Captain H. Tom (one of those mentioned) said he instructed Mr. Valentine to take out two policies for £1000 on the Oxus, with wjtich ho was acquainted. He knew nothing of her class, age, or voyage. All he knew was that he heard two gentlemen discussing her rate in the Baltic. Asked as to previous transactions witness said he had insurance, on the St. Regulus, which was not lost. That was a bad spec" -Yes. Two other vessels were mentioned, and witness stated that one of them went down just at the time his policy had expired. The second one' sank in collision.

Mr. Laing, K.C. (representing the Board of Trade) : That came off all right? Yes. You got your money? Yes. Where do you get your information I have none. * It is on my own initiative, and my own judgment. You are a remarkably good judge. (Laughter.) Witness admitted that since the " freeboard" had been made less he was able to pick with, more certainty amongst the ships which were more likely to be lost. He meant seriously to say that merely because he heard the name of the Oxus mentioned he paid 100 guineas on it. Mr. Scrutton, , K.C. (for the underwriters) : Do you expect any reasonable man to believe that? Why hot? QUESTIONING the CAPTAIN. Captain Whitsun, recalled, was subjected to a long cross-examination by Mr. Scrutton. in the course of which he said that, between 1902 and 1508, when he took over command of the Oxus, he was not at sea, but was assistant manager of a motor 'bus company, or engaged in shipping business. He held to his previous statement that he had felt two shocks at the time of the wreck (the mate, who was on the bridge, had said there were none). Was there any hammering in your cabin the night before? — No. Did you do anything in your cabin which might be mistaken for hammering? No.

The log book was produced showing that certain additions had been made to the entries, including the -.voids "Captain considers she 'struck something." Why did yon do that? — Because I considered the mate's account meagre. Captain Whitsun admitted that he made a mistake on the last occasion. He believed there was a boat swung out that night. ' | Mr. Inskip (lor Captain Whitsun): Is there any truth in the suggestion that thero was anything in your conduct which led to the sinking of the —None whatever. , Reexamined by Mr. Laing witness said the mate told him that, he had, heard that the chief engineer declared that for £SCO he would scuttle the ship. . Did you ever speak to the chief cngi neer about it? Yes, and, he admitted it. , WOULD NOT LEAVE HIS TOST. The second mate of. the Oxus, Jocelyn Ullyett, in giving evidence, said he could not form any idea of what caused the water to get into the ship. When' the captain asked if she had struck anything, his manner -fan perfectly natural. ■ It was necessary for everybody's safety to leave the.ship. / . • , 'William, Kennedy, an able seaman, said he was at the wheel at two when he felt two jars. He thought they were due to a bringing up of the engines. Counsel : You did not look over the side to see if she had, hit anything? Witness: No, I wouldn't have looked over if she had hit an iceberg. I stuck to the wheel. . .

Ronald Moffat, another able seaman, said his theory of the loss of the ship was that the seacocks were opened.