THE YACHTING ACCIDENT.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1715, 11 January 1905, Page 50

THE YACHTING ACCIDENT.

FINDING OF THE JURY. THE PROPOSED LIFEBOAT SERVICE. SUPERVISION OF YACHTS. When the inquest concerning the death of Horace Hobday, one of the young men lost by the foundering of the yacht Tea Roa on Monday, January 2nd, was resumed on Monday, some important evidence bearing on the question of a lifeboat service and the supervision of yachts was given. The opinions are those of experts, and as such have considerable value. One or two points which have given rise to a good deal of discussion were also- cleared. The District Coroner (Mr James Ashcroft) presided. Mr K. B. Bridge was foreman of the jury, and Sub-Inspector O’Donovan represented the jiolice. A YACHTING EXPERT. Robert Charles Renner, rear-com-modore of the Port Nicholson Yacht Club, said he knew the Tea Roa well. She was a boat- of about one ton and a half. The Coroner: Would you consider her safe in crossing the Straits with three people? Witness: Hardly, considering the weather usually experienced in the Straits. Was she a good boat ?—Yes. Did she belong to the- yacht club?— Yes. Are you aware she crossed the Straits before?—No; I am not aware that ®ho did. She was safe -enough for the harbour? —Yes. Have you any regulations in i egard to life-saving appliances in your- club?— Yes. Rule 30 says: “Every yacht shall at least carry, as the committee may determine, one or more lifebuoys, which shall be periodically inspected by the committee, and passed if sound.” He was not aware that there was any particular direction to the committee in regard to this yacht-. If there wer-e any reports to make they were made to the- committee by the responsible officer (the secretary). Tlie Coroner: I suppose that regulation would apply to the- harbour? Witness: Yes. And would he enforceable in regard to the channel ?—Certainly. Continuing, witness said there was another regulation in regard to racing, which said that a lifebuoy was to he carried on deck ready for use. So far as a lifeboat service was concerned, he had no doubt a lifeboat at Seatown would have been of some value, and would probably have saved one of the young men who were drowned. The Coroner: If it was properly inclined. Witness: Quite so. Do you think a lifeboat at Island Bay would be of any use?—Not in this case. Do you think any signal not to enter the port could be raised at the Heads? —Yes, hut it would have been of little use in this case. Why ?—Because they would have been too close to the Heads before it wasvisible. It would depend on the size of tlie beacon ?—Yes : but once a boat ran under Sinclair Head she could not be turned back with -safety. Proceeding, witness said that, although the keel was off the yacht when she came- ashore at Pet-one, he did not think the boat had struck Barrett’s Reef. The keel was probably knocked off when she struck the bottom after sinking. The Coroner: Can you suggest any means of making such accidents less probable?—Well, I understand there is nothing to prevent a person risking his life so long as he- does it for pleasure. It would require special legislation. Was not Tanner stopped when about to leave in his extraordinary boat ? Yes, but I take it that- was a commercial venture. The foreman: Yes, and he was taking a crew. Witness was of opinion that a signal not to enter the Heads could not be read in time to be acted upon.' Sub-Inspector O’Donovan: Do you know if there was a lifebuoy on board the Tea Roa?—l could not say. Was it reported to the club that she was not provided with a lifebuoy?—No. A HAZARDOUS EXPERIMENT. George Martin, employed in the Gen • eral Post Office, said lie was on hoard •the Mararoa, on Monday, on her Picton trip. They passed the yacht Tea- Roa off Sinclair Head about a quarter past ten o’clock. She was making excellent weather, and appeared to he very well handled, though perhaps she had too much sail. The •Coroner: Had you any thought of danger to her?—Witness: Well, with, the sail sli-e was carrying, I thought it was dangerous for her to attempt to enter. In fact, you did not think she was safe to cross the Straits at all?—She was rather small. Did you come near enough to speak her?— We passed about four hundred yards from her. The Mararoa passed on the seaward side.

Proceeding, lie said he had had experience of all sorts of craft during the past forty or fifty years, and seldom had. seen a worse sea. At the same time, it was not one which excited any apprehension in his mind. He could not say if Captain Manning had given any warning v and doubted if those on board the yacht would have taken any notice if he had done so. It would have been a risky proceeding to have turned back. Personally, he would have endeavouied to enter the Heads if he had been in their position, rather than go back through the ‘trip.” The yacht’s crew could have put her about with safety under the rig she bore, but the dangei lay in running through the ‘ np. A MASTER- MARINER.

Captain Manning, of the Mararoa, said he went out in his vessel on an excursion to Picton on January 2nd. ine sea at the Heads was Avhat he would call “considerable.” The Coroner: Was it not very heavy ? Witness: No. , „ And when you got outside the Heads t —lt kept the same till we got well oft the shore. Is it true that you said you would turn back with the Mararoa if you could ?—When ? It has been reported that you said you would turn back if you could, but for the fact that the Union Company would lose the passenger-money? —It is not true. I was on the bridge, and nobody but an officer was with me. Do you consider there was any danger?—To my vessel, no. You saw a small yacht?—Yes, she was well to the westward of Sinclair Head, almost abreast of Karori Rock, and about nine miles off shore. Was she making good weather? —She seemed to be sailing along comparatively comfortably. Was the sea rough there? —If anything, a little less than at the Heads. Hid you notice that she was oversailed ?—She was carrying whole sail. Was she well handled? —I could not tell. Did she appear in any danger?—Well, the direction she was taking would bring her into worse weather than she ■was then in. Did you take any steps to warn them? —I waved to them from the bridge to turn back. Would they understand you ?—lt was the best I could do. 1 took my handkerchief and waved, at the same time calling out, “Go hack ! Go back!” You did call out? —Yes, but I doubt whether they heard me. What distance were they off you ? About three hundred or four hundred yards. Could you not get nearer to them ? Well, I had my own ship, with sixteen hundred passengers on board, and I was nursing my vessel to keep her from rolling. To get to the yacht, you -would have been obliged to divert your course somewhat? —I would have had to- put my vessel almost beam to the sea. Would they have understood a flag signal ?—They would not have a hook on board. Would a motion of the hand he visible or understandable ?—They saw me running back along the bridge and waving backwards. In reply to a juryman, Captain Manning said the Tea Roa would not have been in the slightest danger if she had turned when he signalled to her. She was miles outside the “rip,” and could i have turned back even an hour after he passed. The Coroner asked if witness could have done any more if those on board ' the yacht disregarded his signal. Captain Manning answered that he had his own vessel to look after. One lady had had a leg broken, and several minor accidents had occurred, and ho could not do anything that would alarm the passengers or cause the vessel to roll. He would have blown the whistle, but was afraid + o do anything that might cause a panic. He ■passed the Tea Roa at 9.55. On the question of lifeboats, Captain Manning said he did not think a lifeboat could have got anywhere near the droAvning men unless they drifted a long Avay up the harbour. The Coroner: Could a signal b 9 hoisted? —Witness: It could be hoisted, but it would be no good. Why?—Because they could not stop out. In that particular locality, in weather like that experienced on Monday, a small vessel Avould have to come in. There would be no alternative?— Only to run ashore. The Foreman: How far away could a signal be seen ?—With the naked eye not more than three miles, and that in ordinary weather. The Coroner: I suppose a signal would have to he away down towards Sinclair Head to he any good?—That would be impracticable. Or at Island Bay ?—That would be too far in. The Coroner said that Captain Manning had certainly done everything in his power; that was perfectly evident. THE YACHT’S DEPARTURE. W. W. R. Wilson, brother of one of the young men who was lost, said he was with the ill-fated yachting party on the Saturday evening prior to the

accident. All AA'ere experienced yachtsmen. They had no lifebuoy or lifebelt, but carried a barometer. Witness had heard his father urging his brother not to go. The Aveather- was calm when they left for Picton. The boat was called the Tea Roa, and Avas well found in every respect, with the exception of the topping-lifts, Avhich were not on board, but which it was intended to put on on the way to Seatoun. The party, he understood, left Seatoun between 8 and 9.o’clock oil Sunday morning. They had previously put to sea without a lifebuoy—in fact, he never saw them carrying one. The Coroner: That is Avrong; there a regulation saying they must do so. Sub-Inspector O’Donovan: Yes, but it had never been reported to the chib. In answer to questions by the Coroner, Captain Post interposed at this stage that the absence of topping-lifts Avould be a serious matter when running before a gale. Continuing his cam deuce, witness said ho had been out in the yacht frequently. He was pretty certain she had never been inspected by the secretary of the Yachting Club. David Brand, clerk in the office of Messrs Macdonald. Wilson and Co., gave formal evidence about seeing the party shortly before they left for Picton.

THE LI GHTH OUS E-KEEPER’S EVIDENCE.

A. Hansen, principal keeper of Pencarrow Heads lighthouse, said he l saAA’ the yacht about 11.15 on Monday morning, coming info the harbour under full sail, and lie thought she was in danger, hut had no means of warning her. Of course, he had a code of signals, but Avas under the impression they would have no knowledge of them. Witness then detailed the circumstances of the accident, which have already been fully set forth in the press. He did not think the boat struck Barrett’s Reef. One of the men was drowned almost immediately, and the last at 12.25. So far as he was concerned, it was impossible to render any assistance, but he was under the impression at the time that a steamer like the Duco might have been sent out to their assistance.

The Coroner: Did you telephone- it through?—Witness: Yes, immediately. The Exchange rang up the Harbour Board and the latter communicated Avith the police. Even if some recognised signal could have been raised, it was doubtful in this case if they could have gone back. The Harbour Board’s launch attempted to go to the assistance of the droAvning men, but she Avas not large enough. The Royalty also made an attempt, hut returned. He did not think she was large enough. The Duco Avould have been the boat to send out.

Sub-Inspector O’Donovan: Do you think it would have been safe for a steamer to have entered the Avater Avhere they were struggling?—Witness: I am not aware of the soundings three hundred yards from the reef, but I think it wc-uld have been safe for a steamer like the Duco.

Could the Duco have got there in time? —I think so, but it would be a very close call. If the Loyalty had continued her attempt, would she have been in time to have saved the last man -Yes.

Continuing, witness- said the Loyalty apparently put out from Seatoun. It would take the Duco three-quarters of an hour to get from the wharf to the place where the yacht sank. Sub-Inspector O’Donovan pointed out that the Duco, therefore, coiild not have reached the men m time to save them. The message from the light-house-keeper Avas received at 11.45, and, according to Mr Hansen himself, the last man was droAvned at 12.25. He made this statement because some people had endeavoured to blame the harbour officials.

Further questioned, witness said he did not think a lifeboat would be of much use in the heavy southerlies at the He:ids, unless it had mechanical power. There Avas also the difficulty of getting a crew. It would he very hard to scrape up one. If the Harbour Board’s launch could possibly have reached the drowning men, she might have been in time to have saved tAvo of them, but she was far too small, and to have persisted in the attempt Avould have meant another disaster. He wa,s certain the tAvo men Avho continued struggling in the water would have been saved if they had lifebelts. The yacht was, in Ills opinion, carrying too much sail. The boom Avas sagging too deeply down, and she appeared to have no topping-lifts. This would cause the sail to sag, and help to upset the boat. CAPTAIN POST’S EVIDENCE. Captain Post, in charge of the Tutanekai, gave evidence that the Marine Department some years ago- drafted regulations! governing boats plying for hire and yachts, and submitted them to the various Harbour Boards of the colony, but they were never given effect to. Witness was not aware that the department had any legal control over yachts, unless it was reported that a certain boat Avas unsafe or uneeaworthy. The Coroner: Do you think it would have been possible for a steamer to have reached the men in forty-three minutes?—Witness: Yes, she might have

reached them if she had been sent away promptly. Witness, continuing, said a boat (after she got into the position where the Tea Roa was first seen by the lighthousekeeper) could not possibly have turned back Avith safety. She had either to come in or go ashore. He did not think a semaphore Avould be of any use in signalling vessels not to enter the Heads. It could not be seen at a greater distance than three miles with the naked eye. un the question of lifeboats, he agreed Avith the other av it nesses. At Island Bay a lifeboat would be out of place and useless, and while at Seatoun a lifeboat might be of great use for any casualties occurring inside or about the Pleads, it would not bo possible to ■launch a surf-boat at PencarroAv. In his opinion, what was required Avas a rocket and mortar apparatus at Seatoun and PencarroAv. They had them at Westport and Greymouth, where very ■vailliable -service Avas rendered- Ho contrasted the difference in the coast line of New Zealand AA r ith that at Home*. In England there Avas danger from quicksands and other things, but here in New Zealand they had deep Avater to Avitliin a quarter of a mile of the coast and then broken water. In his opinion, it- would he a great pity to hamper yacht clubs, or make them comply with Marine Department regulations ; but when going outside restricted limits they should be compelled to obtain a permit from the Plarbour Board or Marine Department before doing'so-. This would not be a hardship—it would be a safety. The Coroner: Would you say eA*ery yacht going outside restricted limit-s should carry a lifebelt for everyone on board ?—Yes. That Avould require special legislation? —Yes ; I presume an act Avouid have to bo passed. He further stated that if the yacht was taking, say, two persons across the Straits for a consideration in money, the person in charge Avould have to comply with all the marine regulations regarding equipment, etc. Be did not think the Tea Roa was a fit yacht to cross the Straits with such weather as they frequently had there. A HARBOUR BOARD OFFICIAL. George Echvards, toll clerk in the service of the Wellington Harbour Board, said he recerted a telephone message about the accident from the light-house-keeper at PencarroAv about 11.45 on January 2nd. He immediately rang up the Police Station. The Avatcbhousekeeper said he- would confer with the Inspector. Witness then rang up Mr Ferguson, secretary of the Board, avlio ga\ r e instructions to ring up the engineer of the launch, while he '(Mr Ferguson) said h-e would ring up the pilot. The launch Avas under Avay about tAvelve or thirteen minutes past 12 o’clock. The Duco was aivay at the time on her A\ r ay to Day’s Bay, and there was no other vessel available. Witness accompanied the launch. He did not know until they had gone a good way out that such a heavy sea Avas running. They could not get Avithin a mile and a half of the place where- the accident Avas reported to have taken place. He was sure neither the- Map on - rika (which had not- -steam up) nor the Duco could have faced the sea. that was running. Witness was since told by Mr Ferguson that he had also rung up Worser Bay to haA-e a boat (either the Admiral or Loyalty) sent out from there, and an answer Avas received that it would he done. They saAv the boats there as they passed. The lighthousekeeper afterAvards told Avitness it- Avould ha\-e been impossible to have reached the drowning men. SOMETHING ABOUT THE YACHT. Charles Morse, a member of the crew of the Tea Roa, said the boat carried no lifebelts. On the day of the accident topping-lifts would have been of no use, because at the time of the mishap the boat had the sea running over her stern, and if the boo-m had been lifted Avith a topping-lift- it Avould liaA’e made a bag of the mainsail, Avhich Avould have filled Avith every sea and helped to sink the vessel. He was not aAAare of the Tea Roa having been inspected by the secretary of the Yacht Club. He would considered it quite safe to cross the Straits in the Tea Roa in fair weather. Witness was on the Mararoa on Monday, and saw the y&cht passing. He signalled by Morse code with his handkerchief to tell the yacht’s creAV to keep avcll up to the windAvard off the “rip,” but they did not appear to see the signal, as no a.cknoAvledgment Avas received. Witness did not think Captain Manning could have done any more than he did. If witness had been on board the yacht he would not have tacked about, but Avould have endeavoured to- enter the harbour. The sail the yacht Avas carrying Avas too much to enter the Heads with, blit the spread was all right at the time. The amount of canvas she was carrying had probably something to do with tfcv sinking. THE CORONER’S COMMENT 6.

In summing up the evidence, tiie Coroner said there certainly had been extreme rashness in endeavouring to enter the Hoads in such weather on the part of the three uni ortimute young men avlio had lost their liws in such tragic manner Tim Yacht Club

had made some regulations on paper, but it Avas apparent the secretary had neglected his duty in regard to seeing that lifebuoys Avere carried. The jury might Avell frame a rider urging that the regulations should be strictly enforced and discouraging the practice of crossing the Straits in such small craft. Sub-Inspector O’Donovan, in explaining Avhat the police had done, said that lie had communicated AA'ith Seatoun, and was informed the Loyalty was going out. Later the captain of that boat stated that he had received a flag-signal message from somebody to go back to the wharf. He (Mr O’Donovan) had also communicated with the officials of the Pateena, but it Avas too late to do anything. In cases of the kind, Avhere a launch was unable to go out, the police had to depend on the generosity and goodAvill of people and companies OAvning boats. THE VERDICT. Just after 3 p.m. the jury returned tlie folloAving verdict: —‘‘That deceased was droAvnecl by a boating accident at Wellington Heads on January 2nd, 1905, Avith two others; and that such death was by misadventure and Avithcut blame to anyone.” The following rider was added :—• “That it he a recommendation to the Port Nicholson Yacht Club to- see that their regulations AA'ith regard to the efficient equipment of yachts under their control Avith buoys, Avith the addition of lifebelts thereto, is rigidly observed; also that they might extend their influence in this direction to, aa far as possible, all oav net's of yachts and sailing boats. That the jury is of opinion that some limit of tonnage of privately-oAvned yachts should be fixed, beloAv which they should not be allowed to cruise outside restricted limits without a special permit from the Marin© Department.”