THE ELINGAMITE.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 4824, 29 November 1902, Page 7

THE ELINGAMITE.

THE INQUIRY INTO THIS WRECK. EVIDENCE OF CAPTAIN ATWOOD. PRESS ASSOCIATION. AUCKLAND. November 28. The Klingamito inquiry began this morning, before Mr Haseldon, S.M., Captain Smith and Captain Waddilove (assresorsb and Mr G. Twigden (engineers’ assessor). The Crown Prosecutor (Mr Tolo), in his opening address, said tho inquiry could nob bo too searching, because tho judgment would not only affect the parties connected with this wreck, but would possibly induce legislation, to minimise such disasters in future. Counsel proceeded—The captain said he gave the order “Full speed astern,” hmt the order was nor. obeyed, and tho signal had to be repeated. Almost simultaneously the vessel struck. No complaint was made about lifebelts, and the conduct of Captain Atwood and the officers and crow was worthy of iho highest praise; but regarding tho lifeboats and rafts and their provisioning there was room for very serious charges. It appeared that tho regulations were not complied with, and it was and irstood that tho boats were not fib and ready for use. There were difficulties and delays in launching the boats, and it was alleged that they had to bo washed off tho vessel after the falls wore cut. Apparently there was no water, compass, or lamps in the boats, and the whole of tho life-saving appliances did not come up to tho requirements of the law. Captain Atwood deposed that ho had been master of the steamer siuco July this year. Previously he had been master of a sailing vessel and an officer of various steamers. He had boon about (wo years trading on tho New Zca- * hind coast. The compasses were corree/t on the- steamer _ leaving Sydney. Nothing was wrong witii tho steeringgear. The official log-book saved was not written np: tho draft, log was lost in the. wreck. On leaving Sydney he steered south 83 degrees east, anti endeavoured to maintain that throughout the voyage At noon on Saturday the vessel was 202 miles from tho Kings. A patent log was used, but on Saturday afternoon the log foralod, showing forty miles instead of forty-eight. The mate corrected it immediately. The weather was clear at noon on Saturday, and the steamer wont full speed—l2 knots —till 10 a.m. on Sunday. At noon on Saturday the vessel was two or throe miles out of her position northward. He attributed this to bad steering rather than' to ocean currents. Tho weather was thick all Sunday. He was called at •fi a.m. on Sunday, which was earner than usual, because tho ship was nearing land. Captain Atwood further said that no believed the breakers were kept full or water. There woro no compasses in the boats. Each boat had a lantern, lie started to provision the boats'just after the vessel struck. Ho made a true course that should have taken him six or seven miles south of tho Kings. Continuing his evidence, Captain Atwood said a hazo camo down suddenly at 10 a.m. on Sunday within a fow minutes. Ho know whero ho was at id o’clock, having worked it by dead reckoning; ho ought to have boon six or seven miles south of tho south-west King. When tho fog camo on ho sent for the chief engineer—at three minutes to 10—to tall him to slow tho engines down. Ho could have telegraphed that, but was afraid that if tho engines wore Suddenly slowed ho would not bo able, on account of tho escaping steam, to hoar breakers, fog signals or anything els 6. Ho did not expect’ to hear anything, but one never know what one might hear in a fog.* At 10 o’clock tho onlines wero slowed to four and a-halr knots. Ho then altered tho, course to cast-north-east by tho compass. The variation was 13 degrees. Ho intended to bc<dn to heavo tho lead at 11 o clock. Ho did not heave it before, because he thought ho was on tho west sido or tho Kings? and tho lead would bo no guide, as tho water was supposed to bo too deep. Ho was three-quarters cf an hour on that course when tho vessel struck. Sho was then going four and a-half knots. The length of s’ght was then Hwo ships’ lengths ahead. Ho saw breakors on the port bog an rushed to tho telegraph. fl o ran “Full speed astern, a, '3 0 , r " ed the helm hard aport. Ho rang three or four times. Tho telegraph c sponded from below to tho first ring, him the engines did not to move. Ha

went to the side of the ship, but there did not seem to bo any motion. Ho rang again, and the third engineer, Mr Scott came on tho bridge, and reports cd tliat tho engines would not more. Witness said; “Too lato now—the ship is broadside on to tho rocks.” Ho told Mr Scott to tell tho chief engineer to bring up all Ids men to save themselves Ho had' not time to ask -why tho engines would not move, and did not yet know -why they would not move. Had tho engines boon reversed when ho first gave tho order the ship would have escaped. Tho fourth engineer was. on duty at tho time. Tho rocks were about two ships’ lengths away when ho saw tho breakers. Tho ship was heading about east when she struck. Ho had altered the ccmrso two. point* m consequence of tho order hard aport. Four of tho hflats had not boon swung out since ho was on tho ship. There was a breaker of water in No. 1 boat, but it had no provisions. • The boats aft wero lowbred at boat drill on tho Friday before tho wreck. Ho had never soon tho rafts disturbed since ho had been on tho ship, but ho thought there was water in tho breakers on tho rafts. In answer to Mr Hasolden, witness said there wero ample lifebelts for passengers. officers and crow. Mr Hasolden: Were thoro any compasses in tho boats? —No. Each boat had a lantern, according to tho report of tho chief officer. Mr Hasolden: Were you always present at the boat drills? —Yes. Mr Tolo: Was there vegetable ail m tho boats for calming tho water? —To tho best of my belief there was. Mr Tolo: Had tho officers any experience in tho handling of tho boats? —Not

in tho Elingamito. Mr Tolo: In this fog did you prepare for tho emergency which occurred ?—No. Mr Hascldon: When did you start :o put provisions into tho boats?—Just after sho 'struck. Mr Tolo: Thcro was nor inspection of tho boats by yourself to see that they were properly provisioned ?—X made no special inspection. X never saw ,tho rafts moved in tho ship, and cannot say whether tho under battens were rotten. They woro provided with rowlocks and oars, properly secured, but had no sails. Mr Hasolden: Did you enter in the log tho occasions on which boat drill was hold?—Yes, in tho mate’s log. Mr Hasoldon: What would bo the last entry?—That of Friday's drill. Mr Tolo; “Tho Now Zealand shows a current at tho Kings of about threo to five knots.—l have experienced a southerly current between tho

Kings, hut not as much as that, and not to tho southward. -dr Tolo: Did you allow for tliat at this time?—No. I made a true course, which should have taken mo six or seven miles south of tho Kings. Mr Tolo; What was tho last occasion on which you had difficulty \w tho engines?—Tlie last occasion of difficulty in roversing tho engines occurred in Sydney harbour on tho same trip. After tho vessel struck I ordered tho chief steward to servo out lifebelts and provision tho beats, and tho belts woro served out. Mr Tolo: Within what spaco of time worn all tho boats out?—Within a quarter of an hour. Mr Tolo: What stops were taken to got tho. passengers into tho boats?— Tho ladies and children, woro got in first, then tho other passengers. Mr Tolo; I suppose at ordinary drill all tho boats would bo out in two mi mites ?—No. Mr Tolo: What is tho minimum time in which boats should bo got out?— Under ordinary circumstance I should sa.y four minutes. -Mr Tolo: Was thoro any difficulty in getting tho boats launched?—There was on the port side, because wo could not swing tho boats out owing to tho heavy 11st. Mr Haselden: On the starboard side you got tho boats out all right?—Yes. Mr Tolo: Was thcro any difficulty in getting tho boats from tho chocks? —Nob from tho starboard sido. Mr Haseldon: Dub you say ono boat stuck?—Yce, because somebody had cut tho falls. Mr Haseldon: Who cut tho falls?— I don’t know. Mr Ilaselden; Did you toll officers off to certain boats? —Yos. They all have their proper boats. Mr Haseldon: Whoso was No. 2 boat?—Tho chief officer's. Mr Tolo; Then everything workted smoothly?—Well, tho No. G boat capsized, through not unhooking tho fall, I think. Witness wont on to explain how tho boats left tho ship and the landing on tho Three Kings. Mr Haseldon: What boat had provisions from tho ship?—No 4, tho third mate’s boat, which lias not yet turned t up. Tho chief steward put in these provisions after the wreck. Mr Tolo: To what do you ascribe tho oauso of this casualty?—To a strong north-east set. Mr Haseldon. Which deflected you from your proper course? —Yes. Mr Tolo: And which you were awaro of before you camo to the Kings?— No. I know there was a current in tho vicinity of tho Kings, hub nob out there. In fact on the last trip I had a southerly current. Mr Tolo; Did you say this was an exceptional set?—An exceptionally strong sot.

Mr Tolo; How closo to tho islands docs that set oominonco to operate?— Close in, according to the chart. Mr Tolo: How many miles from tho island would it influence tho ship?— Four to five miles. Mr Tolo: Outsido that limit it would not have any effect? —No. Mr Hasoldon: Is it possible for a steamer to deflect five or six miles from her course in, say, ten or twenty miles, without tho captain being aware of it?— No, I don’t think so. Mr Tolo; Where would you say you commenced to err in your course?—l did not expect that set. I expected a southerly sot. Mr Haseldon: As I understand your answer, tho set could only operate a few miles off tho land; or do you suppose there was another s-ot much further out? —I fancy there was a set further out. ’ Mr Tolo: You fancied it?—Yes. Mr Tolo: Wore you actually aware of any ? —No. Mr Hasoldon: Tills is a theory you havo sot up alter the event? You wero not awaro of it before?—That is so. Mr Tolo: You had tho “Now Zealand Pilot” ou hoard?—Yes. I used to consult it. Mr Tolo: Therefore, you knew all about what the “Pilot” says?—-Yes. Mr Tolo- The current you experienced, therefore, was not entered in the “ Pilot ” ?—No. Mr Tolo: An unknown cutrent, then ? —Yes.. Witness was further examined at considerable length as to tho conduct of the passengers and other details, hut no new facts wero disclosed. Mr Hasolden then asked: What would yon do to-morrow, supposing you wore placed in exactly the same position as you were at 10 a.m. on that ’ Sunday morning?—l do not tjiink I should go so far as I did, or would perhaps go outsido tho Kings altogether. Tho Court then adjourned.