WAIKARE WRECK

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7025, 13 January 1910, Page 5

WAIKARE WRECK

EVIDENCE AT THE INQUIRY WITNESSES ox necessity FOR SURVEY. DECISION TO-DAY. TEES 9 ASSOCIATION. DUNEDIN, January 12. The nautical inquiry' concerning tho wreck of tho Waikare in Dusky Sound on the 4th inst. was held to-day: Mr H. Y. Wdddowson, S.M., presided, and the assessors assisting him were Captains Sundstrum and Post. Mr W. Sibhald (Collector of Customs) and Captain Beaumont (Superintendent of Marine) conducted tho inquiry on behalf of the Marine Department. Mr Sibbald stated that the depart-.m-ent sought to ascertain whether any blame was to bo attached to the officers or to the company for sending this steamer into the sound.

Norman Beaumont, Superintendent of Mercantile Marino in Dunedin, produced the official and only chart of the West Coast * Sounds. This was corrected. so far as ho knew, up to date of last issue, March. 1900. The chart showed Dusky Sound, 'with all soundings marked in fathoms. ‘ ‘ Captain Bobert Strang, Marine Superintendent for v tho Union Company, gave formal evidence touching the cruise of tho Waikare. William Joseph Newton woe master, and held the usual certificate of competency issued by tho Board of Trade, Liverpool. Tho Waikare was insured in an outside company for £15,000. .She was now a total loss. Captain Nowton had been in the service of tho company since 1886, and the company had every confidence in him. ■CAPTAIN NEWTON'S EVIDENCE. Captain Newton produced his master’s certificate, and stated that for nineteen'years ho had been in the service of the Union Company as master. He took'command of the Waikare on December 29th, and was ordered to take the Waikare the following day on the usual excursion to the Sounds. He had been eight times to the Sounds — six as chief officer, onoe (recently) as a passenger in order that he might refresh his memory of the Sounds, and onoo as master. His last trip as chief officer was eighteen years ago, but ho still remembered the Sounds very well. On Monday, January 3rd, the Waikare.started on her return voyage from Milford Sound. They entered Breaksea Sound at 5.25 a.m. on January 4th, and at 6.44 a.m. they anchored in Wet Jacket Arm. They hove anchor at 9 a.m., entered Dusky Sound, proceeded to the top, came back, and at twenty-on© minutes past noon, when a couple of cables distant from Indian Island, the vessel struck something. ' The contact lasted about five seconds, and shortly afterwards the engineer came, on to the bridge and reported .that water was entering the engine-room. He stopped the ship and lowered all tho boats, and at 12.34, when the engineer reported that the lower fires .were under water, all the passengers were in the boats. He decided to beach the ship at Stop Island, that being the only place he could reach in the time at his disposal. *He did so, laying her broadside on to the island. After grounding the vessel listed from starboard to port, and at.'10.30 p.m. on Wednesday she lay over on her side. Water was making rapidly in all holds, and she was slowly filling. When water commenced to come in all the pumps were ,put into action, and connecting doors were closed. ' SENDING OUT THE NEWS.

At 3 p.m. ho dispatched a launch with a heat and a boat’s crew in tow to Puyscgur ligb-tHouise, with a telegram to the owners giving particulars of the accident. Mr Appleyard. who was in charge, had instructions to roach the lighthouse before 8 o’clock, and he had further instructions to lose the boat he had if necessary in order to permit of his reaching the lighthouse in time' The Waikare had now capsized, and could not be'salved. The depth under her bow was five fathoms, abreast the foremost four fathoms, and aft there were nine and a half fathoms, and when the vessel was beached there was not sufficient steam left to heave tight ropes, which were taken ashore, and this had to he done by means of tackle. He traced on the chart the track pursued from Supper Oovo down the, Sound, and the track it was intended to follow after passing Indian Island. . That was a mid-channel course, avoiding all points of land and 'rooks as far as possible. The _ vessel struck off the north-west portion of Indian Island; on which they placed a white paint mark. On the morning after the accident he proceeded to the locality with a steam launch and two boats with lead lines, and after half an hour’s sounding the boatswain in hauling, in his line found his load grating on a rock. It suddenly slipped off. They searched in the vicinity for an hour without again finding it, and also the following morning he and Captain McDonald searched the same place for over, an hour, hut unsuccessfully. The white paint mark on Indian Island was S. 83deg. E. There were no soundings shown in tie locality. Any that had boon attempted had been unbottomed. The rock touched.by the boatswain was in the vicinity, apparently, of where the ship struck, and so far as could be judged the obstruction was from 15 to 20 feet under water. The ship was drawing 15ft Oin forward and 17ft 4in aft when elio struck, and it was about low water at the time. TWO'BOOKS NOT OHABTED.

On the way to Pigeon Island with tho launch he found two rocks which were not marked on the chart he was using. So far as he knew all tracks pursued by steamers in, the Sounds were clear. Ho had hea'rd nothing to the contrary. To Mr Sibbald: The Waikaro was going full speed when she struck the rock. The rise and fall. of tho tide there, according to tho chart, was spring 10ft, nca.p 6ft. Ho was trying to follow out the programme of tho previous trip, and there was only a few minutes’ difference between tho time the Waikaro passed through the Sound that day and the time she passed the week before. Of course, it was high water idle previous week at that time, hut the depths in the Sound wero so great that tides did not enter into consideration. He was on the fridge examining the chart when tho vessel struck. He followed as near as possible the course followed by Captain McDonald the week before, tut was, of course, steering by the eye. The rook was uncharted. Mr Sibbald: Then jou think a yea-

sol ooulcl go through there and not Newton: Well, the fact remains that vessels have been-going through there for thirty years without accident. Do you think the Sounos are imperfectly surveyed?—That is not for mo to say. Tho water is so deep in places that you would want to in aho a sweep to get an accurate survey. If the survev was to ho a close ono it would take about twenty years. Could you take a vessel through there again safely?—Yes, I took marks which would enable n\o to clear this place. QUESTION OF DOUBLE BOTTOMS. Captain Newton went ou to say that from observation ho had made ho considered tho vessel had been struck almost exactly amidships. Ihc \\aikaro had double bottoms except under tho engine-room, where water first caine in. Had her double, bottoms protected hex there would have been no difficulty, and. ho could have brought her on to Dunedin or Bluff. , _ Do you think after this accident that it is safe for any vessel to go through there without having a double bottom?—Well, it is act of God. II you wore told you reejuired a double bottom to save you, you would not gob much pleasure out of an excursion. Tho company would not undertake excursions if it thought there was any danger. , Captain Newton said there was boat accommodation for double the number of people, Tho place he wanted to beach at was Duck Cove, five miles Kway, and there was another equally good place four and a Ixalf miles away, but the engineer said ho had no more steam than would carry the sliip a mile. Stop Island was the only spot near by where there wore soundings. Everything was got out of the ship. At the time the vessel she was favouring tho Indian Island side so as to avoid islets on the other side. If the vessel liad not taken that list he would have tried to roach one of the harbours. If she could have gone on full speed for ton minutes lie would have saved tho ship. To Captain Beaumont: Dusky Sound wa.s not like Milford Sound, which was fro© from rocks. It was considered safe to work the Sound at full speed and to go through at night. Colliers wont through. THE GENERAL MANAGER. Cliarles Holdsworth, general manager of tho Union Steamship Company, stated that Captain Newton was a master in whom they had the- utmost confidence. Tho Waikaro was properly equipped witli life-saving appliances. The Waikaro was insured in various companies and Lloyds for £15,000. captain McDonald. Captain McDonald, assistant Marine Superintendent, stated ho had had fourteen years’ experience as a master mariner, and had been twenty-one years in tho service of the company. Ho had' been seven times in charge of excursions to the Sounds —six times on tho Waikaro and once in the Talune. He had been in charge of Die Waikaro on her second last trip. Each of his trips had included Dusky Sound.'Captain Newton had accompanied him ou his last trip as a passenger. He had always followed the track through '■'Dusky Sound between Indian Island and Passage Isles, which had been marked by Captain Newton as having been followed by him m these journeys. He had never taken tide into consideration. He may have passed during low tide. Tho ‘Waikare on her last trip was on the same draught as on tho previous trip. He had not looked upon passing through those Sounds with a ship with a single bottom as being especially dangerous. SURVEYING SUGGESTED. Witness added (in reply to a question as to what measures should bo taken to safeguard navigation in those waters) that a good deal could bo done in surveying Dusky Sound, Wet Jacket Arm, Doubtful Sound and Thomson Sound if the Admiralty would lay down on them an approved track orcourse. Tho cost of such a survey would not be much, and it would enable people to make tho trip to this beautiful scenery free of doubt or fear. “I have a feeling myself/’ ho 'continued, “that most of these places are per-, fectly free, hut Dusky is a place that shows signs of being broken up at tho entrance, though further up it shows bold, headlands.’’ Ho had made a search for a rock in tho vicinity of where ,tho Waikaro struck, but had found nothing. Tho Waikaro had last been surveyed by tbo Government in October, 1909, and had been inspected just prior to each of her last trips. She carried 86 of a crew, and 141 passengers (including a hand). She had 407, lifebelts, and accommodation for 471 people in her boats and launches. Ho and Mr Mclntyre (repair superintendent) went together in the Monra to tho scene of tho wreck and decided after inspection that she could not bo salved. All the gear that was salved was taken aboard the Moura, and Mr Mclntyre, Mr Appleyard, two carpenters, two A.B.’s, and a cook were left behind at the wreck. Their instructions were to salve everything possible and pile it on the rocks near tho wrecked vessel. No definite instructions wore given to tho men remaining behind to try to locate tho wreck. Captain Beaumont: Wo have heard something about these Sounds not being properly surveyed. Tire witness: Far from it. I feel that, as I have said, it would he better to survey a track through certain of the Sounds. This would remove any uneasiness, and save the expense of making a complete survey. With tile knowledge that you have gained lately concerning Dusky Round, would you care to drive your -'hip at full speed through that passage?—No. I don't think I would. WHAT DID SHE STRIKE. Mr Widdowson : You have heard tha evidence of , Captain Newton. What, in , your. opinion did the ’ Waikaro Strike ou? The witness: I could not offer an Opinion. Did she, in your opinion, strike a rook? —It must have been' a rock. I do not know what else it oould have beenCaptain Newton: I took my bearings when the vessel struck. 'Therefore I would bo prepared to go full bpeed through there at any time. .Captain McDonald then detailed the insurances on tho vessel. There worn a number of small amounts scattered over many offices. Lloyds bold a risk of £6270. A PASSENGER GIVES EVIDENCE.

Andrew Todd, manager of the Otago Farmers’ Co-operative Association, ■who was a passenger on the Waikare, said ho considered the vessel was About a quarter of a mile from Indian Island when she struck. D. Roberts, who was medical officer on the 'Waikare during the excursion, said he had not particularly noted the position of tho vessel, but had the impression that she was nearer tho shore than usual in tho Sounds.

Still, ho would not say that they were less than a quarter of a mile from •Indian Island. It was his fifth trip to ■the Sounds. Whan . she struck ha ! noticed only a vibration, which lasted a few seconds. Ho hoard the captain’ j remark that they had struck some*- ■; thing not on the chart. i To Captain Btaumont: He could nut say for certain whether tho ship 1 ■was in the centre of tho channel oi; nut. THREE BUMPS. James Gerald Doorly, who had been . chief officer ou board the Waikaro,’ said ho felt three bumps, and told tho purser they had struck a rock. Ho 'blow his whistle, told the carpenter to sound tho wells, and wont to tho 'oap.tain on the bridge. The captain : pointed out that there was nothing on. el to chart to indicate a rock. Less ■ than three minutes afterwords the ; 'ship listed. Approximately tiro vessel was in tho middle of tho channel. He hud been six times on the. Sounds trip—five tirae-S as first officer and : once as, second. The captain took charge of tho vessel at 9 o'clock that 'morning, when they loft Wet Jacket Arm. Very little of tho pausengora' luggage and effects was lost. THE MAN AT THE WHEEL. . Angus McLean said he' was steersman when the Waikare struck. Southwest by west was tho course ho got when ho took tho wheel. The land ’seemed to bo oqni-distant, and. tho : ;; kaptain was standing near him giving him his course. Tho captain was on i ■the starboard side, beside tho compass, ■from Dio time he went on duty to tho ‘ time of tho accident, and tho second . officer was on the port side, alongside : 1 the telegraph. He heard tie captain say that she had • struck something*-;! that was not on the chart. ; I To Captain Newton: Ho was steer- i ing tho ship when she passed thono the previous week, and thought they were •not so near the shore on the last trip as on the previous trip. Ho portion- i larly remembered that they were close* ■ to tho shore on tho former trip, hav. ing heard passengers remark on it. ! V ENGINEERS’ ACCOUNTS.. 1 ; Patrick James Hickey, chief engineer aboard the Waikare, said he was ■ Standing on tbe dock just previous to the accident, but . did not particularly 'note the position of the vessel. Ha rushed below as soon as sbe struck and gave orders to put tho pumps into action. Water was ooming in freely. ~ Ho should say that the outer plating j of tho Waikaro was at least half am j inch thick, but the result of a col-; lision depended upon the rate .of hi 'speed and tho character of the object encountered. The water-tight doors wore closed, and ho reported, to tho captain that water was coming in freoly. There wore four feet of water ■• in the engine, room when tho Waikaro V; was beached. Tho fires had then been : f out six .minutes, and she was travel. ■: ling under tho steam in her boilers.: John McArthur, second engineer, also gave evidence. Alex Xnverartty, fourth engineer, ; who was in .charge of the engines when the ship struck, gave corroborative, ■ \ evidence. ; To Captain Now ton: As there was four feet of water over tho engine- : room plates and tho latter wore two ’; foot above the tank there must, hava been six feet of water in the ship. .; William Lawson, fireman, gave cor- ; roborative evidence. n MORE ABOUT THE SEARCH. •' Captain Nowtou, recalled, stated ? that Mr Appleyard, who was on the ■: • bridge with him when tho vessel , struck, and the boatswain, who located tho rock, were still at Dusky , Sound. He was with the . boatswain i when tho latter’s sounding line got fast on to something, and saw tho lino tighten up and then suddenly drop. ■.'The-chief engineer (P. J. Hickey), recalled, gave further particulars of , ■ tho expedition during which tho boatswain struck the rock. The second engineer stated ho was watching tho boatswain. Ho saw the latter hauling in his line, which was slack. Ho hauled in about a fathom, and then the lead seemed to drop into, . deep water, and the lino became taut. They tried for another hour to find the' rod/ again, but unsuccess- • ] fU Mr Sibbald asked whether tho •Court wished to hear the evidence of tho men now a* Dusky Sound. Person- . . allv, he did not think it necessary, . 1%0 Court did not think this evidenco necessary. ' . QUESTIONS FOR THE COURT. . When asked if ho wished to address the Court, Mr Sibbald said that was. scarcely necessary.. Ho would shnpresubmit these questioner—— -■-■ a- .j; ■ • Hid the Waikaro rtriko-a'nrock, 1 : charted or uncharted?. 1 A Did the master exercise 'every,'. care in navigating tho .vessel?. ~■/■,: .. Was tho vessel properly, equipped with . such boats ond' : life-saving appliances as would on-./, able her to cope with such, disao-1 ;; ter? .(p. ;: .J As far as the' last question, was concerned, he 'did not; think that any ; ■ charge oould bo laid against'tho Company. _ . ~.. . ■ i Mr Widdowson s In view of the «vj- ;■’{ denco, I suppose you wish to draw attention to the fact- that. tho ch&TW | is defective. -■ * ■:,-’■• *£. t’■ ’! Mr Sibbald: Yes, : ’ T “ 1 -j FINE WORK BY THE CREW. Captain Newton: “I. have nothing , ? to say. I stated the plain facts of tho case. Tho whole thing is very clear and plain. Thoro is nothing subtle about it. It requires no great intellect to grasp tho facts.” He wished to draw attention to tho very able manner in which tho officers and men performed their duties. Ho had never seen it> equalled. Xhcy li£ui done their work in a third less tamo than he had ever seen boat drill performed in. The passengers had behaved admirably, the conduct of the 'women particularity being exoeMont. , Mo wished to thank tho crew for tho very able manner in which they had carried, out his orders. Tho inon seem- , ed to lenow exactly what to do, and did it thoroughly and well. ’ Mr Widdowson announced that the : Court proposed to give judgment at half-past 2 to-morrow afternoon.