THE WAIRARAPA COLLISION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 6874, 27 February 1884, Page 3

THE WAIRARAPA COLLISION.

A considerable deal of anxiety has been expressed in relation to the collision between the steamers Adelaide and Wairarapa, and tho telegraphic nows in connection with it has been of so vague a nature that it has been hard to understand whether the occurrence took place in Melbourne or Hobart. The Wairarapa, we need scarcely say, is one of the finest boats owned by the Union Company, and the news that a mishap had occurred to her was received with great regret by all who knew anything of the boat and her antecedents. However, tho ship came into poit yesterday morning bearing indisputable marks of her having collided with another vessel. She bears several very hoavy indentations on the whole of her port quarter; her beam ends on the port sido and the whole of the upper deck are considerably out of position, while her second cabin shows very palpably the effects of the shock she must havo received, the rivets of her ateel decking being more or less displaced. It would bo improper to express any opinion as to whether Captain Chatlield is blameless; but it is only fair to him to state that the record of the Wairarapa'a steaming kept by Mr Mowatt, her chief engineer, indisputably proves that the vessel was kept at hsr usual speed when leaving port.

Uur shipping reporter learns from Mr Burnott, a passenger, that the Wuimrapa left tho Yarra River on the evening of the 20th inst., and just as she had entered the west channel about abreast o£ the Swan, teing at that time at full speed, Bhe was closely followed by the Adelaide, which his informant declares was going at such a rate that the flames issued from her smoke-stack fully Oft in height, and coming iloao up to the Wairarapa, she struck her on the port quarter with great violence, causing the Wairarapa to heel over on to her beam ends. Mr Burnett describes the scene aa a most exciting one, and states that tho screams on board this Adelaide from the passengers were most distressing— indeed, tho fear entertained by them must have beau very great, as one of tho passengers jumped on board the Wairarapa under the impression that the other boat waa going down. Air Burnett adds he would not like to fay tho vessels wero going at racing speed, as the Wairarapa left the wharf some seven or eight minutes before tha Adelaide. Captain Ciiattield entered the channel first, and was evidently endeavouring to get clear of his opponent. It was very lucky, sajr3 Mr Burnett, that the collision occurred just when it did, as a few minutes afterwards thick weather set in, and there is no saying what the result might -have- been had the vessels collided in the fog.

Mr H. Jansen, who i 3 a nautical man, fully endorses Mr Burnett's statement, and adds

that he considers Captain Chatlield entirely blameless in the matter. He kept his course, and did his best. Mr Janson is of opinion that Captain Chatfiald did not run any race, and that he handled his boat' iv a seamaulike manner.

Another gentleman, who does not wish his name mentioned, but who holds an excellent position in Melbourne, informed us that the bulk of the passengers on both vessels understood that a race was going on, and shouted and waved their handkerchiefs to each other, using expressions intimating that a race waa going on. This statement is corroborated by two other gentlemen.

Captain Chatfield informs our shipping reporter that after leaving Melbourne and passing down the west channel tha steamer Adelaide collided with him just as they passed the Swan. The Wairarapa was the leading ship. She was going at full speed and keeping hor course when the Adelaido overtook her, atid making a sheer, collided.

THK INQUIRY. A preliminary inquiry into the causa of the collision of the steamers Wairarapa and Adelaide was hold yesterday afternoon in the Custom-house, Port Chalmers, before Mr Huckwortb, collector of customs, and Captain W. Thomson, nautical assessor. The following witnesses were examined:— William H. Chatfield: I am master of the steamer Wakavapa, of 1022 toua register, belonging to the Union Steam Ship Company, and hold a certificate. of competency, the number of it being 244. The Wairarapa left the Queen's Wharf, Melbourne, at 5.30 p.m. on the 20th inst., passed Williamstown lightship at 8.11 p.m., and tho west channel light at y.SO p.m. Up till this time the steamer Adelaide was close astern, when she tried to pass us almost abreast of the No. 3 black buoy, when she ■ collided, both ships' quarters coming together. The Adelaide then went astern, and the Wairarapa roceeded on her course, tho Adelaide still following, about three ship's lengths astern, until clearing the west channel, when it came on a dense fog, and both vessels came to anchor off Queenscliff, where I found one of tho Adelaide's passengers, who had jumped on board while the vessels were in collision; remained at anchor until 2.30 a.m. on the 21st, when the fog cleared, and proceeded on to Hobarr, the steamer Adelaide having left about half an hour previously.

By Mr Hackworth : I did not report the collision to the Customs authorities at liobart, which port we reached about noon on the 23cd. The steamer Adelaide left Melbourne immediately after us, both vessels) coming down the Yarra slow._ On reaching Williamstoivu the Adelaide was about a ship's length astern, and I gave orders tor full speed ahead. In passing down the west channel we bad Swan spit lightship right ahead, and the west channel light weil open on her port quarter. The vessel being close on the west bank, if I had stopped or eased the engines the ship would have cannoned of! the bank, and probably sunk tfoo Adelaide. At tho time we wero going the ordinary full speed as when we left Williamstown, but, althongh going full speed, when we got into shallower water tho engines were making two or three revolutions less than full speed. The Adelaide then got ncnrly abreast of us, and seemed to take a run over towards us, coining very close, and when slewing off again the quarters came together. The Adelaide kept so closo 1 could not get away from her, and as he had the deep water on his bide, and wo tho shoal on ours, we were compelled to keep full speed. By Captain Thomson : The position of the ships at tho time of the collision U shown on tracing of chart produced : the position was owing to the Adelaide jr.mbing the vessel over on to tho west side of the channel. In entering tho west channel the Adelaide did not keep her own proper side. Until tho titno of the collision tho Adelaide was never abeam at any time. Thomas Popham, chief officer, holding certificate of competency No. 82,581, Board of Trade, stated : I vvaa on the bridge when the vessel passed Gillcbrand Point lightship, when the order was given full speed ahead. When about tho middle of tho west channel saw the steamer Adelaido on the port side, and whan abreast of the No. 3 buoy the- Adelaide collided with u». We could not possibly get out of her way, as the bank was on our starboard side, and if the engines of tho vessel had been stopped they would have collided all the same. I had heard nothiug in roferenco to the two boats racing. The Adelaide's lights could be plainly seen, the weather at the time being quite cleav, and the Wairarapa'a lights wero burning brightly. Frederick Parker, one of the passengers by tin' Wairarnpn, stated : I noticed the Adelaide following elo?o aftev us after passing Wil-liiinr-itmvn until tho timo of the collision. I was standing amidi-hips, and saw lior cress from the right hand to the left, and shortly -ftor she drew up on our left hand abreast, and for a shmt time the two vessels were closo alongside each other. Thero was a great deal of shouting going on, but mostly from the Adelaide. I did not imagine, nor did I hear anything on board the Wairarapa to denote the vessels wora racing.

By Captain Thomson : The Adelaide appointed to alter her course, and truid to rim across tho bows of our vessel. Tho Wairarapa, appeared to altor hor courso to avoid ft collision, and shortly after the vessels struck. William M. Mowalt, chief engineer, deposed : 1 received telegraphic orders oil Williamstown to go full .speed ahead. Noticed tho stoaiuor Adelaide closo bohiud us, and watched hor olf and on until nearly 10 p.m. Tho engines woro going full spend, but when in shallow water they would make two oi thrco revolutions less.

Henry Anderson, second olficor, stated ho came oii dock at 8.15 p.m. on the 20th hist., and noticed tho steamer Adelaide two or three ship's longths astern. When breasting tho west channel light at 9.30 p.m. the Adelaide was al«oufc a ship's length astern on the port quarter, and after getting into shallow water tho A'lclaido gradually came up until_ getting abreast, when the vessels run side by side for a short time, when tho Adelaide sheered twice cloiso alongaido, and as she sheered off for tho third time her starboard quarter struck tho Wairarapa on the port quari.or. By Captain Thomson ; 1 am wall acquainted with tho westchannol. The Swan spit light was right ahead when the collision took place. The last order I heard before the collision was to keep her head steady for tho light. Frederick Golding, quartermaster, stated : I went to tho wheel olf Williamstown at i! p.m. on tho 20i h inst. l!re.i»lod the west channel light about 9,10 p.m. At the time tho steamer Adelaide came very close two or Ihreo times, and then shn struck us. 1 believa it was tho intention of the Adul.'udo to drive us over on to tho bank. I did not hear any remarks about the two boats racing. By Captain Thomson : Wo passed tho Svvau spit lightship on the starboard side coining down tho bay, and kept it right ahead. The lightship, I should think, was about half a milo ahead when tho collision took place. At this stage of the inquiry all further proceedings were adjourned, pending tho evidence of Captain Cameron, the inarino superintendent.