LOSS OF THE CLANRANALD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14440, 5 February 1909, Page 5

LOSS OF THE CLANRANALD

INQUIRY OPENED. CHIEF OFFICER'S STATEMENT. Press Association—By T«legraph—Copyright. ADELAIDE, February 4. The Marin'.: ..i,a,rd of Inquiry into the 10-- of the Clanranald has opened. Mr Hose, chief olliccr, handed in a report which states that the vessel suddenly listed to about 45deg iiud became unuavigublo. She was allowed lo drift illshoro to within a mile of the land, when the starboard anchor was let go in 13 fathoms of water. Eventually Xo. 5 hatch started, and the contents were w,ished adrift. The vessel settled down on her broadside, and then Kink stern first. He has no idea what caused the ship to list over and eventually founder.

Examined by the president, the witness [said that the -ship was on her bottom the day before leaving port, and had a list of 3deg to 4deg to sUrboard on le.iviiif,'. When the pilot left the ship the captain asked the witners to look after tiio navigation, as he .'/us not feeling well. Pressed on this point, the wilness ■"nid he thought that the captain had been drilling heavily. There was no indication that the vessel had s-frttck anything. He, with the second officer and some lascars, tried to clour Ibe boat in which tie: captain had been placed, but he fouled the rigging and had to abandon the attempt. The vessel had no collapsible boats or service rafts. The best behaviour abtaiued among the ofliiers ui:d ciou-.

The President: What was 'ho captain doing?

We found him ij-jng on the floor of bis cabin in a dazed condition. Kv.idcntly the sudden list had jerked him out of Id's hunk. He w:'s sensible, but wined frightfully weak. We helped hi,,, on deck, and nut him inside the boat- abre.isl. bis cabin. He was to:, weak to take command. TTv (witness) believed Mi? vessel would bare ridden through but for the Imlcli coniini,- oil' awl ) C iim« the waler in below. All tin; boats were free when tin. f.[ earner sunk. Ife could only account- for the accident, by the vessel being lop_heavy in the seaway through c.-irrvinjr 70 ions of coal on h« r t m . t ° ct deck. The inquiry was adjourned, and a diver has been despatched to examine fj l 0 hull of the sunken ster.mor.