THE WRECK OF THE SURAT. OFFICIAL ENQUIRY. Monday, January 12th.

Otago Witness, Issue 1156, 24 January 1874, Page 5

THE WRECK OF THE SURAT. OFFICIAL ENQUIRY. Monday, January 12th.

The enquiry into the wreck of the Surat was resumed at the old Police Court at ten o'clock on Monday morning, before Messrs Strode and Fulton, X.M.'s, andCapt. Thomson, Nautical Assessor. Mr Stout for Capt. Johnson ; Mr Haggitt for the Crown.

The following evidence was taken :—: —

George Henry Lodge, carpenter of the ship Surat, was examined. His evidence was corroborative of that given by previous witnesses.

Daniel Begley : I am a seaman on board the Wanganui. I saw the Surat on the morning of the Ist of January. It was just after I came from the wheel that I saw her. It was half-past six, as nearly as possible. She was then about three miles off. She was right abreast of us. We were passing between her and the shore. I noticed nothing particular, except that she had her small sails down. I noticed no boats in the water. I noticed no ensign hoisted. I looked specially for colours, as I thought she might want to speak us. I then went to work about the deck, and looked at her no more, j Our vessel was off the land at the time, at a point about six miles south of where the Surat went ashore. By Mr Stout : Ido not remember one of the passengers drawing the mate's attention to an ensign. There were some rumours about an ensign after, but that was after we had heard the news of the wreck. The oaptain went down to the cabin for a while — he was in charge at the time. I do not not know a passenger named Mr Begg by name. He did not mention to me about an ensign. I looked at the vessel for about four or five minutes to know if there was anything specially to report, and then went about my work. I know the time this way : I came from the wheel at six o'clock, then went below, and had my coffee. Then I came on deck again. To Captain Thomson : There is no second mate on board the Wanganui. The captain was in charge when he went below. He did not give any orders, that I am aware of, to anyone to take charge of the deck when he went below. James Eobertson : I am a shipwright by trade. I have been three years at sea. I wag a passenger on board the Surat. I was in bed when the ship struck. I ran on deck and called for the carpenter. He came. I think he was coming at the time I called for him. The captain told the carpenter to attend to the pumps, and asked me to assist him. I went and took soundings, or rather the carpenter did in my presence. We found no water in the well for some time, as the ship was lying over. We first got water about half-an-hour after the ship struck. We got an inch and a half. We souuded several times and it was always increasing. The inch and a half of water might have been reported to the captain, but I don't think so. Very shortly after there were about four inches. I think the carpenter reported thi3 to the captain — it was reported to him at any rate. We sounded several times and found the water increasing, about an inch at every time, .From twenty minutes to half-an-hour after this there were eight inches. Then we commenced to get the pumps in order. The starboard pump would not work. The carpenter tried to get the starboard pump to work, and I was left in charge of the sounding in the meantime. We took soundings at every opportunity — we could only sound the pumps whenever the port pump was stopped. The water increased, according to the best of my judgment, at the rate of a foot an hour from the time that we first found the ship was making water. I reported to the captain several times we sounded, but not every time. I reported to the captain three feet five inches at one tune. I think that was the last report I made to him, but lam not certain. About half-past twelve or one o'clock the hatch of the man-hole over the pump well was taken off, after which I took no more soundim.B, as we could see how the water was rising. We could judge by the steps of the ladder. ( I pumped at times, but I principally stood by the pumps and went up and down below and reported to the passengers occasionally how much water there was, and tried to keep them in spirits, as I thought the ship/ would keep afloat till daylight. I did not try to keep up their spirits by telling them she would keep afloat till daylight. I only thought that. I tried to keep them up by telling them she was making less water than she actually was. I saw the captain at 12 o'clock. I next saw him about 1 o'clock, and suggested to him that the fire engine might be used for pumping. Up to twelve o'clock he was quite sober. When I suggested to him to start the fire engine, I did not observe any drink on him. He and tbe chief mate were consulting the chart. The mate told me to ask the third officer to get the fire engine down. The next time I took any notice of the captain was after daylight. Shortly before one o'clock I saw the second mate go down the pump well to see if he could find out what was wrong with the pump. The second mate appeared to be drunk at the time. What made me think him drunk was that he was standing with his ear against the pump that was working all right, apparently thinking it was the one that would not work ; and from the appearance of his face, on which the light of the lamp was shining, I judged him to be drunk. My opinion is that he was decidedly drunk at the time. I saw him afterwardd, but I took no notice of him. The first mate went down after the second mate had come up. The first mate appeared to be sober

then. I did not take any notice of the first mate after this until the time the steamer was in sight of üb. He appeared to be drunk then, but I saw the sap tain at the fame time. He also appeared to be drunk. I asked the captain to run the vessel ashore. I and some others of the passengers asked him before the steamer came in sight, to run her ashore upon a sandy beach in sight, which I believed the vessel would fetch. Ido not think he gave any answer, and the vessel's head was afterwards turned towards the land. I don't say this was on our suggestion. It was turned out again after the steamer came in sight. About this time the steamer came in sight. We saw smoke. We asked the captain to hoist a signal of distress. The flag was got when we asked him. It was not got by the captain's orders. The captain said he would shoot the first man that would hoipt it. Afterwards it was hoisted. I do_ not know by whose orders. It was hauled down again for some time. I do not know who ordered it to be hauled down. It remained down for some time— l cannot say how long. The next time I saw it, it was hoisted. When the steamer passed the vessel, her (the Surat's) head was put out to sea, instead of being kept towards land to intercept the steamer. I think the vessel's head was turned out before the ensign was hoisted. There were two guns on the deck of the vessel. I called the captain's attention to these guns when the sbeamer was abreast [ of us, and about two miles off, and asked him to fire. He told me to be quiet, and that he would see us all right. He was then intoxicated. He did not fire the gun. Kelly, the steward, was at the wheel during the time the steamer was nearest to us. After the captain refused to fire the gun, enquiries were made for ammunition. I spoke to Mr John Booth and Mr Izett, two of the cabin passengers, about ammunition, John Booth said he did not where it was, Izett said he knew, or he believed he knew, but was afraid to get.it. We did not talk about the getting of the ammunition in the captain's presence. I believe the steward made some remarks on the subject, but I did not hear him. After the steamer had passed, the passengers still kept &t the pumps, and they, assisted by the crew, tried to launch the long-boat. There were three boats launched before this. The mate came forward and made some disturbance. He was drunk. I did not hear what was said ; I was »t the pumps then. I saw Donovan, one of the sailors, taking a revolver from him. At the same time, or a little before this, the mate tried to stop the pumps. He took hold of the handles and tried" to take the ropes off. The pumps were stopped, but only for a moment. The mate went away himself. The long boat was launched and filled with women and children. The doctor went in it, and it went away from the ship for a time. After the long boat had left, a good many of the passengers, includiog, I believe, Booth and Izett, begged of the sailmaker to take charge of the ship. They did so, as the captain and first officer were incapable, and the second officer had left the ship. The third officer was very young, and much excited. The fourth officer was doing all he could, but the sailmaker was considered the better man. The sailmaker had said that he would try and land us. There were subsequently a few high words between him and the captain, I did not hear what passed between them. After that the vessel was hauled up for Jack's Bay — she could not be hauled into the bay at the time— and some of the passengers were landed. Afterwards the anchor was slipped and the vessel beached. The captain was in charge of the deck when the vessel was beached. I think it was about 11 o'clock when the vessel was beached. I am very uncertain about the time, It might have been earlier, but it was not later. When she was beached the water was about two feet to two feet and a half from the passengers' deck. The sea was calm when the vessel was beached. No effort was made to save any of the passengers' luggage. I suggested to some of the passengers to do so. Next day I went with two seamen, not by orders of the captain, but on our own motion, to save passengers' clothes. We saved a boat load pf luggage. We saved a boat load of clothes. The third officer was a little stupid, but I scarcely think it was through drinking. He was very much excited. The fourth officer was not drunk. He was sober all the time, and did what he could. The doctor was sober all the time, and acted to the best of his judgment for the safety of the passengers. By Mr Stout : The sailmaker was quite sober until about the time the ship was anchored. He was quite sober just before we came to anchor. When the vessel was beached he was a little the worse. I don't think the vessel gained more water after she was anchored. I was away, and when I returned I assisted the carpenter to slip the cable. I saw the captain about four o'clock in the morning, after I had seen him at one o'clock examining the chart with the mate. The steamer came in sight shortly after daybreak. I was not excited at all. I thought that considering the number of feet per hour the water was making we could land in safety. It was only when the captain said that he would go on to Dunedin, that I thought there was danger. I think it was improper for the captain to be drunk. The oaptain gave me no encouragement, and I considered this improper. Ido not consider myself a judge as to the most proper place to land us, but the captain should have lauded us at the first safe place. The captain did not give us any information as to how long the ship would float. In my opinion the captain conducted himself in a very proper manner excopt that he did not give the passengers any encourage no ent. After this I saw nothing wrong with him until daylight. I consider that he aoted improperly in not

signaliingthe steamer. Heallowedtheboatsto leave the ship, and if a gale should come up, we should have lost them altogether. The man was drunk — that is all I have to find fault with. He did not try to beach the vessel, but my opinion is not I worth much on this matter. I cannot tell ! any order that the captain gave that I consider improper. I won't answer the question. I cannot say I heard him give any absurd order. I think he was wrong to anchor the vessel at all. Under the same circumstances, I would have tried to beach the ship in Bloody Jack's Bay, but I do not know the soundings. I served my apprenticeship as a ship carpenter at Aberdeen. I was on board when the anchor was let go. I was at the pumps at the time, and I do notknowwhatorders were given by the captain to the carpenter. The carpenter asked me to help him to slip the cable. The foresail ■was set after the vessel had grounded, in order to drive her farther on shore. The topsails were set at the time. I will not swear she touched before the foresail was set, but it is my opinion that she had. Before the vessel touched, the captain was able to walk, but I do not suppose he could walk very steadily. He was able to speak. He spoke thick— rather thick. He did not | seem very much excited. I judged by his j appearance that he was drunk. If the cap- j tain has sworn that he knew what he was about, and was perfectly able to do the work he had to do, I would certainly contradict him. I cannot recollect he did anything to show that he did not know what he was about. Why I think he did not know what he was about, is that he did not hail the steamer. It was my opinion that the steamer should have been hailed.

Mr Stout : This Court is not simply to try whether the captain was drunk. That is not the enquiry ; it is to see whether he acted improperly. Mr Strode : It is a most material part of the enquiry. Mr Stout : I say it is not. Mr Strode : We know what the enquiry is about.

Mr Stout : I will argue the legal part of the matter afterwards.

Cross-examination continued : I judge that the captain was drunk by the appearance of his face and eyes. The captain and a good many others were more excited when the ship struck than before. The passengers on the whole were not excited, considering the circumstances. When the vessel was beached the captain was more sensible, and considerably more sober, than he was a couple of hours before, when the steamer was in sight of us. When the vessel was beached, the captain seemed to be calm and collected ; he ought to have been — there wad no danger then. I will withdraw the last words about the danger. There might have been danger if the ship had struck a rock before she got on the sand. I said that the captain should have been calm, because I apprehended little danger myself. The reason I gave for the captain being more sober then, was that I suppose he had not been drinking. You wish to make it out that it was the excitement that caused the captain to act as he did. Mr Stout : And you wish to make out the reverse.

Witness : I have no aniimis against the captain. I have lost my tools and clothes. I saw the second mate in the boat. I could not see what he was doing. The Court then adjourned for an hour.

Upon resuming, ) Robert Dawson deposed : I am a seaman, and was on the Surat. On the night of the 31st of December, at 8 o'clock, I was on the look out. The second mate was in charge of the deck, and when I saw the j Dog Island light I reported it to him. Three-quarters of an hour after it began to rain, and the night got dark. We lost sight of the Dog light, and when the shower was over I saw land on the port bow, and I reported it to the officer of the watch. The land then appeared to get close, and I called a seaman named John Moore to tell the officer in charge. I was on the forecastle. I think Moore went to j the officer. A few minutes after another sailor came up, and I sent him privately to tell the second mate that the land was getting very close. His name was DumaFesque. I suppose he went and told the second mate. The head sails began to flap, and the vessel's course was altered, so that I think that Dumalesque told the second mate. The next thing I felt was the ship touching on the rocks. I heard a voice from the captain or someone aft ordering the yards to be squared. I will not swear who it was. The ship gave three or four touches on the rocks, as far as I could judge, and then went off again. I went below at twelve o'clock. I left the look-out at ten, and helped at the pumps till twelve. The watch was called at four o'clock, and I came on deck. Everyone was excited, and there was no one to give orders. The captain was on the poop, but I did not hear any orders from the captain or the mate at the time. I cannot say whether the mate was on the Eoop. I helped to get the cable up, and then earing an order from the poop to lower one of the Doats, I went aft to help to lower the boat on the starboard quarter. I went to cut the lashings off the starboard boat, and two seamen helped me to do so. Their names were Norman and Picton. I took ray knife to cut the lashings off. The chief mate was on the poop at the time. He presented a revolver at me and said, " Don't cut those lashings, or I will blow your brains out," I said, "I won't disobey your orders," and I put my knife in my pocket. I then went on to the poop where he was. Mr John Booth, a cabin passenger, and the doctor spoke to the mate, and then told me not to say anything to the

mate, but to leave him alone. I then went away. I think the captain was on the poop at this time, but I am not sure, as I did not notice. The port boat was lowered, and five hands got into it. They were hanging astern. The next thing I heard was a report that the smoke of a steamboat was seen. Some one asked for the ensign, and I went below to fetch it. I could not find it in the cabin, and I came on deck. Some one—l don't remember his name — told me where it was, and I got it. When I got on deck again and went on the poop, the captain told me not to hoist it, that he was the captain of the ship, and I was to obey his orders. I then left it. I noticed that the captain was stupid at the time, In my opinion he was drunk. Then I went on to the main deck. At that time we were steering along the land in the same direction as the steamboat. Ido not remember which way the yards were braced. Shortly after, orders were given to brace the yards round, and the vessel went off to sea. When I was on the poop Morsey was at the wheel. Then another man relieved him, and then I saw Kelly at the wheel. Kelly, the steward, took the wheel from the man who was there after I brought the ensign up. It was after this and whilst Kelly was at the wheel that the .vessel's head was turned to sea. The captain was on the poop at this time. Then I went forward with some of the other sailors and passengers and tried to get the two life-boats out of the skids. One got smashed before we put it over the side. We stopped for a time whilst we were patching it. When we got the two boats out, I went forward to where they were working to get the long-boat; out. The doctor, carpenter, some of the crew and passengers were there. The chief mate came with an axe and interfered. He was going to stop us from putting the long boat out. He attempted to strike a sailor named Phillips with the axe. The first mate was in the same state as the captain as far as I could see — he was drunk. Some one took tbe axe from him. The chief mats then came on to the forecastle, and I said to him, " what are you going to do ?" The mate replied, "what are you going to do ? " I said, "lam going to try to save these poor souls here." The mate replied, " they may all go to the devil." Then I asked him, " what sort of a man are you, have you any family to love ? " He said something to me, I don't recollect what it was. I said to him, "you cannot do your duty; don't interfere with us, let us do it." He pulled out his revolver to me again, and I grabbed him and called for assistance to take the revolver from him. Phillips and someone else then came up and helped me to take the revolver from him. It was given to someone — I think to the carpenter. After this he went away, and we lowered the boat down to the water. Then we got everything ready to take the people in, and when the boat was ready we got some women and children in, When the boat was lowered, there was only one seaman in the boat. The doctor was there, and I got in. Someone on board let go the painter. We did not intend to cast off so soon. We were left astern of the ship. The ship was going fast, and we pulled after her ; for we could not land where we were. There were cliffs there. We followed the ship until she came to anchor in Jack's Bay. The captain called us alongside. He was standing on the forecastle. _ I did not notice that the captain had anything in his hand. Then the boat was sent off to land the passengers at Jack's Bay. After we had landed the passengers we had in the boat — 60 or 70 — we came back to the ship to take some more. When we got alongside, the cable was slipped, and the vessel was headed towards the place where she is now. We followed the ship until she was beached in Catlin's Bay. Then we went alongside, and took some more people ashore. The second officer was in the life-boat, but I was never near him after I came on deck at four o'clock.

By Mr Stout : When I heard the order given to lower the boats, I saw the second mate on the port side. We then went into the boat with some seamen. The vessel was then heading to the coast. If the ship had a wind, she would have got sooner to the shore than a boat. We had a slight wind. When the course of the vessel was altered, I heard no order given. If orders were given to put the ship on the starboard tack, to get out the boats on the port side, it would have been in proper order. The vessel went right round to get on the star board tack. Ido not consider this any sort of seamanship. lam not sure how the wind was blowing, but I think the yards were square. The vessel was a quarter of an hour or twenty minutes going round before she sot on her course again. lam not a good judge of time. I never heard the captain give any other orders at all, until we got to anchor. When the vessel was anchored, 1 saw the captain on board, but I did not hear him give any orders. I did not hear him give any orders at any time afterwards. When we got alongside all the passengers were alongside trying to get in the boat, and I could not take notice of much else. Whon I first saw land I called out, " Land on the port bow." The second mate called out, "All right." This was about a quarter of an hour or twenty minutes before she struck. When I first saw ! land I think it was a little after nine o'clock. When I came on deck I heard no order given by the captain. There was confusion among the immigrants and crew, everyone giving orders. All the passengers were excited, ' and did not know what to do. I did not see any excitement in Mr Booth. I gave some statements to the police in this Court some days ago. Some of the sailors were present. I do not suppose any of them heard what I said. I have not spoken to anybody but Detective Shury about my examination. I

i

w*s summoned to give evidence here. I was summoned to attend the Resident Magistrate's Court on the Tuesday. I supposed that under that summons I was bound to give the statement I did give before Detective Shiny on Tuesday or Wednesday last. Ido not recollect whether any questions were put to me on that occasion. By Mr Strode : When I first saw the land, and called out, the land was within two miles as far as I could judge. When the -vessel struck, I think the land was a mile and a half distant. When the vessel struck the night was dark. When I first saw the land I saw a point, but when I looked again I saw the land was close to the bow, more a-head. I saw breakers ashore, but there were none where the vessel struck. When I saw the Dog Island light for the last time, it was over the port quarter. By Captain Thomson : When I called out to the second mate " Land ahead," I noticed no alteration in the ship's course. When I sent the second message to the mate I saw the course was altered, inasmuch as the head sails were flapping. The ship had payed off before the wind. When the vessel took a round turn both boats were put out. There was no tackle on the yards. When the yards were hard up on the starboard tack the boats were put out. William Morris said : I was an able seaman on board the Surat. I was in the second mate's watch. I was on deck when the ship struck. I was neither at the wheel nor on the look-out. I had no particular duty to perform. I went on deck at eight o'clock. The vessel struck, I think, between nine and ten o'clock. I went below again at twelve o'clock. I went on deck again about four o'clock. It was then day-light. There was nothing but conf ÜBion all over the vessel— Bcreaming and crying. I did not see the captain. I did not go aft.. The first thing I did was to bend the chain for the anchor. I then went aft to the boats, and helped to put them out. There was no one in particular to give orders. B very one was giving orders— the carpenter was making the most noise. I saw the captain on the poop at this time. After I had done with the boats and squared the yards, I saw the steward at the wheel. I never saw the steward at the wheel before. Ido not think the steward was an able seaman— he was the ship's cook during the first part of the passage. The Bteward did not look as he ought to have been. I did not see the steward serving out gin — he never served any out to me. The reason why I went up and took the wheel from the steward was that I heard the captain say "hard up," and the steward, -who was holding the wheel, cried out " hard up which way 1" I then thought it was expedient totake the wheel. The steward did not look like a sober man. It looked as if the wheel were supporting the steward. I took the helm, but I gob no particular orders from any body. I kept along the coa«t, and tried to find a place to land the passengers. We ran along until we reached Jack's Bay. Sometimes the captain would give me an order, and sometimes the sailmaker would run aft and tell me to keep her away, or to keep her closer. The captain stood on the poop all the time with his hands in his pockets. He looked like a man stupefied, and did not seem to care for anything. The sailmaker was right enough— l did not see anything the matter with him. When we got to Jack's Bay the captain said to me, " You mind your steering. I intend to take the vessel in here, land the women and children and the old men, keep the youncr men on board to pump her out, and then "to take her round to Port Chalmers." I steered the vessel into Jack's Bay, the captain motioning to me how to keep her, like the captain of a steamer. I heard no order given to let go the anchor. The anchor was let go. By Captain Thomson : After the anchor was let go in Jack's Bay the ship swung round and struck the bottom two or three times. Just before the anchor was let go I heard the man in the chains report seven fathoms of water. When the ship swung round bheland waa about 150 yards distant. When the vessel was braced on the starboard tack the lifeboats were put out. Richard Fox said : I was sailmaker on board the Surat. lam an able seaman. I have been 40 years at sea. When the ship struck, I was in my own quarters below. I was called on deck at half -past 9. I then met the captain on the starboard side of the deck. The chief mate was coming along at the same time without a cap on his head. The mate told me to stop aft with the second mate, and assist in clewing up the sails. The captain sent me for the carpenter, and I sent the latter to the captain. I fastened the cable on to the anchor about 4 o'clock— the chief mate having told me to bend the cable on to the anchor. It did not take longer than 20 to 25 minutes. Mr Booth, Mr Izett, and the doctor, asked me take charge of the vessel between 20 minutps to 5 and 5 o'clock. I said it was more than I dare do unless they got the captain's pormission. The captain was on the pore poop at this time, quite close. The captain was a little excited— he appeared to be inebriated. Ho had a little liquor in— a little too much for the occasion. The first mate was away down by the forecastle. He was "Pretty well, I thank you," too — three sheets in the wind.— (Laughter.) At this time the Becond mate was in a boat with four others. When we started tho pumps, the second mate sang a song, and so did I. All theliquor I had that day was one glass, and that would never make me drunk. Shortly after, the second mate put away with the life-boat towards the passing steamer, and the captain wont down on to the main deok, where he had more alteroation with the doctor. I then took oharge of the poop. There was no on©

else of the crew there but the man at the wheel. When the captain came aft again, after the life-boat got away, I went below for the signal flag, and brought it on to the poop. I found the ensign and hoisted it, but the captain stopped it, and it was hauled down again. The captain said to me " What occasion is there for that ? The steamboat is across our bows, and she cannot see it.' He then walked aft on the port side of the poop, and I with him. We stopped abreast of the wheel. I asked him then what he intended to do with the ship, and told him she was in a foundering state. He said •'What are you so anxious about?" and I said "Look at the many lives here." I said to the captain : " I tun an Englishman and so are you. I have fought for my country and the honour of England, and let you and me, as we are the two oldest seamen on board, save the lives of those people on board ; it is in our power." We were then running for Jack's Bay, Catlin's River. After those words, he went off the poop, and I did not see him again for nearly an hour. Morris was at the wheel at this time. During that hour the starboard boat was stove in in getting her out of the davits. I went to get some canvas and a mat to repair her. When I came back I saw the mate come out of his cabin with copper nails, which he gave to oneof the crew to mend the boat. Some Welsh passengers jumped into the gig and put off from, the vessel. They were afterwards picked up by the second mate, when the boat was nearly foundering. The gig was thenloafc. When I next saw the mate, the passengers were getting into the launch, and he went into the saloon. _ I saw no more of him for an hour. In going into Catlin's Bay I gave the orders, and the captain, who was standing by, did not contradict me. I do not know who gave the order to let go the anchor. The order was given by some one forward. When we got into Oathn s Bay the vessel grounded. Ithink she grounded before the anchor was let go. The reason why the cable was slipped was to stop the ship from forging over her anchor. After the cable was slipped the remainder of the passengers were disembarked. The anchor was dropped outside Catlin's River. I cannot mark precisely on the chart where the ship was anchored. The vessel did not swing round to her anchor, but lay nearly in the same position as when I left in the Wallabi. The only altercation I had with the captain was about hoisting the ensijm. I had a glass of drink at 12 o'clock, another from the mate at 4 o'clock in the morning, and I had a glass of wine from the steward, Kelly. I had nothing to drink with tbe captain. I consider that after you get round i the headland of Jack's Bay it is all one bay. Tbe vessel was actually beached before the anchor was let go. By Mr Strode: When the vessel first struck, I recollect telling the doctor that he had better stand clear, as the masts would probably come down.

Tuesday, January 13th.

John Procfcor : I am an able seaman on board the Surat. I was on the second mate's watch on the night of the 31st. I was at the wheel from 8 o'clock till halfpast 11 that night ; the ordinary turn is two hours, and I could not be relieved. I was steering N. £ E. by the binnacle compass at the time. Ido not know our actual course. I did not see Dog Island light when the ship struck. We had seen it about half an hour previously, but lost sight of it in a squall. The last time we saw the light it was on our port quarter, W.N.W. by the binnacle compass. Down was at the look out at the time. He reported land right ahead. The rtport was acknowledged. The second officer directly told me to port the helm. The ship went off a point and a half N.N.E., and the second officer called out " steady." He again sang out port, and the ship's head went off four points and a half again. He then called out " steady." She was then heading E. by N. | N". The altering of our course brought the wind off the starboard side, and the sails were backed. The second officer called out "square the crossjack yard." The ship went on a little further, and then struck on her port quarter. I am certain that the erossjack yard was being squared at the time the ship first struck. The ship struck six times in all. ' Directly the ship struck the captain flew up on to the poop, and called out Hard up," but the helmwas already hard up, upon an order from the second mate. The captain twice gave the order to square the mainyard, but nobody seemed to hear it. He sung out a third time. The ship was off the rocks by this time, and the captain'B third order was attended to. The first bump of the vessel was not very heavy— the three next were a little heavier than the first ; the fifth one was very severe— took the wheel out of my hand, caused it to spin round, and one of the spokes struck me on ! the cheek. It seemed aa if the ship were going clean from under me. I caught the wheel again. The ship went a little further, and then gave another bump, wheh was not so heavy as the fifth. The captain then gave an order to shorten sail. The captain, directly the ship was off the rocks, called, " Carpenter, sound the pumps." I remained at the wheel till about half -past 11. The pumps were set to work a little before then, but; I don't think they fetched any water. The vessel was hove-to when I left tho wheel. When I loft the wheel, I put on more clothes, went to the pumps, and worked till 12. I then went to bed, and cume on deck again at 4 noxt morning. Everything then appeared to be upside down. The pumps were still going on, and drawing plenty of water. The passengers were working the pumps, The carpenter was at the pumps. I sometimes saw the

first and second officers there, and believe they superintended the working. I was at the getting out of the anohor. The watch there said it would take an hour and a half to get the anchor over. If the whole watch had been there, it could have been done in an hour, but the whole of them were not there. At about 5 o'clock in the morninghalf an hour before the time we saw the steamer— the mate sent me to the port crossjack braces, and told me to stand by and let them go, as h°. was going further in shore — to run her ashore— to land the passengers. I could not see any difference in the mate from his ordinary state at this tme. We had to get the vessel round to the land. She would not come round. There waß not enough wind, and she would not answer the helm. A little while after the boats were ordered to be got out. I believe the mate gave us the order. Dorm [the man formerly referred to as Donovan] and I went to cut the starboard lifeboat adrift. We had cub the lashings, The mate said to Dorm, "Don't cut those lashings." Dorm said, " Well, sir, I have done it now — I will obey your orders next time." The mate said, "If you say that to me again I will ahoot you.'" Dorm did not appear to me to speak disrespectfully. The mate appeared to have had a glass at the time, but not enough to affect him. The steward, who was standing at the cabin door, stepped out and said, " Dorm, if you say that again I will knock your b y eye out." The steward was perfectly drunk. Dorm jumped off the rail and went to right the Bteward, but the passengers would nob allow him to do so. After that the port and starboard lifeboats were lowered. Three of us were in the starboard lifeboat, and the captain told two of us to come out. The other two did and I remained in. I dropped astern and was towed behind the vessel. I saw an ensign hoisted. It remained up for from about twe to three minutes before it was hauled down. It was hoisted again upside down— the first time it was hoisted in the usual way — the second time as a signal of distress. From two to three minutes elapsed from the time the flag waa hauled down and re-hoisted. At this time the steamer was passing. Mr John Booth told me to tell our second mate to go off to the steamer. The second mate was then in a boat with a crew pulling astern of the ship. 1 passed the order to him from my boat. The mate did not go, but about ten minutes or a quarter of an hour afterwards he did go. No other order was given in the meantime. The second mate did not catch the steamer. The ship eventually got to Jack's Bay — I was towing astern all the time. At Jack's Bay the captain told me to stop in the boat and let no one in without his orders. At this time I noticed nothing wrong with the captain—he gave his orders very distinctly. The ship's way was almost stopped before the anchor was dropped. She afterwards drifted away again, cleared the next point, and went ashore on Catlin's Beach. The ship anchored in Jack's Bay, about half a mile off the shore, and it was about a mile and a quarter from the place where the vessel was anchored to the place where she was af tei wards run ashore. By Mr Stout : The Dog Island light must have been bearing about iS.W. at the time I mentioned, before that it was bearing W.N.W. The captain at the time of the landing of the passengers gave orders frequently, and in a proper manner. I did not notice the course of the vessel changed when tho boats were put out, nor when the steamer passed. By Captain Thomson : The yards were braced about a point free between eight and ten o'clock. They were so braced when the vessel struck. There were no magnets on the steering compass table ; but there were two on the box. I don't believe these magnets had ever been shifted during the voyage. I did not know the difference between the binnacle compass and the standard compass on the point we were steering when the ship struck. I did not see the land cill the look-out had called the second mate's attention to it. I should think the steamer was near enough to the ship to distinguish whether her ensignwas union up or uniondown. The flagstaff at Catlin's River was not visible before the ship anchored, The ship lay at anchor for about three quarters of an hour. To Mr Fulton : When I took the wheel, the mate as usual came and ascertained the course I was steering. It was N. £E. by the binnacle compass. By Mr Stout : The ship's head was not paid off before the look-out called land. Frederick Naumaw, able seaman on board the Surat : I was in the forecastle at the time the ship struck, having an injured foot. As soon aa the vessel had struck, I ran on deck, found they had been busy at the sails, and found the sails back. I let go the sheets of the main fore and aft sails, and helped to trim the sails and reduce the canvas. I think the vessel struck six times ; the second and sixth bumps being the heaviest. I should judge there were fully five or Bix minutes between the first hump and tho last. I was on the main deck at the time. After the sails had been squared, I went to the pumps, remained till 12, and went below. The ship was then hove-to. I went asleep, having given up all thoughts of any immediate danger. Everything was quiet and orderly. I was awoke by one of the men, and when I went on deck I found it was daylight. Everything was in confusion. Some of the sailors and passengers were at one boat, and some at other boats — everyone doing his best to save his life. None of the boats were launohed at this time. None of the officers were giving orders ; it seemed as if every one worked "for himself, and God for us all." I saw the captain. Before I b&w him, my atten-

tion was directed to the fore-hold. The hatch was off; the luggage was floating about ; and I judged there would be from five to Bix feet of water in the hold. I thought it was then time to do something, so I went aft to the boats. I then saw the captain on the poop. He was doing nothing that I could see ; he was standing, looking on. I assisted to get the boats out. In trying to get the starboard boat out of the davits, the mate came and interfered with Dorm, pulled oui his revolver, and threatened to shoot him* The mate waß in a state of intoxication, and did not know what he was doing. Some of the passengers and myself stepped between to prevent him from injuring Dorm, and parted them. The mate turned on me. The mate presented the revolver at me. I took it to be that he did not recognise me from the man that he had first started the row with. We got him to go away quietly, and he went to his cabin. The next time I saw the mate he had stopped the pumps to get the maintopgallant sail clewed up. Ido not know why he stopped the pump to do this, as there were plenty of hands to do so without stopping the pump. He was intoxicated, and was about as Dad as when he first took the revolver to Dorm and myself. I did not see him again until the long-boat had been got out — about an hour and a half afterwards. He was then "reckless drunk." He wanted to prevent the longboat from being got out at all. The boat being very heavy, we had to cat away the topgallant rail, which was made of iron, and the bell. We did this to prevent the boat from getting stove. The mate objected to us cutting the things away. Hia objection was not because of the cutting of them — he said the boat should not be got out without bi3 orders. Some one mentioned it was time to begin, as the other boats had left us. He said he did not care a d n. After that some orders were given about trimming the sails, and I left the long-boat to attend to them. I could not say who gave the orders —I heard them passed along by som© of the men. I saw the mate on the poop at the time the steamer was abreast of us. He wa3 giving orders about bracing the yards. The sailmaker had given orders previously to this, and the mate took the command from him. The orders he gave were proper for bracing the yards to head the ship in to the land j but as soon as they were given the captain countermanded them. The captain was on the poop at the time the mate was giving the orders. The yards had bpen trimmed forward to the mate's orders, and were left aa they were when the captain countermanded them, leaving the mate's orders partly carried out. The next time I saw the mate was when I was hoisting the ensign. The steamer was almost on our quarter. I heard tbe ensign had been up already ; I went to see. The ensign was at this time bent to the halyards on deck. I hoisted it up to the peak, union down. The mate came aft and asked who had hoisted the ensign. I told him I had. He told me to haul it down again. I refused, saying it was time something was done to get the assistance of the steamer. The doctor and Mr Booth spoke to him, saying it waa right enough that the ensign should be up. He then left. I next saw him lying on hia settee in his cabin when I went for the hand* lead. The fourth mate was with, me at the time, and we lifted him into his bed. He was drnnk and asleep, and we could not wake him. I got the handlead out by the captain's orders, and hove the lead. The captain wa9 on the poop when I hoisted the ensign. He did not interfere with me. I can't say that he saw me. In passing up and down the poop I noticed that he was not himself — that he was not as usual on the voyage. I was first surprised that no orders were being given for getting the boats out. The captain was then on the poop, and everyone was working for himself. Several times he spoke to me during the forenoon, and I should say that he was not what he usually was. At times he seemed to me as if he were stupified, as if he did not know what to do. The orders he gave were not proper. The orders he gave 'to me lubberly were correct enough, I went just abaft the main rigging and hove the lead. This was when we were about a mile and a half from the point where we rounded i into Jaok's Bay. I kept heaving the lead till wo got into Jack's Bay. I reported the soundings to the captain. Sometimes the sailmaker, who was on the poop, passed along the word to the captain. We dropped anchor in five fathoms of water close round the point of Jack's Bay. The anchor never held. I reported to the captain that the ship was drift- ! ing, and by his order I continued at the leadline, occasionally heaving the lead. He said he did not think the ship was drifting ; that the ship had not got the weight of the anchor yet that she had not swung. She could not swing very well — the sails were full all the time. I mean to say the anchor was dropped while the sails were full. The captain gave the order to drop the anchor. I then went to the boats, and next time I went to look at the lead I found that the ship had drifted three parts of the distance across Jack's Bay, towards the headland at the mouth of the river. I went on the poop and told the captain that unless there was something done Bhe would go on the rocks. He scut me forward to see how the anchor was bearing. I went forward and found that the chain was straight up and down. He then told me to keep it quiet and make no noise about it, and go forward and tell them to pay out cable. I went forward and gave the captain's order. Cable was paid out. The sails were still full. As soon as the cable was paid out the anchor held the ship. I weat aft and pointed out to the captain that the ship was so close to the rocks that when she swung her stern would almost touch them, and I suggested to him would it nob be better to slip the cable, He Beamed to object to

4b.at ; he said she -was right where she was. Eventually the cable was slipped— l cannot Bay by whose orders — and the captain told me to try and get some hands to get the yards braced round to back her out. I could see no hands about the decks, so I asked him to get the crews out of the boats that were coming off. I told the second mate, whose boat came alongside next, that the captam •wanted men to get the yards braced round. 1 saw the second mate on deck after, bub no one braced the yards round except some four or five passengers and myself. After the yards were braced round, the ship gradually backed out. As soon as she was clear of the poiut, the yards were braced round again by the captain's orders ; the sails filled again, and the vessel was steered for the other bay. I then for the first time noticed the flagstaff on the hill, and I drew the captain's attention to it. She was then run into the bay and run aground. The last time I put the lead over, I felt that there was rather better than three fathoms of water. This was after she touched ground where she is now. There •was a heavy swell on, so I could not tell the exact depth. The last boat was lowered from the ship then, and the captain ordered none but women and children to be taken m. Mr Stout said he would not cross- examine the witness. To Mr Haggitt : The ship grounded within a quarter of a mile of the snore. The ship touched before the anchor was dropped. When I told the. captain that the anchor had not held, he said there were thirty fathoms of chain out. I don't believe the anchor touched the bottom. When the vessel was drifting in. the bay, the depth varied from five to seven fathoms and a half. When I went forward to tell them to pay out the chain, the anchor held. With a patent windlass, the chain would pay out itself ; but the chain had to be lifted over the windlass while I was there. To Captain Thomson : If the anchor when let go caught a reef and snubbed the vessel when she had headway, it might have had the same effect as if the vessel touched the rocks. It might produce a similar shock. When the anchor was let down, the vessel had very little way. When the steamer was on our quarter, I think we got a squall. Before this, I consider that her average speed was three or four knots. During the confusion on board, her speed was not as much, especially when the steward was at the wheel. Sometimes she wag steering one way and sometimes another. The long-boat was resting with her after part on a stand and her fore part on the forecastle, bottom up. We put the long-boat out before the rigging j but before this we had to cut two of the foremast shrouds by order of the chief mate. Ido not know the signal of distress in the commercial code of signals. To Mr Stout : I had goods on board which were not insured. I was only coming ont for the trip. The Court, at half-past one o clock, adjourned till 7 p.m., as the professional gentlemen engaged in the enquiry had business elsewhere.

Upon resuming, Jamea Montague Fountain was called— He deposed : I was a passenger by the ship g ura t _an immigrant. When the ship struck, I was in my berth between decks. When I felt her strike, I ran on deck to see what was amiss. The vessel was still going over the reef when I got on deck. She bumped about five times, and the third shock was the most severe. I did not hear any orders given. I was on the waist of the ship on the starboard side. The vessel was on the port tack. About a quarter of an hour or twenty minutes after, 1 saw the sails altered. Before the vessel got off the rocks, I went below again, and went to my wife's berth to tell her to put her clothes on as quickly as possible. I remained bolow about ten minutes, and then went on deck again. There was consternation amongst the passengers, and they went to the saloon to see the captain. Ido not know whether he was there. I did not see him. The confusion continued for about 20 minutes, and then the passengers were ordered to go below and remain quiet, as everything was all right. The order came from the captain, aad Mr Booth passed the word along from the cabin- door. The passengers went below. I heard the order given after this for the carpenter to sound the pumps. The pumps were sounded, and the report was that there was no more water than there had been previously on the voyage. I saw the chief mate soon after the pumps were sounded. I could not fix the time. He spoke to me, and told me to come below with him, and arrange the passengers in sixes to pump the ship, watch and watch, all night. We arrauged this, and set the pumps going with the passengers and crew. At this time the ship was hove-to. The passengers) continued at the pumps. The ship was put before the wind again soon after ( daybreak, when it was light enough to see the land, which appeared to me to be ten or eleven miles off. The vessel was put on the starboard tack, and headed to the land. I should guess by tho sun that her head was then N. W. by North. I have been to sea before as second mate, mate, and master. I was a master mariner whea I was a young j man. but I never held a certificate. This was in 1852 and 1853. The vessel was sailing in towards the coast, when at four o'clock in the morning we sighted a stoarner. As the steamer bore towards us, and as we neared her, the vessel's head was put closer to the wind. Otherwise we should have crossed the track of the steamer. The Surat was hauled off from the land. The steamer was coming between the ship and the land, and I heard tho passengers beg the captain to «ignai her, both by flag and |ua, I did uofc ask bin*, tat I tottf Mr

Hargreaves do so. Ido not know what the captain said to them. I saw the ensign hoisted half-mast high, union down. It was hoisted when I saw it, and I did not see who hoisted it. In a few minutes after this, | I saw that the ensign was down again. I should say that it was kept down for threequarters of an hour. I saw it after it was hoisted again, and it remained up then. By this time the steamer was oa our quarter. I was about the deck, but I did not see anyone hoisting the ensign. I know the ensign remained down for about three-quarters of an hour, I did not see the captain at the time. I was amidships at work at the puujps. I believe the captain passed by to go forward about three-quarters of an hour after I commenced pumping at 3 o'clock. 1 did not speak to the captain then. 1 saw the boats got out afterwards, but I did not see the captain while this was being done. I saw the first mate, when he was forward, interrupting and obstructing myself and some others who were trying to get the boat out. The mate was in a state of intoxication at that time. After the long-boat was got out, the doctor took charge of it, and prepared to take in female passengers. The female passengers were taken in, and I went away in the long-boat with them and the doctor. We got some distance astern of the vessel, and aferwards caught her when she was anchored in Jack's Bay. I did not go on board the ship again. The passengers in the long-boat were landed on the beach. Between the time the vessel struck and I left the ship, I saw the captain. I did not speak to him. I heard other passengers talking to him. After day light, when I came alongside in the long-boat, I sow the captain on the topgallant forecastle. He had a revolver in his hand, and he pointed it at me. I was pulling the starboard oar. He ordered the boat to come alongside to laud the passengers, and said if we did not come he would fire at us. There were then fifty passengers in the long-boat. We could hold more, and she did hold more afterwards. We went alongside to the starboard side, where the captain ordered us to go. We were on the port side when the captain first spoke to us. We did not at that time take in any more passengers. We landed those we had and then returned and took seventy more ashore. The doctor went on board from the longboat, and a passenger named Kobertson got in to help to land the passpngers. When we camebackfor another load the sliijD had forged ahead, and seemed to have been dragging her anchor. We took off two loads, and after this I did not return to the ship. We landed the second load near the signal station. Mr Stout did not cross-examine the witness.

William Hargraves deposed : I am an immigrant passenger by the ship Surafc. I have never been at sea before this voyage. When the ship struck I was down between decks. I remained below and did my best to quiett he other passengers. I went on deck as soon as the hatchway was clear enough to allow me. At first every one made a rush. When I got on deck I went to see the captain, and found him in front of the cabin door. I asked him what was to be done now ? He said, "There's nothing amiss ; all's right, and you have nothing to do but to go to bed." I told him I thought there would not be much going to bed, as I was afraid there would be something more serious. He said it was not very pleasant certainly to have such bumps as thoso to go to bed with. He said, " The ship is now off the rocks, and I have laid her to for the night ; when daylight comes I think I shall be able to take you forward, as she does not leak, and has not taken in a drop of water yet." He also said, "She has no more water in her than the day we left London." I said I hoped this was the case. The captain said we were within 70 miles of our destination, and if things had gone all rigcit, he was thinking of landing us on the morning following. I left him then, and went below again. Shortly after this the first mate came down, and I went to work at the pumps. I was one of the first to go to work. I worked the first hour at the pumps on deck, and then we got the hand pump between decks. While this was being done, the engineer went below to see why the pumps would not work. The starhoard pump was choked. There appeared to be a good deal of water in the ye sel then. I held the light when the engineer went below naked to see how the water was. I should say thore were three feet of water in | the vessel then, but I don't; know what time it was. When the engineer had made his examination, the second mate went down to see how the water was. The sounding rod was given to him, and I held a lantern to him. The second mate came up and said nothing, and then went below again. He called out to me to hold the lantern above his head. This was ao that I could not see how high the water was. 1 came to this conclusion afterwards. When he came up I asked him how we were getting on. He said things were looking middling, and we could keep her up. I never f aw the second mate again until he was going away in one of the boats. I went to the captain after daylight, and wanted him to hoist a signal or fire i a gun, as there was a steamer in sight. He 1 told me he knew best what to do, and that we were to leave it to him and he would land us safely in Dunedin. He said he would not land us anywhere else. The captain appeared to have had too much to drink, and did not appear to bo himself altogether. I went to him again afterwards, with a child in my arms, and begged him to fire a gun for the sake of the little innocent children. He said we had nothing to do but to be quiet, and tbab if anyone attempted to hoiat a signal, or fire a gun without his orders, he Should ahpot them. I told hjw it was vory

hard of him to stand out so when there was a steamer injsight, and land in sight also. He said there was no need for a steamer. I wanted him then to order the boats to be launched, or to direct the ship's head to the nearest landing place. He told me to mind my own business, he was the master of the ship. He then turned away and left me, and went to the cabin. I then put down the child and went to the pumping again. I and some of the other passengers were told off to assist the crew. I went on the poop, where I saw the chief mate. He said he would blow our brains out if we did not take ourselves away. Woodcock and Newton vrere on the poop with me, besides others whose names I do not recollect. After this I went to a person named Booth, and asked him to go to the captain, and endeavour to use his influence. J have no hesitation in saying that the mate was drunk when he spoke to me at this time. Booth told me he had done all he could with the captain. I did not see the ensign hoisted. Soon after this they began to get out the boats. The longboat was near the forecastle, and I took my wife and children to the forecastle with the intention of getting them into the boat | when it was lowered. The first mate came and threatened to shoot one of the seamen if he did not desist from what he was doing, j This was Donovan, who was helping to lower the boat. After some conversation between the first mate and Donovan, the mate's revolver was taken away by a man named Phillips. In the confusion the ropes were let go, and the boat had to put off from the vessel. The boat was in the water before this, and had some women and children in it ; but not not so many as it was intended to take. I remained on board the vessel. After this, T went to the pumps again. The first mate came and slipped the ropes off the pumps. He said we were to cease pumping. He was shoved out of the way, and the ropes were replaced again. He was drunk then, more so than before, and had been "priming-up." He was like a madman at the time. He swore that if lie could only have possession of the wheel for ten minutes he would drown every devil of us. There were a number present when he said this ; I cannot name any of them, so many of the single girls were about at the time. The mate made a second attempt to stop the pumps. He was told to stand back or he would get his head clove. After this " Old Sails," the sailmaker, was reque&tedto take charge of the ship, and land the passengers. I for one asked him, andagoodmauy others. I think Mr Booth was amongst them. The sailmaker said he could not take charge of the ship without the captain's orders. He j said the only thing he saw for us _ was a watery grave. We wanted the sailmaker to take charge without the captain's orders. I was ready to drop for want of something; to drink. We saw that the captain was not fit to have charge of the ship. He had had too much to drink. We promised the sailmaker that if he would take charge we would do I everything we could to assist him to get us to a safe landing place, and that if he was blamed for taking charge, we would do our best to clear him, and back him out. The sailmaker took charge, and began to give orders. We tried to obey his orders, and he tried to do his best to <<et us to believe the vessel was beached. I did not [ see the first gmate after this. The captain was walking about on the deck with his hands in his pockets all this time. The boat that the second mate had gone off with then came back. I did not hear the captain say anything when the sailmaker gave orders. Both the captain and the sailmaker were on the poop, and the captain could hear the orders that the sailmaker gave. I did not hear the captain give my orders himself. I believe the vessel was rounding the point at Jack's Bay when the sailmaker took charge, and her head was pointing on to the rocka. About this time the long-boat came up with us with the pasi sengers. The captain was on the forecastle then. I saw him point a revolver in the direction of the long-boat. I believe the doctor left the boat, and came on board the vessel a°;am then. The boat with the second mate in it, came up after the longboat, and the second mate came on board and began to make preparations to get the women and children into his boat. He got some in^ When I spoke to the second mate I said, "I thought you had deserted us." He said, "No, I have been after the steamer." I saw the anchor heaved over. As far as my recollection goes, we had not gone far before the vessel began to take the ground again. We got some heavy bumps, and a seaman cautioned us to bo on the look out, as some of the masts might fall. We were all in a shake.

To Mr Stout ; I believo the sailmaker wns perfectly sober. I never saw him the worse for liquor. Tf two or three Avitnosses have sworn that ho was the worse for liquor, 1 will say that I did not see him the worse for liquor. Ido not think he could have been the worse without my noticing it. I have been on board many ships before. I was a shopkeeper and a farmer before I left England. When T carried my child about after the ship struck I was calm, considering the circumstances. I was calm, but these were very alarming circumstances. I did not hear tho captain give orders to heave the lead or put down the anchor. I don't remember him giving orders to brace the yards when we woro near Jack's Island. I did not see five Welshmen go off in a boat by themselves. When I was working at the pumps I could not see who was directing the steersman. The captain may have giren orders without my hearing or seeing him, I believe there were three boats from the chip after I left- IMb when

the vessel was beached. I did not notice the captain then. I did not hear the conversation between the captain and sailmaker. I cannot state any particular order the sailmaker gave, because I was engaged at the pumps. I heard him speak from the poop, but I could not tell what he said. I knew he was giving orders, which were obeyed. I don't think the sailmaker was merely repeating the orders given by the captain. I was on the port side pumping, and the sailmaker was on the starboard side of the poop giving orders. I saw his lips and hands moving, and though I could not hear what he said, I am sure he was giving orders, as 1 saw the yards altered. I did not see a man heaving the lead on the port side. I believe there was asailor named Norman on board. I have heard him spoken of since I came ashoie. I have spoken about the case before. I gave a statement to Detective Shury the other day. I have had no conversation about that statement since. We getapaper directly we can in the morning and nsk each other how the case is getting on. We are all agreed that we are in a sad way that we should not have been in. I have not discussed the evidence with Mr Booth this morning. I don't know what we did on Monday morning. I have no memoranda of what took place on board ship. Ido not remember having had any conversation with Mr Booth on the evidence given with this case. I have had no conversation with any of the passengers and crew, except to ask who has been up the day previous. I don't know where the captain was standing during the half hour before the vessel anchored. I don't know whether r.he sailmaker was rej>eating the captain's orders or not. If a witness has sworn that the captain gave proper orders to bring his ship to anchor, I would not contradict him. T did not know all that was going on. Donovan held the mate while I felt in his jacket pockets. The captain was not in a fit state to give orders. I thought it improper of the captain not to fire a gun, or hoist a signal. When I was on the poop T noticed the caj}tain wave bis hand to the man at the wheel. By the time I left the ship the captain had calmed down. lam certain that the second mate's boat came up after tho long-boat. I was pumping, and T heard the captain from the forecastle order the long-boat round to the starboard side. I had nothing but luggage on board, and it -was not insured. I was picked out at the Barracks to come down to make a statement to the detective. I did not volunteer. I do not know why ] was picked out.

James Newton dep.' sed : I was a steerage passenger on board the Surat. I have been a sailor, and was at sea between three and four years. When the ship struck, I was below, and had been between decks for about twenty minutes. I had been on the forecastle, and before I went below I could &cc land. I heard the land reported after I went below. I heard the man on the look-out sing out "land ahead." I heard no reply. It was from a quarter of an hour to 20 minutes after this that the ship struck, I ran on deck immediately. There were five bumps, and the fourth was the most severe. Tue ship was got off the rocks and hove to. The chief officer called all the single men below, and we were picked out, eight in a watch, to go and work the pumps. I went on the pumps at 1 o'clock and worked an hour. After this I went below. I saw the first mate and captain again at daylight ; I can't say what time exactly. It wa3 after the steamer came in sight and before she passed us. The captain w«s on the poop. At the request of some of the passengers, I went to the captain to ask him to hoist the ensigp. Some of the passengers were with me. The captain refused to hoist the ensign. He was drunk. After this, I got au axe and cut the lashings of everything that would float, in order to save a few of us if the vessel went down. I went three times to the captain to ask leave to hoist the ensign. The second time the doctor and saiimaker were present. The captain said he would knock a hole through the first man who touched the eusign. He had one hand in his jacket pocket, and had the ensign and halyards in the other hand. Ido not know who hoisted the ensign, but I saw it hoisted. Soon after this, at the request of the mate, I went to help to get the cable up. The mate was not sober at this time. I went on the pumps again, and after this I saw the first mate, who was in the same condition he was in before. I saw the second mate when the boats were being lowered. He was not sober, but was about the samo as the mate. Tho captain was the worst of tho three. The second mate went away in one of the boats, and I did nut see him again. 1 did not see the first mate again until the next day. I heard that he stopped on board all night. No one gave the orders for the boats to be lowered. F asked the mate to have them lowered about the time the steamer was passing us. He said, "Dou't be in a lmrryj there is plenty of time." I was told the vessel was making 15in. an hour of water at this time I did not see the mato when the last boats woro lowororl. When the vessel was eoing into Jack's Buy 1 was on the " look-out." The sailmakor had sent me there. The sailmaker was in. charge of tho ship at that time, I believe. T remained at the look-out until just boforo the anchor was let go. I heard no orders given. The sailmakor, when ho told mo to go on the lookout, pointed out to me where we were to go. I went aft to toll him that we couldnot land where ho proposed to go-, and the course of the vessel was altered I expect tho sailmaker gave the order. I

(For continuation m pagi 13, J