NAUTICAL INQUIRY.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12815, 15 July 1912, Page 4

NAUTICAL INQUIRY.

♦ STRANDING OF THE STAR OF CANADA. INVESTIGATION OPENS. The Magisterial inquiry respecting the stranding of. the Star of Canada opened at the Supreme Court buildings this morning before Mr W. A. Barton, S.M., and Captain F. Post, of tho. 'Government steamer Tutanekai, and Captain A. D. Chrisp, of Gisborne, formed of the Union Company's service, assesgsrs. The parties present were as) follows : Mr F. W. Nolan" (instructed by tho Crown solicitor)) representing tho Collector qf Customs, Gisborne, Mr J. Howie) ; Mr M. Myers, of Wellington (for Captain Hart, master of the Star of Canada); Mr T. ( Alston Coleman. also appeared to watch \the interests of the Gisborne Harbor Board. Amongst others present were Captain Rainey, superintendent .. of the Tyser Line, and Captain Plunkett, representing the London Salvage Association. Mr Nolan, m opening the case, said! he did not propose to discuss the matter at any length. Tho questions ••which would be put to the Court were as follows : — (1) Was there misconduct, incompetency, drunkenness, neglect or carelessness on the part of the master, offi.-* cers, or crew? (2) Was there neglect of putting the lead over the side to help to ascertain iif the vessel was dragging, or of taking 'any other precautions? (3) Should the ship have put .9, sea. earlier m the evening when tho weather became more violent? Captain Jolin M. Hart, master of the Star of Canada, produced the ship's register and official log. The ship arrived at Poverty Bay oh June 21st. He cast anchor at the usual anchorage for ocean steamers. He had 75 fathoms of chain out. Only one anchor was put out.. He anchored m ten fathoms. The starboard anchor was put out. .Mr Nolan: Have you used that anchorage before ?— Repeatedly. For how many years past?— Nine years at least. ' ' . Have you had. any trouble withHhat anchorage? — -No. V v . Always found it good holding ground ? —Yes.-' '■■ ■'.'".*. /'-'.■ Do you know whether that anchorage has the approval of the hiarborma«ter here?— Yes. What weather did you experience, after anchoring here? — Moderate westerly winds. ; . ' ' , ' , How long dM that continue?— Until the forenoon of -Sunday the 23rd. V What was the condition of the glass that day?-^-The barometer, at TO a.m. started to rise. Did the weather change, in any way: — The weather towards noon became showery. Was there any change m the direction of the wind?— The 'wind became south-west. ' . , - . - Was the wind blowing with steady force? — Fairly steady up till noon. Did it vary after that?— After noon it became squally. „ And the sea?— lt continued still __ . moderate. .■■„'■ m_ How, was the vessel behaving r— The vessel was lying quietly, steadily. Did you observe any change m, the weather?— At quarter to 8 the squalls were increasing in ' strength. ' _ DicTyoui give any orders to meet tho altered .condition- T-^Yes. I gave o*ders f or the port anchor to bo got readjrijor* letting go. I also called tho chief enginer and asked him what would be the very longest time to warm his engines up, to w&ich he replied, "Half an hour at the very longest." Did you ask him to be prepared to get steam up at that time?— Yea. I may state that steam was up at that, time. • • . ' ' .' Capt. Chrisp: Bonked fires. Capt. Hart: ISOlbs. r ■ Mr Nolan: What did you do, after that?— l still, continued to: observe j tjie weather, barometer, and the; vessels' be? havior at anchor. ; , V . .. Was there any increase 111 the sea running?— No. ; . Any alterations m the ship's bearings! —None. v Capt. ', Chrisp : Was she riding quite easily? Yes, up till 10.30.. . ■■■- Mr Barton: Was she swinging. about! , — Only two points as the direction; of the wind altered. , ' Mr Nolan: What did you do at 10.30?— At 10.30 I left the deck for a few moments. \ , V _. Who did youi leave m charge?— lho third officer. ' . ■ „.'' . Did you give, him any instructions ?-j Yes. I gave him instructions on. the slightest change to call' me. a* one*, ,-* ■ -, What occurred 10.4Q ha called mo up. He said there was a Waclf squall conting'doWn, ' . What did you do?— I immediately, went on deck. *•■. \v „, • t How did the weather strike youT-rl saw some lightning to the southward, , and I thought there might be a shift -"of How was the vessel lying?— Stiji lying steadily: ' ' . ' L '^ V Y-^y ! '■ Bearings .remaining the same T^- 1 or., still the. same. . .^ _ * T -A. What did you decide to do I— A oeicided to proceed to. sea. • Capt. Chrisp : Was it on, account _ot any increase of wind or • sea?— No, .be-* cause of , the confined anchorage. 1 Hero was no increase of wind or sea. ■, ;; * Mr Nolan: Your reason wasv becausoi of a shift of wind?— Yes, I thought with a shift of wind the marks might* become obscured, and I would not be able* to find my way out. , •;• . What time was it Vwnen you deciaea you would leave the bay?— l decided at 10.45 I would then leave the bay. . . What orders did you give?— fl gave orders to the chief engineer, to; get -ceadyat once, and the chief officer to be.o^Ued.' m readiness to heave away ;. but before going 'focwardi to heave away he- was to come on the- bridge for instrudtapn|. . What occurred then? — About XX o'clock the chief officer _came on the bridge and I was givirig him instanictiona regarding how I was, to, be advosed. ifa change came ih. Then: a violent _qup,]l came down. I then sent, the third of* ficer tp. the chief engineer t6 tell mm to hurry up as soon as possible; ' . Wha^t was the effect of the squallT-rr It was accompanied by blinding. ;rp,in and hail, that shut, off all the lights and land-marks. • • <,/ . ■ '<v ' , How long was it. before tiie- squall, cleared?— About eight minutes before \vt cleared the slightest. 1 ■-•',• '"'.'_." What did you notice when tiie^weathei: began to* clear T-J The first thing I nptiiced the wind had begun to come on the starboard side. > _ ■ . "' And what did that mean? — I.fim, •thought it was a shift of wind to. westward, as the weatxier, had been showing signs of clearing to the westward after ;each squall. Then the wind continued^ ■to go broader on. -the; starboard ■'* side. Then I tried to see tbe land-marks. I saw the ship'_ head passing some ; point iof land thatT concluded was Tuamotu Island. I looked at £ the compass and v saw the shiD's head was. east. ! Captain Chrisp : Before tiie squall how had she been heading?— JTroh)' S.S: W. to S.W. . ■' ' V- '•';•" Mr Nolan : What conclusion did youi come toY-That the vessel had parted from her anchor. Whatsprders did you give ?^I ordered the chief officer to run forward ahd let go the; port anchor. Did he do so?-— rBpfore he could gefb forward the Vessel struck^ ' . '• ,> Have you arty, idea what part 'of tjjo . ship first struck ?-^-Y-s» ;to * eve-y* apEeiantn_e she took the ground near^Nb..-.l' atch. , *■•- «.'" -.y :■.>.■. '•■■;. ...y ' "' -'■'■"■ What did you dp?-4r oidered the port anchor to ! be held-- -not to 'T4t' go .*np. port anchor: ''"'- ' * "•• . And then I— t Ull . speed aster 11 on the port erigine., Ordered to heave 'away ott ;tae starboai*d cable; * trying, to take tho sbip off stern first into deep waterCaptain ChlPisp ; Did you get your en-, gines as soon as you ordered them?'— Immediately. Mr Nolan i What was the effect?— For a few minutes the stern began to cotne iout. It came but -quite a point and a half to two points. Then she began to fall m, although the engine was kept going astern and the windlass hove on. She- continued to drive forward \ ahead - on shore. Did you make any change?. — Yes, I piit the helm hard a-starboard and the en- _________________________________________■_____■_■____■

giries full speed ahead. I tried to pivot ithe ship on what I considered was a pinnacle of rock she was resting on forward, and so force the stern seaward and v^indwar^ which had I been successful I would have, backed "my ship out atevn first. This proved unsuccessful. Mr Nolan : Were -you able to hold her m. that position? — She still contfinued to drive ashore. >' Was there any change m the weather? , 7— The squalls were very heavy and increasing. The sea also rising. The wind was iiicr_asing m force' and the sea ..was risk*-* ' Dlßfyou give any orders for heaving we. lead? — I put the fourth officer on to Ifeeep the lead going constantly round the saliip. I gave him that.iorder soon after I may also state that immediately the vessel struck I gave the third officer instructions to take a bearing of Pa Hill. Mr Nolan : Were you advised •as to tihe soundings from time to time? — Yes. ; For about how long, did the fourth -officer take soundings? — Continuously until 3 or 4 o'clock on Monday morning. What was done m the way of distress signals? — Soon after the vessel struck the isie'cohd officer asked if he could do anything, and I instructed him to let off rockets and signals of distress to call attention. . ■• Did you get any report that- the ship was making water? — About 11.45 it was reported .he vessel was making water m Nos. 1 3 8, and 3 hblds. .' Did you continue* to use the engines and hr_ul on the cable after that? — Yes. 1 Fo T . how long? — Until 19 minutes past nii<_nigb-. Do you know whether the water was by that time? — Yes, thewater was increasing steadily. "Capt. Chrisp: You were Jiauling m And keeping the engines going how. long? From 12 past eleven to 19 past midnight. We .'got 'ls fathoms of cable m and could, not get any more ih, as the vessel was: dragging m over the reef. • Mr NoJan: Was the windlass able to *3.aul ia more, cable?— rYes; I may also state that, during* the hauling m I gave instractions for preparations to be made to be ready to! slip up to 75 fathoms.. -*■ ' "Can >you say whether that 15 fathoms !_f cable came m m the early stage?: — ■No ; she struck. "Captain Hart added, that after the en-, •gines were stopped he let go the port 'anchor, his object being to prevent the •ship driving on the reef astern. " The " •; jp*amps were concentrated on N6:'2 hold; ;*which contained frozen meat. No. 1 hold was empty, and No. 3 was full of dats and gram. , Had you any success m coping with^ ihe water ?-r-^None whatever: It was rising as fast,; in No. 2 hold as m Nps. t' and 3. ''*''... ft How long did you keep the pumps going? — Until 10 a.m. on Monday. *' What distance do you estimate the vessel's drift covered until she struck the shore?— From 2 l-3rd to 2£ cables. At this stage Capt. Hart indicated the line of drift on the chart. The witness produced ,an Admiralty chart of Gisborne roads, with the line of drift marked. The squall, he went on to say, was an exceedingly violent one, Quite 60 miles an hour: Capt. Chrisp: I suppose a much more violent storm than you had experienced during the evening?—- Oh, no 'comparison whatever. t Mr Barton : : Did you feel any quiver as if the ship was dragging? — No, none whatever. ■ - ■ . Have you ever experienced that feeling? — Yes, frequently. Mr Nolan : Until the last violent squall had you any weather that made-' you , consider seriously the leaving of the bay ? — None whatever; At what time was it intended to com- \ mence loading on Monday?— -The men . were ordered for 11 Sunday night to • commence just after midnight. ( And I presume it was that feeling that -, made you unwilling to leave the ; - bay?— The consideration ~of the meat being . rea*dy had no weight, with me what- , ever. Did you keep the usual watches m , the bay? — Yes, sea watches were kept, j Capt. Chrisp: That means an officer •was always on the bridge ?— Yes, al- ( "ways; besides an able' seaman on the lookout. ■♦-.•■''. . Mr Barton: Was there anything to ■, indicate she was drifting ?-^Nothing ' until with the change of wind I came , to the conclusions she had parted with her anchor. \ Mr Myers : How -long, have you been' ; at sea? — About 34 years. '■ Is it the fact that the whole of your ' period at sea you% have remained ,with one owner? — Yes. The well-known firm of J. P. Corry and Co?— Yes. The owners of the Star of Canada? — Yes. But she was running under the Tyser Line management ? — Yes. May we take it you started with ; Messry Corry and Co.? — Yes, as an ap--prenti.e. y ■ . During what portion of your career ■ have you been master of ocean-going steamers? — Fifteen years. 'Prior to that had you. been ih com- : mand of sailing vessels of the same'company ? — Y'es, for five years. I think you' are the company's senior officer? — Yes. , V « How long have you been trading to New Zealand ? — For fifteen years m command. During the whole period of those 15 * years have you paid calls at Gisborne? ', —Yes. ' When you are m Gisborne dp you } stay on your ship or come ashore? — For the last 10 years I have not been ashore. During the whole of your career at 1 sea prior to June 23 last have you ever - had anything m. the nature of a cas-* ualty? — Never. • During the time your vessel Avas at Gisborne on this occasion, Avas Hhere any ' sign of insobriety on the part of your ; officers or crew?— None. ■ How do you describe your vessel? — As a -trietly temperate ship. This is ' one matter m which the owners are par- < ticularly careful. They will submit to 1 nothing like intemperance on their ships, and I have seen that carried out. • What anchorage have you been ac- ' customed to going to at Gisborne ?— For i the first five: years we occupied the r inner, anchorage. Since then the an- " chorage was shifted out to ' the one 'we occiipied' on the 23rdi ' 1 Mr Barton: Why was it changed ?— Because one vessel struck an uncharted rock. Mr Myers: Do you know whether tho anchorage you 'occupied' had a good reputation I— Yes— -the best anchorage m the bay. 1 Did you have any conversation on the 21st -with the harbormaster oh. that very point? — Yes. He- stood ; at my side m; the chart room* as the bearings were given me> by my officer and saw me place them en the,.' chart;' He stated it was the best anchorage m Gisborne and that he did not think a vessel could drag from it m any weather. • t ■■ Did that statement accord with your owrt personal experience — Yes- of the last nine or • ten years. Notwithstanding your experience and the harbormaster's remark, if you found the. weather of such a nature you would go out to sea? — -Yes. Did you on this visit to Gisborne exercise the same care to ypur vessel as you have done on previous visits to Gisborne? — Yes, exactly the same. Have you during the last nine or ten years ridden out as bad weather as it was up till 11 o'clock on June 23? — I have ridden out;. worse weather than it was, even up, till 1 and 2 a.m., on several occasions, and at the same anchorage. With one anchor?— Yes. Mr Barton : A similar .anchor to the one m use on. this occasion?— Yes, the same anchor on this ship. Mr Myerj-'r Were tbe anchors when put ; down m perfect order?— Yes, to tbe best of my knowledge. The anchors are always inspected by the chief officer when hauled up, and always before being put down. Ia it customary and prudent to ride at one anchor m this anchorage? — Yes, it is more prudent than two. When the wind shifts to the S.E. you have a difficulty of getting them up. To Captain Chrisp: The vessel Avas going astern when, the anchor was nut down, and he was .quite satisfied it had a good hold. Mr Myers: Were you aware that on Sunday the Harbor Board was waiting a favorable opportunity to send the dredge' Maui to Auckland?— Yes. Did you see the Maui go away at 11 o'clock on the morning of the 23rd?—

; v And you knew she had been waiting i several days for a favorable forecast? — -Yes. I Notwithstanding any inference from ■ seeing .the Maui: go away, did -you relax ■ your care and caution over your vessel? — Not m the slightest. You had steam up ■ the whole time you 1 were m the bay? — Yes. But not a full head?— No, easy steam. Does that mean you »had steam up m such a way that on half art hour's i notice you could steam out of the bay? i — Yes. As a matter of fact you actually had ; steam operating on the engines m 27 1 minutes?— -Yes. 1 _Mr Barton: What was the shortest time you could have had sufficient steam to propel the engines — In twenty minutes had i£ been absolutely necessary. Mr Myers : Seeing you were attending your vessel, and had steam up would you. expect bad weather to come up to compel you to go out m less than half an hour? — No, there were, no such indications. I suppose you are aware that the New Zealand Pilot and Almanac recommends that, "As there is no anchorage, m Poverty Bay sheltered from S:E. winds, anchors should be weighed on the, appearance of any breeze from S.E. ?" Yes. Was there on June 23 any indication oft a breeze from S.E. ? — JSTone. . Did the wind during that day or night have any easterly tendency? — It was never to the eastward of south. So that we may take it you were not within the terms of that paragraph ?— No. The wind during the day varied from S.S.W. to S.W?— Yes. ' Right up till 11 o'clock that night did you think you were running ally risk m remaining at anchor? — Notte. Did you, when you decided to put to •sea at 10.45, think you were excessively ! Pf udent ? — I thought I waa excessively ,cai*tious< That was just my idea. Was there anything to indicate the excessively heavy squall that came over at 11 o'clock? — None. ' . ,; Was there anything on the other hand • to show any improvement? — Yes, the barometer and atmospheric conditions were improving, and there was no increase, m the sea. « If there had been anything to indicate the probability of such a squall that came over at 11 o'clock would you have remained at anchor? — No; I should have gone to sea. But there was no "such indication Up till 10.45 did there appear anything m the conditions that the s, men ordered to como off at 11 o'clock to load meat would not be able to start work ? — No, nothing except the rain. Was there anything m the conditions of sea or wind to prevent the men coming off ?— Nothing whatever. Mr Myers: Up till that stage, 10.30, there was nothing to indicate that there was any danger or risk of danger to the snip?— None whatever. From 1 7 o'clock till 10.30 where had you been ?— On, ..the,. .bridge ..and,^bridge deck, just at _he/ bottom of .her ladder, where my cabin; .i^., !•; , . And all that , time , were* you.- 'ih; a condition to see. the weather conditions ? — Perfectly. , r r , ; \ V Would it: have been iheonyenient to have gone out to sea?— No, not^af" all; I could have put to. sea. andu gone 'forest. . '„'..'.•' ;■'*■,'••' You went away 'from. -He bridge deck at 10.30. Where did you go?^— To the bathroom, intending to return to the bridge. ■ ' - But leaving word to be called on the slightest, change of any sort? — Just so. You came back at 10.40?— Yes. /And when the third officer told you of the squall coming, you could, see it? — Yes, it was forming oyer the land: ' Was 1 ' there, then*;, anything to indicate it, was going to be any worse than what,, you had already had ?— No. Had the squalls been of any violence? , —No, and after the squalls it was almost calm. Was there anything to alarm you as to the safety of the ship? — Nothing as , to her riding at the anchor. 1 And at 11 o'clock this violent squall came along,?— Yes. ' ' Could you give us any description of < it? — I would call it a hurricane-force : squall. For about eight minutes all marks were obliterated? — Yes. During those eight minutes, had you , known the vessel was dragging, could lyou have done anything ?— No, unless I 1 had- known at the outset. According to the Admiralty scale of wind force, what would you. class the squall?— . Gale, next to a hurricane, something m excess of a whole gale. When the squall passed over would it have been any use to take soundings? — No, it "was then too late. I, suppose the ship was then m danger, and you, had to concentrate your energies to extricate her? — Yes." Would it then- have been any use to put down your port anchor, seeing you had decided to go to sea?— No. \ Had you at. 10.40 by getting the port anchor ready .and getting' the engines warmed up, had you taken all steps .that prudence demanded m order to mcc. the difficulty?— Yes, exactly. And; I. think you have already said the bearings were unaltered: and the^ ship was riding quietly? — Yes. • During the squall was there any noise , or commotion that would account for . you hearing the noise of the ship dragging bad there been any?— No, had tnere been any symptoms I would, have heard it. I was keenly on the alert. Then it must be a natural inference that the anchor gave way or did drag? —Yes. ' . y . And the caiise being ?—' Through the . violence of the squall. • Mr T. Alston Coleman : In your previous experience m this port had there been any symptoms of, a* boat dragging its anchor ?— Not to my knowledge. Then it is your own personal experience also that it is the best and safest anqhorage that can be found m the roadetjOQ (J V..... '"xCS Up to the time the squall struck you at 11 o'clock, with the conditions prevailing, had the suggestion been made to go to sea, would you have gone?— l had no reasons to go to sea ; my ship was riding so well; Had the harbormaster advised you to go to 1 sea-?— I would have done so. Captain Chrisp : I presume you cay that with the understanding that the harbormaster had some knowledge that you 'had not?— Yes. •' But had the harbormaster -possessed only the same information as yourself? — If the harbormaster had been m my position I don't* think he would have gone to sea. „Mr Barton .asked whether any effort had been made to locate the state of the anchor. Mr Myers explained that every effort had been made to locate the anchor. , and assistance had been rendered by the salvors. A diver had located dile anchor; and was of the opinion that it was the starboard anchor, but that could not be ascertained, as the chains were embedded for a distance. - Mr Barton : Cannot it be definitely ascertained? Mr Myers: Not until the salvors havo decided whether they can save the ship ; they won't allow it to be touched. ■ Capt. Hart explained that the diver had traced the cable right along, and was satisfied it was the starboard anchor. Mr Myers submitted the report 1 of the diver, who stated that he found both chains buried m the papa rock broken up by the vessel for a certain distance, and had traced and uncovered one chain coupled on to an anchor, which he considered was the starboard anchor. Ho was of opinion the port anchor was gone. Mr Barton asked if any attempt had been made to settle the question as to wliether the anchor had parted. Mr Myers said they were anxious to have tho point cleared up, and had done everything possible. Arbor* Day, which New Zealand copied from America, was established m the States by a splendid citizen of NetSraska, J. Sterling Morton, Secretary of Agriculture under President Cleveland. A statue) inscribed "Author of Arbor Day," stands ip. Morton Park, which this great friend of the people gave to Nebraska, City. His home adjoining the park, is now known as Arbor Lodge. There a sundial m a corner of a rose garden compels the passer-by to pause and read these words on tbe pedestal : "Time Hies, "and flowers fade; new days, % new ways; love stays."